What readers think of Demon Copperhead, plus links to write your own review.

My librarian sister tells me she doesn't want to read anything anyone else tells her to read. If I had a penny for everyone who told me to read "Demon Copperhead," I would be wealthy. Thankfully, as I read my first Barbara Kingsolver novel, I found it engaging and accessible, a picaresque story for those uninitiated to the little-known genre.

The novel serves as a modern-day "David Copperfield", with Damon, or "Demon", growing up in foster care due to the addiction and eventual death of his mother, among other things. His journey leads him to Tennessee to find his estranged grandmother when every other avenue to food and shelter shuts down. His predicaments are heart-wrenching because we know how much he has endured.

Demon's adventures deal with trying to put the past behind him while avenging all that happened to him that was not his fault. Without a home, that is tough. Since his living situation varies so much, the ambitious book reads like a series of tragic vignettes until beloved people from Demon's former life emerge from the woodwork.

Based on the friends who recommended "Demon Copperhead" to me, I did not expect as much intense football and opioid use. It makes complete sense in the Appalachian setting, though. I had read too much on OxyContin, but by page 400, Kingsolver had developed characters so well that I was in their worlds. That must be why she is so beloved.

If the content warnings of pervasive drug use, language, or poverty drive you away, you are missing the point. Demon is one of the best-developed characters I can remember. The best novels are the ones whose quality you overlook until the end, when all loose ends come together and the message becomes clear. Thanks to all who recommended this.

This book is set in rural Appalachia where poverty, crime, drugs and death are everyday life. Demon Copperhead lives with his mother in a trailer, father deceased. When his mother dies he becomes part of the foster system. Most people become foster "parents" for the money. They would not survive without it. Kingsolver tells his story through school, many foster families, drug use, being a football star and his marriage to a drug addict while being a drug addict.

She captures the opiate world in a way that you may agree these people did not have a choice, it was an escape for them. The characters are deep and so believable. What a heart wrenching, thought provoking story.

Having never read any of Barbara Kingsolver's work, I only had other readers' word for it that she was a skilled author. Upon reading the second line of the second paragraph of chapter 1 in which she describes the climate of late fall and summer as "dog-breath air" I knew I was reading someone whose writing was going to crackle.

The character development, from Demon to the most minor, was perfection. I haven't read the entirety of David Copperfield but have read excerpts here and there and thus enjoyed that Kingsolver's characters were closely related by name and actions to Dicken's. Demon was burnt by his upbringing in unimaginable ways, yet his resiliency and basic decency always shone through. The novel exposes the negative aspects of the foster care systems and is a full-on indictment of Big Pharma and the healthcare providers who exchanged their oath to do no harm for monetary gain.

Some members of my book club were put off by the language and lifestyles depicted. I don't talk that way and admit that I don't enjoy foul language, but firmly believe that whitewashing the language and actions of the characters would have ruined the impact of the novel. I restrained myself somewhat during our discussion because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I wanted to yell out, "Do you honestly think that the events like those described never Do happen? Do you think that if you bury your head in the sand the addiction and what led to it will go away?" If we are going to get the opioid crisis under control, we all have to open our eyes. I believe that Demon Copperhead can open American's eyes in a way that governmental reports cannot. I definitely recommend this book as a must read for those who care about the health and social fabric of our nation.

This is one of those rare novels that I read on two levels seemingly at the same time:

--First, I was captivated with the plot, as sad and tragic as it is. Those pages almost turned themselves.

--Second, I was mesmerized following the story that was lurking in the shadows underneath it, almost like a ghostly spirit: "David Copperfield," by Charles Dickens. This is a somewhat daring modern-day retelling of that Dickens classic, and ferreting out the similarities and differences became a kind of literary parlor game I played while I was reading. (Check the Wikipedia article on "Demon Copperhead" to find out—in case you can't figure it out—a character list that corresponds to the character list in "David Copperfield.")

In anticipation of reading the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver for my book club, I (re)read "David Copperfield" first. While this is not a prerequisite for reading "Demon Copperhead," I highly recommend it. You'll get so much more out of Kingsolver's novel if you do. (That said, both are VERY long novels, so this is a big commitment.) Both David and Demon are orphans, and when I read Dickens's novel, I wondered what would have happened to David if he had lived in our times with a social services safety net to help him. Well, now I know. And the answer is that it's not much better.

This is the story of a boy named Damon Fields, nicknamed Demon Copperhead because of his red hair and feisty attitude, who lives in the mountains of southwestern Virginia in Lee County, deep in Appalachia. People are poor, but they look out for one another—until that is sometimes just too hard to do. Demon, whose father died before Demon's birth, is born to an addictive, single teenaged mother, who lives in a small, rented trailer. She soon marries a meanspirited, abusive man. When Demon's mom dies of a drug overdose, he is left on his own. Kindhearted neighbors help some, but Demon becomes a ward of the commonwealth, cared for by foster families who are paid for their efforts. He gets moved around—a lot. His problems are myriad, including child labor, underperforming schools, bullies, and rarely having enough to eat. Eventually, he connects with his paternal grandmother, who takes a firm interest in his future, until Demon utterly disappoints her. What follows is Demon's horrifying descent into opiate addiction. While David Copperfield is at the mercy of a harsh, unforgiving Victorian society, Demon Copperhead is at the mercy of a harsh, unforgiving world of drug abuse—from meth to opiates.

This is a tragic, dark, and distressing story—so much so that it was difficult to keep reading it at times. (Tears in my eyes will do that!) My heart broke for Demon, all the more so because while this may be a fictional tale, it is all too true to life. And that makes it all the more heartbreaking and emotionally searing.

The ending? Of course, it's happy. Just like "David Copperfield." Whew! Take solace in that.

One last thought: The only downside to reading "David Copperfield" first is that I knew what would happen next in this book. Kingsolver has done a brilliant job of mimicking the classic novel but with a modern twist that is highly original, as well as heartbreaking, compelling, and monumental because it rings so true to life.

This book, while an emotionally tough read, is a remarkable literary achievement.

The audio version of the book was wonderful! The actor portraying the authors words brought it to life! That sounds trite but her mastery of visualization and his vocal interpretation were beyond wonderful! Story was beautiful, sad, heart wrenching ! I’m definitely finding more of this author, Barbara Kingsolver. 5 stars!!

Masterfully read by Charlie Thurston, I’m not sure I even relate to some of these other reviews. He gave so much life to Demon that I would say the book was hopeful above all else. As a character, he goes through so many ups and downs, and when he’s down, he’s really down. But Demon’s voice and perspective always carry a wry humor and very little self pity. He takes things as they come, has a rock solid moral core, and even when he’s making some bad choices, he loves and tries to take care of the people around him.

So yes, there are a lot of tragedies in this book. And a lot of stories about good people who help each other just because someone needs it. Who stumble and make mistakes and fight to change because they’ve seen what happens to people who don’t. Who take whatever joy life has for them in the moment, even when they have problems that could sink a person’s spirit. It’s absolutely heartbreaking in its portrayal of foster kids, child abuse, drug addiction, and cycles of poverty — but Demon shines bright through it all, and it’s impossible not to root for him. He has so much personality and so much goodness in him, it was an honor just to get to spend so many hours listening to him tell his story.

Get the audio version if you can. You won’t regret it.

Demon grows up orphaned and poor in the midst of a drug-centered area of rural Virginia. His relationships are detailed and his ingenuity highlighted as he overcomes the worst of situations to finally find love and happiness.

If you're looking for a character-driven story, I highly recommend Demon Copperhead. It beautifully walks the line between tragic and hope. Offers a window (albeit cracked) into a community betrayed by both the mining companies and big pharma. Demon's wry sense of humor and the love of a few good people who are on his side keep this story from being too painful to bear.