Key, Watt. Alabama Moon.

KEY, Watt. Alabama Moon. Read by Nick Landrum. 8 cds. 8.75 hrs. Recorded Books. 2006/2007 1-4281-3392-1. $94.75. Vinyl; plot, reader notes. JS*

From the KLIATT starred review of the book, September 2006: "Moon Blake, the ten-year old protagonist of this novel, is like an idiot savant. He's always lived in the wilderness with his anti-government, few-logs-short-of-a-campfire father. His contact with civilization consists of annual trips down from the mountain to trade animal skins for supplies in the village. When the father has an accident, he is unwilling to seek medical care and dies from infection. Moon must bury him and find a way to Alaska where, according to the father, he'll find other people just like them. Moon has no sense of the modern world, geography, or social relationships. His chances of making it to Alaska from Alabama unimpeded are zero. Instead, he runs afoul of a corrupt cop, a boys' home, and a bully, but he makes friends with another orphan. Moon teaches the friend to live in the wilderness, makes friends with the bully, and hides out in a junkyard courtesy of archetypal rednecks with hearts of gold. This book is reminiscent of Huck Finn, Hatchet or Far North, perhaps even The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, but it's also completely original." This is quite a tale, made intoxicating by the twangy mountain accents of narrator Landrum, who is brilliant in this unusual coming-of-age story. Sherri Ginsberg, Hillsides School for Children, Pasadena, CA

J--Recommended for junior high students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.