01
Why it matters
Kingsolver turns structural abandonment into lived experience without reducing Appalachia to a symbol.
2023 selection · Literary fiction
Demon Copperhead
Born into poverty in Appalachia, Demon narrates his passage through foster care, football, exploitation, and opioid addiction. The novel recasts David Copperfield in a contemporary American voice.
02
Read this if…
You want an immersive coming-of-age epic with anger, humor, and heart.
03
Ideas inside
Appalachiaaddictionpovertyresilience
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Pulitzer Prize for Fiction — official winner recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)Women’s Prize for Fiction — official winner recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)