Alabama Moon
Author(s): Watt Key
For as long as ten-year-old Moon can remember, he has lived out in the forest in a shelter with his father. They keep to themselves, their only contact with other human beings an occasional trip to the nearest general store. When Moon's father dies, Moon follows his father's last instructions: to travel to Alaska to find others like themselves. But Moon is soon caught and entangled in a world he doesn't know or understand; he's become property of the government he has been avoiding all his life. As the spirited and resourceful Moon encounters constables, jails, institutions, lawyers, true friends, and true enemies, he adapts his wilderness survival skills and learns to survive in the outside world, and even, perhaps, make his home there. This title has Common Core connections.
Alabama Moon is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Review(s):
“Excellent. A terrific choice for reluctant readers.” —Booklist, Starred Review
“An unusual coming-of-age story.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A winningly fresh look at life and culture almost never seen in children's books.” —The Horn Book Magazine
“Key writes honestly about hunting, trapping and the hardships of survival in this rather unusual coming-of-age story.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Well written with a flowing style, plenty of dialogue, and lots of action.” —School Library Journal
“Compelling.” —Voices of Youth Advocates
“Absorbing.” —Publishers Weekly
“For boys who dream of unfettered life in the great outdoors . . . Moon's a bona fide hero.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Long-listed ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2008), Maine Student Book Award Master List, Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Maser List, Winner California Young Reader Medal (2010), Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Master List, Long-listed Alabama Children's Choice Book Award ML, Missouri Truman Readers Award Master List, Winner CA Silicon Valley Reads (2011), Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award Master List, Long-listed Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award ML (2008), Long-listed Kentucky Blue Grass Award Master List, Long-listed VOYA Top Shelf Fiction MS Readers, Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List, ABC E.B. White Read Aloud Award, Long-listed Maine Student Book Award Master List (2008), VOYA Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, Alabama Children's Choice Book Award Master List, Long-listed Illinois Rebecca Caudill YR Choice Award ML, Long-listed Missouri Truman Readers Award Master List (2009), Winner Parents' Choice Award Winner (2006), Winner ABC E.B. White Read Aloud Award (2007), Long-listed TN Intermed Volunt State Book Award ML, Long-listed Indiana Young Hoosier Award Master List (2008), Long-listed Book Sense Children's Pick, Long-listed California Young Reader Medal Master List (2010), Tennessee Intermediate Volunteer State Book Award Master List, American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults (2008), Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Maser List (2008), Parents' Choice Award Winner, Winner California Young Reader Medal, Long-listed Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award ML (2008), Long-listed Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Book A ML, American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, California Young Reader Medal Master List, Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List (2008), Long-listed Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year (2007)
ISBN: 9780312384289