A review by jennshappyplace
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

4.0

I have such mixed feelings about this book. First, I wish people wouldn’t have kept saying it was a David Copperfield retelling because that kept me away from it for a long time. I think mainly because I’ve never read David Copperfield and am not usually a fan of “classic literature.” Overall I thought this was a great book and I’m so glad I read it. I had never read a book about the foster care system or Appalachia or addiction. I felt like I learned so much reading this book. I felt so much for Demon and the people who surrounded him. What stuck out to me most were the teachers and adults who tried to help him throughout his life. However, because of what he’d been through and all the bad people and disappointments he’d encountered he had a mistrust of anyone wanting to help him. I think he wanted a family so much but all his circumstances and tragedies in his past left him thinking he wasn’t worthy of a family or love. The book was heartbreaking almost throughout the entire book which was really hard to read. However, the last 10% finally brought some hope. But I hated the turn at the very end of the book.

I don’t think it made any sense for Demon and Angus to end up in a relationship. They were essentially brother and sister which Demon even said several times. Why couldn’t they end as brother and sister? It just tainted their past relationship to me. Were we supposed to believe they were attracted to each other the entire time they knew each other? I just didn’t think that twist was necessary. A brother/sister relationship or a friendship can be just as powerful and important as a romantic relationship. Why not lean into that?

But even with that disappointment I’m still so glad I finally read the book and I have a deeper understanding and empathy of the foster care system and addiction.