Summary
Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is a critically acclaimed 2022 novel inspired by Charles Dickens's David Copperfield, set in modern-day southern Appalachia. Told from the perspective of its titular character, the novel follows Demon, a boy born to a teenage mother in a trailer park, as he navigates the perils of foster care, child labor, and addiction. While drawing on Dickens's themes, Kingsolver infuses her narrative with urgent contemporary issues, including the opioid crisis and the neglect of rural communities. Hailed by its raw, unsparing voice and deeply humanizing portrayal of often-overlooked Americans, Demon Copperhead won both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Women's Prize for Fiction, affirming Kingsolver's talent for blending social commentary with compelling storytelling.
Plot
Born to a teenage single mother in a trailer in Lee County, Virginia, and nicknamed for his copper-colored hair, “Demon Copperhead” grows up in poverty with his mother and their neighbors, the Peggots. His life takes a turn when his mother marries Stoner, an abusive trucker. After his mother's drug overdose, Demon enters the foster care system, landing at Creaky Farms run by the harsh Mr. Crickson. Here, he endures poor living conditions and forced child labor alongside other foster children, including Fast Forward, a charismatic high school football player who introduces the younger kids to drugs.
Following his mother's death from another overdose, Demon briefly stays with the Peggots before embarking on a journey to find his paternal grandmother. He eventually moves in with Coach Winfield and his daughter Angus, joining the high school football team. However, an injury leads Demon to opioid addiction. He falls in love with Dori, a girl his age struggling with her own issues, and drops out of school to live with her. Sadly, their relationship is marred by drug use and tragically ends when Dori dies from an overdose.
Demon's life continues to be shaped by the opioid crisis affecting his community. His best friend Maggot gets sent to juvenile prison after a confrontation that results in the deaths of two others. Sponsored by June Peggot, Demon enters rehab in Knoxville, where he rediscovers his talent for drawing and begins work on a graphic novel about Appalachian history.
Three and a half years later, Demon returns to Lee County. He reconnects with Angus, who is now in university, and they embark on a road trip to the ocean. As they travel, Demon realizes his feelings for Angus are reciprocated, hinting at a potential future together as he continues to navigate the challenges of his past and present.
