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Cedar Hollow #1
Appalachian Justice
Billy May Platte is a half Irish, half Cherokee Appalachian woman who learned the hard way that 1940s West Virginia was no place to be different.
As Billy May explains, “We was sheltered in them hills. We didn’t know much of nothin’ about life outside of them mountains. I did not know the word lesbian; to us, gay meant havin’ fun and queer meant somethin’ strange.”
In 1945, when Billy May was fourteen years old and orphaned, three local boys witnessed an incident in which Billy May’s sexuality was called into question. Determined to teach her a lesson she would never forget, they orchestrated a brutal attack that changed the dynamics of the tiny coal mining village of Cedar Hollow, West Virginia forever.
Voted Sapphic Readers Book Club Book of the Year in 2011 (under a different imprint), and a 2013 finalist for University of North Carolina-Wilmington’s Synergy Program, Appalachian Justice is a work of southern fiction that delves into social issues such as poverty, domestic violence, misogyny, and sexual orientation. Ultimately, however, Appalachian Justice delivers a message of hope.
As Billy May explains, “We was sheltered in them hills. We didn’t know much of nothin’ about life outside of them mountains. I did not know the word lesbian; to us, gay meant havin’ fun and queer meant somethin’ strange.”
In 1945, when Billy May was fourteen years old and orphaned, three local boys witnessed an incident in which Billy May’s sexuality was called into question. Determined to teach her a lesson she would never forget, they orchestrated a brutal attack that changed the dynamics of the tiny coal mining village of Cedar Hollow, West Virginia forever.
Voted Sapphic Readers Book Club Book of the Year in 2011 (under a different imprint), and a 2013 finalist for University of North Carolina-Wilmington’s Synergy Program, Appalachian Justice is a work of southern fiction that delves into social issues such as poverty, domestic violence, misogyny, and sexual orientation. Ultimately, however, Appalachian Justice delivers a message of hope.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2010
281 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Melinda Clayton
21 books115 followersMelinda Clayton writes primarily southern psychological suspense, and is the author of eight novels, numerous articles and short stories, and two family genealogies. She has an Ed.D. in Education Administration, is a licensed psychotherapist in Colorado and Florida (now on retired status), and teaches MFA classes for SNHU COCE.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
May 20, 2011
"Appalachian Justice" is a story about being different, experiencing intolerance and abuse, while still remaining true to oneself. And ultimately, it is also a story of love, courage, and redemption. Books with a story this powerful are a rarity.
A large portion of the book is narrated by Billy May, the main character, and it is done the way she would talk. She isn’t highly educated and is far from “well spoken.” I found this disconcerting in the beginning. Part way through the first chapter when I read the initial statement from Billy May, “from the top of my mountain, I seen that girl runnin’,” it threw me. However, before long I became accustomed to Billy May’s voice and no longer noticed.
The book is structured to jump between three different points in Billy May’s life, the current, as she lays in a hospice bed narrating her life story, her young life with the story leading up to a life changing event, and middle age, when another incident once again changes the course of her life. Several social ills are highlighted and explored through Billy May’s eyes.
It isn’t often I hit the climax of a book and find myself holding back tears. Yet, during an emotional scene between two of the main characters near the end of "Appalachian Justice," I found myself doing exactly that. I managed to fight them off for fear of losing my man card, but had they come they would have been both tears of joy and of happiness. If you read this book – something I highly recommend – maybe you can spot the scene.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
A large portion of the book is narrated by Billy May, the main character, and it is done the way she would talk. She isn’t highly educated and is far from “well spoken.” I found this disconcerting in the beginning. Part way through the first chapter when I read the initial statement from Billy May, “from the top of my mountain, I seen that girl runnin’,” it threw me. However, before long I became accustomed to Billy May’s voice and no longer noticed.
The book is structured to jump between three different points in Billy May’s life, the current, as she lays in a hospice bed narrating her life story, her young life with the story leading up to a life changing event, and middle age, when another incident once again changes the course of her life. Several social ills are highlighted and explored through Billy May’s eyes.
It isn’t often I hit the climax of a book and find myself holding back tears. Yet, during an emotional scene between two of the main characters near the end of "Appalachian Justice," I found myself doing exactly that. I managed to fight them off for fear of losing my man card, but had they come they would have been both tears of joy and of happiness. If you read this book – something I highly recommend – maybe you can spot the scene.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
it-s-not-you-it-s-me
July 3, 2012this is an extremely compelling story, written multi-vocally (though all in the third person) and nicely. unfortunately, i am the kind of reader for whom story is not that important. what's really important to me is rich, original language and a certain quality of depth. this book is all story. the language is fine but not mind-blowing. and the characters are just characters in a story, with only the complexity required for the story to work. so while this is a worthy book, it isn't quite for me.
January 10, 2022
This book was a wonderful read. The characters are strong and well developed. Coming from a small town myself, I've witnessed similar situations. The author does an amazing job of showing the ramifications of choosing to turn aside or take action. I loved how she gave the citizens a second chance to make a difference and then let the reader experience how each person is changed. I would highly recommend this book.
February 21, 2011
Appalachian Justice
by Melinda Clayton
copyright 2010 by Melinda Clayton, published by Vanilla Heart Publishing, print edition ISBN 978-1-935407-92-8, print edition 245 pgs. $14.95, eBook AISN B00466HSEK, $4.99 from Amazon or Barnes and Noble
Rarely has a character stuck in my head the way Billy May Platte of Appalachian Justice has. Melinda Clayton does such a rich job with the character you can hear her speaking plain as day by the end of her first chapter and her voices resonates long after she leaves the pages of the book behind. Other characters in the book are just as deeply drawn out, especially the antagonist who will make your skin crawl, almost literally.
Appalachian Justice is a tale of the cost of prejudice, the value of love and the price of courage. It is the story of everyday characters who happen to be settled in the Appalachian mountains during a period of time from the forties through modern day, though the vast majority of the story covers two critical times, one, a single day in the life of Billy May Platte that would change her forever, the other a few critical weeks, in the lives of four families that will once again change the face of the small mountain town and the lives of those living in it.
Appalachian Justice is visceral, reaching out to grab your emotions and senses from the first pages until the last. The tension is well-developed growing exponentially until it finally reaches the breaking point. It is a wonderful debut album for Melinda Clayton and deserves to be read by every family trying to teach tolerance and the cost of prejudice. The story, set in the past unfortunately still happens today in community after community, most of which aren’t able to find a little Appalachian Justice.
Open the pages, but be prepared, while Appalachian Justice works to break down barriers and to bring about understanding of a few key issues it is raw and at times violent though both factors are critical to the story and are not done simply for shock value. It is a critical story for our time and for the ages to come, by reading it we may evolve enough as a people to never need Appalachian Justice again.
by Melinda Clayton
copyright 2010 by Melinda Clayton, published by Vanilla Heart Publishing, print edition ISBN 978-1-935407-92-8, print edition 245 pgs. $14.95, eBook AISN B00466HSEK, $4.99 from Amazon or Barnes and Noble
Rarely has a character stuck in my head the way Billy May Platte of Appalachian Justice has. Melinda Clayton does such a rich job with the character you can hear her speaking plain as day by the end of her first chapter and her voices resonates long after she leaves the pages of the book behind. Other characters in the book are just as deeply drawn out, especially the antagonist who will make your skin crawl, almost literally.
Appalachian Justice is a tale of the cost of prejudice, the value of love and the price of courage. It is the story of everyday characters who happen to be settled in the Appalachian mountains during a period of time from the forties through modern day, though the vast majority of the story covers two critical times, one, a single day in the life of Billy May Platte that would change her forever, the other a few critical weeks, in the lives of four families that will once again change the face of the small mountain town and the lives of those living in it.
Appalachian Justice is visceral, reaching out to grab your emotions and senses from the first pages until the last. The tension is well-developed growing exponentially until it finally reaches the breaking point. It is a wonderful debut album for Melinda Clayton and deserves to be read by every family trying to teach tolerance and the cost of prejudice. The story, set in the past unfortunately still happens today in community after community, most of which aren’t able to find a little Appalachian Justice.
Open the pages, but be prepared, while Appalachian Justice works to break down barriers and to bring about understanding of a few key issues it is raw and at times violent though both factors are critical to the story and are not done simply for shock value. It is a critical story for our time and for the ages to come, by reading it we may evolve enough as a people to never need Appalachian Justice again.
December 28, 2010
Amazing. Absolutely amazing. This book is a tale of love and resilience and healing, and you will fall in love not only with Billy May, but with so many of the townspeople. It's been a long, long time since I've read a book with characters that became so real to me.
March 9, 2019
Sometimes, you read a book that really gives you mixed feelings. For me, this is one of those books.
First of all, I think that the author/publisher should have a prominent statement in the blurb for the book warning people of the content. Anyone who has suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse or rape could have a very hard time with this book. Even though I have not personally had to deal with any of this (Thank God!), I found myself greatly disturbed by some of the content.
At the beginning, I enjoyed learning about Billy May's life growing up in the mountains of West Virginia in a small mining town. The author definitely painted a picture and I was reminded of one of my favorite books, "To Kill A Mockingbird" with Billy May's childlike view of the area.
But, as I got further into the book, I found myself having a hard time with the story. The author jumped between three different time periods, which made it hard to follow at times. Also, there were a lot of characters, some with similar names, which added to the confusion. Then, when jumping from time to time, you had young girls that were named, then after they married, of course their names changed. This might not be a bothersome when reading a physical book, but it was confusing in an audiobook. I realize that the author was trying to slowly build up to the climax of the story, but I really don't like flashbacks in my books or movies.
I won't go into detail about the story, but I did find it hard to believe that a whole town would be so dimwitted and spineless when it came to the events that were hinted at in the book. "Something" happened to Billy May when she was about 14 years old and she just disappeared. Even though she didn't have any family, what about all the other kids and their parents? Wasn't anybody bothered by her disappearance?
Then, we have the local Doctor who overlooks the domestic abuse that his secretary/assistant is obviously suffering. Then, we find out that he is secretly in love with her? Give me a break!
The chapter that focused on Mr. Smith, the owner of the general store, nearly drove me crazy. Each and every time the man talked or was talked about, the author called him, 'Mr. Smith". We got it......"Mr. Smith" must have been used at least 100 times in this chapter (if I had a physical book, I would have counted).
When a few people finally take off their blinders to what has been under their noses for 30+ years, I expected a prolonged, detailed ending. However, the author instead rushed this part of the book and I was left wondering why. And, a law enforcement person was mentioned, but nobody ever bothered to involve him in the situation?
There were some poignant, heartfelt moments in the book, which is why I kept listening. But, after the wonderful beginning, I was disappointed in the whole story. The narrator did a great job with the various voices and accents, but some of the male villains were pretty over the top.
Sometimes, you read a book that really gives you mixed feelings. For me, this is one of those books.
First of all, I think that the author/publisher should have a prominent statement in the blurb for the book warning people of the content. Anyone who has suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse or rape could have a very hard time with this book. Even though I have not personally had to deal with any of this (Thank God!), I found myself greatly disturbed by some of the content.
At the beginning, I enjoyed learning about Billy May's life growing up in the mountains of West Virginia in a small mining town. The author definitely painted a picture and I was reminded of one of my favorite books, "To Kill A Mockingbird" with Billy May's childlike view of the area.
But, as I got further into the book, I found myself having a hard time with the story. The author jumped between three different time periods, which made it hard to follow at times. Also, there were a lot of characters, some with similar names, which added to the confusion. Then, when jumping from time to time, you had young girls that were named, then after they married, of course their names changed. This might not be a bothersome when reading a physical book, but it was confusing in an audiobook. I realize that the author was trying to slowly build up to the climax of the story, but I really don't like flashbacks in my books or movies.
I won't go into detail about the story, but I did find it hard to believe that a whole town would be so dimwitted and spineless when it came to the events that were hinted at in the book. "Something" happened to Billy May when she was about 14 years old and she just disappeared. Even though she didn't have any family, what about all the other kids and their parents? Wasn't anybody bothered by her disappearance?
Then, we have the local Doctor who overlooks the domestic abuse that his secretary/assistant is obviously suffering. Then, we find out that he is secretly in love with her? Give me a break!
The chapter that focused on Mr. Smith, the owner of the general store, nearly drove me crazy. Each and every time the man talked or was talked about, the author called him, 'Mr. Smith". We got it......"Mr. Smith" must have been used at least 100 times in this chapter (if I had a physical book, I would have counted).
When a few people finally take off their blinders to what has been under their noses for 30+ years, I expected a prolonged, detailed ending. However, the author instead rushed this part of the book and I was left wondering why. And, a law enforcement person was mentioned, but nobody ever bothered to involve him in the situation?
There were some poignant, heartfelt moments in the book, which is why I kept listening. But, after the wonderful beginning, I was disappointed in the whole story. The narrator did a great job with the various voices and accents, but some of the male villains were pretty over the top.
January 23, 2022
I could not put this book down. I love a story with a strong female role, and the fact that for much of this book, Billy May was middle-age and older telling the story of her early (and tragic) youth made the book speak to me on a lot of levels.
Billy May is a survivor and the story crafted around her is one of betrayal, innocence, and forgiveness. It is well-told and the characters are so fully developed that they seemed like my ancestors. These characters became my relatives. and now I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Billy May is a survivor and the story crafted around her is one of betrayal, innocence, and forgiveness. It is well-told and the characters are so fully developed that they seemed like my ancestors. These characters became my relatives. and now I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
December 8, 2018
A great read, very fast paced.
January 2, 2014
It's not often that I read a book that stays with me. By "staying with me" I mean I think about it and the characters long after finishing the last page. I can recall the events that took place, and often every character's name, as if they were real pages from my own life story and real people that I know and love. A book like this is usually one that I consistently suggest to other readers that I know will appreciate it as much as I did. Appalachian Justice by Melinda Clayton is one of these books.
Clayton weaves a small town Southern drama that is reminiscent of only the pain and brutality that the beloved Flannery O'Connor delivered in her short story, "A Good Man is Hard to Find," or the love and tenderness shown in Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory." The voice of her characters and their personal handicaps resonates with the Southern charm and honesty that runs deep in my own backwoods roots, and that I still appreciate in classic Southern lit because it hits so close to home.
Appalachian Justice is the story of Billy May Platte, a half-indian woman living alone on Crutcher Mountain after a painful childhood provided reason for her to escape the clutches of the small mining town of Cedar Hollow. With her parents gone, at age 14, Billy May befriends Corrine and their innocent love for each other is soon shattered when Corrine's brother and her friends discover their secret. Their small minds, fed by sexual voracity, are intent on teaching Billy May a lesson.
Years later, Billy May, now age 44, finds the past resurfacing when a young girl named Jessie escapes to the mountain after being raped by her step-father, one of the same men who hurt Billy May so long ago. Can Billy May confront her past in order to come to the aid of Jessie? A harsh winter settling in on Crutcher Mountain is not the only thing that makes her choice difficult.
The story switches between 1975 and 2010, told through Billy May's eyes in present time when she is an aging woman in the hospital lying on her death bed. Her mind keeps taking her "back to the mountain" when she first met Jessie. Along the way, her own childhood is revealed through her story and through other points of view provided by the various townspeople who were once Billy's friends. They were unaware of her haunted past and as the truth is revealed, they too come to Billy and Jessie's defense in hopes of keeping the past from being repeated.
A story that is at times disturbing and uncomfortable, Clayton has done what few authors since the fictional Jo in Alcott's Little Women have been able to achieve. She writes with honesty and from the heart. She remains truthful to her characters and does not hold back. Her story is not sensationalized. And that is exactly why hers is a book that will stay with me - in my heart and on my bookshelf - a read that I am anxious to share and experience again and again.
Clayton weaves a small town Southern drama that is reminiscent of only the pain and brutality that the beloved Flannery O'Connor delivered in her short story, "A Good Man is Hard to Find," or the love and tenderness shown in Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory." The voice of her characters and their personal handicaps resonates with the Southern charm and honesty that runs deep in my own backwoods roots, and that I still appreciate in classic Southern lit because it hits so close to home.
Appalachian Justice is the story of Billy May Platte, a half-indian woman living alone on Crutcher Mountain after a painful childhood provided reason for her to escape the clutches of the small mining town of Cedar Hollow. With her parents gone, at age 14, Billy May befriends Corrine and their innocent love for each other is soon shattered when Corrine's brother and her friends discover their secret. Their small minds, fed by sexual voracity, are intent on teaching Billy May a lesson.
Years later, Billy May, now age 44, finds the past resurfacing when a young girl named Jessie escapes to the mountain after being raped by her step-father, one of the same men who hurt Billy May so long ago. Can Billy May confront her past in order to come to the aid of Jessie? A harsh winter settling in on Crutcher Mountain is not the only thing that makes her choice difficult.
The story switches between 1975 and 2010, told through Billy May's eyes in present time when she is an aging woman in the hospital lying on her death bed. Her mind keeps taking her "back to the mountain" when she first met Jessie. Along the way, her own childhood is revealed through her story and through other points of view provided by the various townspeople who were once Billy's friends. They were unaware of her haunted past and as the truth is revealed, they too come to Billy and Jessie's defense in hopes of keeping the past from being repeated.
A story that is at times disturbing and uncomfortable, Clayton has done what few authors since the fictional Jo in Alcott's Little Women have been able to achieve. She writes with honesty and from the heart. She remains truthful to her characters and does not hold back. Her story is not sensationalized. And that is exactly why hers is a book that will stay with me - in my heart and on my bookshelf - a read that I am anxious to share and experience again and again.
May 14, 2011
Billy May Platt is the daughter of an Irish father and a Cherokee mother, and with that background living in a small town in West Virginia in the 1940s already presents difficulties. When she's 14 a group of boys launch a terrible attack on her, having witnessed a scene that drew her sexuality into question, and orphan Billy May retreats into the wilderness shunning her former friends. Thirty years later Billy May discovers the daughter of one of her attackers hiding out in the mountains where she has effectively done the same, and suspects he hasn't changed. She doesn't want to forgo her seclusion but feels for the girl. Events unravel bringing the story to a dramatic conclusion and affecting a number of the town's families.
This book skips between the 40's, 1975 and 2010, where Billy May who is now in her 80s is in hospital. She recounts her story and we gradually find out what actually happened to change many lives as a result of one incident. We also find out whether Billy May gets any justice for what has happened to her.
I'm not usually the sort of person who cries reading books (I think I can count the ones that have affected me in that way on one hand) but this one had me in tears. I was so moved by everything that had happened to Billy May, and the way in which the story reaches it peak in the 70s. To start with I wasn't sure about the author's use of lots of apostrophes to recreate the Billy May's manner of speech, but once I got into it I felt it actually helped me better imagine her and get closer to the character.
The story is very sad, one of prejudice, abuse and ignorance yet with all the threads tied up and knowing how everything turned out, seeing the good in people as well as the bad, it was strangely uplifting. In places Billy May is reading a book about a seagull and the excerpts reflect a story very similar to hers. I thought it was a very clever device to readdress the issues in a more simple way and emphasise them.
I love this book and really didn't want to put it down. In fact I'm kind of sad to have finished it. I think this will be a book that stays with me and one I'll probably re-read in the future. If it sounds even vaguely interesting to you get a copy!
This book skips between the 40's, 1975 and 2010, where Billy May who is now in her 80s is in hospital. She recounts her story and we gradually find out what actually happened to change many lives as a result of one incident. We also find out whether Billy May gets any justice for what has happened to her.
I'm not usually the sort of person who cries reading books (I think I can count the ones that have affected me in that way on one hand) but this one had me in tears. I was so moved by everything that had happened to Billy May, and the way in which the story reaches it peak in the 70s. To start with I wasn't sure about the author's use of lots of apostrophes to recreate the Billy May's manner of speech, but once I got into it I felt it actually helped me better imagine her and get closer to the character.
The story is very sad, one of prejudice, abuse and ignorance yet with all the threads tied up and knowing how everything turned out, seeing the good in people as well as the bad, it was strangely uplifting. In places Billy May is reading a book about a seagull and the excerpts reflect a story very similar to hers. I thought it was a very clever device to readdress the issues in a more simple way and emphasise them.
I love this book and really didn't want to put it down. In fact I'm kind of sad to have finished it. I think this will be a book that stays with me and one I'll probably re-read in the future. If it sounds even vaguely interesting to you get a copy!
August 15, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel. Though it deals with sexual abuse and I tend to shy away from novels with this topic, the premise and the delicacy with which Clayton treats it made the story an enticing must read. It’s extremely well written, jumping between the past and present, following the lives of different characters as everything unfolds. It draws the reader in from the very beginning as the mystery surrounding Billy May’s life is presented, and I found it to be impossible to put down.
I loved the depiction of all the characters, and though I hated some of them due to their treatment of women and those around them in general, I have to say that Clayton wrote all her characters to be extremely convincing, and I just loved the believability of the dialogue through the dialect. Clayton does such an amazing job with her characters that my hatred was palpable on many an occasion, as was my fear for Billy May and the other abused women of the story. I really felt a kindred with the female characters, and rooted for them the entire way, which is something I can’t say for most novels I read.
While this novel deals with the very heavy topics of rape and abuse, it’s really a story of healing, and I loved that Clayton doesn’t explicitly portray the abuse. The allusions are there, but it’s lightly prodded, giving the reader an obvious idea of what is happening, but not to a blatant extent. I hate novels that have to detail every gruesome thing that happens, and thankfully, Clayton doesn’t do that. And, though it’s a sad tale, it has an great ending that, though a bit grisly, is exactly what the readers wants/needs to happen. I cheered aloud when everything came to a head and the smoke cleared… Clayton really did a great job.
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
I loved the depiction of all the characters, and though I hated some of them due to their treatment of women and those around them in general, I have to say that Clayton wrote all her characters to be extremely convincing, and I just loved the believability of the dialogue through the dialect. Clayton does such an amazing job with her characters that my hatred was palpable on many an occasion, as was my fear for Billy May and the other abused women of the story. I really felt a kindred with the female characters, and rooted for them the entire way, which is something I can’t say for most novels I read.
While this novel deals with the very heavy topics of rape and abuse, it’s really a story of healing, and I loved that Clayton doesn’t explicitly portray the abuse. The allusions are there, but it’s lightly prodded, giving the reader an obvious idea of what is happening, but not to a blatant extent. I hate novels that have to detail every gruesome thing that happens, and thankfully, Clayton doesn’t do that. And, though it’s a sad tale, it has an great ending that, though a bit grisly, is exactly what the readers wants/needs to happen. I cheered aloud when everything came to a head and the smoke cleared… Clayton really did a great job.
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
August 4, 2011
Just started this one. Found it by accident on Goodreads and the reviews are great. Also the Amazon reader reviews are 5-star as well. So here goes............
Welp...........finished this great book as I was house/dog/cat sitting for a family. Loved, loved, loved this book. Where do I start? First off, the setting is a small coal mining town in West Virginia and takes place from the WWII era to present day. The only downside to the setting is that people who read this book will think that West Virginia is just as it is portrayed in this book, and that West Virginia is nothing but coal miners and hicks. As Billy May, the lead character, would say: "Shoot. Them hicks is everywhere."
The dialect was right on. The author lets Billy May use the language that she would actually have used, had she been a real person. "Cain't" for "can't"; "twiced" for "twice"; "fer" for "for". Well you get the picture. But it wasn't overdone.
The premise: A young girl in the '40's gets caught in a romantic embrace with another young girl. The rest of the story details what happens to her as a result of being found out. Needless to say, homophobia was alive and well in a small WV mining town in the '40's.
The bonus of the book is that it is generational; the reader gets a glimpse of what took place in Cedar Hollow, WV, before the opening of the story, and what happens as Billy May ages to nearly 80. A 5-star read. There is a sequel which I have already downloaded to my Kindle. Great great book.
Welp...........finished this great book as I was house/dog/cat sitting for a family. Loved, loved, loved this book. Where do I start? First off, the setting is a small coal mining town in West Virginia and takes place from the WWII era to present day. The only downside to the setting is that people who read this book will think that West Virginia is just as it is portrayed in this book, and that West Virginia is nothing but coal miners and hicks. As Billy May, the lead character, would say: "Shoot. Them hicks is everywhere."
The dialect was right on. The author lets Billy May use the language that she would actually have used, had she been a real person. "Cain't" for "can't"; "twiced" for "twice"; "fer" for "for". Well you get the picture. But it wasn't overdone.
The premise: A young girl in the '40's gets caught in a romantic embrace with another young girl. The rest of the story details what happens to her as a result of being found out. Needless to say, homophobia was alive and well in a small WV mining town in the '40's.
The bonus of the book is that it is generational; the reader gets a glimpse of what took place in Cedar Hollow, WV, before the opening of the story, and what happens as Billy May ages to nearly 80. A 5-star read. There is a sequel which I have already downloaded to my Kindle. Great great book.
March 9, 2011
Appalachian Justice is not the kind of book I’d normally pick up – in my old age I’m looking more and more for light and fun – but it’s story well told with a cast of characters you won’t forget....Billy May Platte, the main character, is a marvel – broken but rebuilt, wise, fearless.... The characters are all real and honest, the bad guys make your skin crawl, and the good guys are flawed enough to be interesting. The author makes good use of time and place – the starkness of the mountain and the isolation of the village really put you in the heart of things. But the main attraction here is Billy May herself. When she is speaking, the story really comes alive, not only because her accent is dead on, but you can hear the yearning in her voice. I was rooting for her the whole way. For my full review, see Boomers and Books - http://boomersandbooks.wordpress.com/
April 20, 2011
Appalachian Justice by Melinda Clayton tells the story of a Wilhelmina Platte a.k.a. Billy May from the time when her dad died in the mines to her death and everything in between. It shows the ugly side of people as well as the compassionate side. It also has the lesson that people will help if you let them in.
I have to confess I love the format that this story is written in. It’s told from Billy May’s memories as she is dying. Sifting through her memories is like reading a diary. The characters are well rounded and they jump at you throughout the story. When she is remembering the mountain itself you can picture it in your mind very easily. There were times (especially toward the end) that I felt I was there.
Melinda Clayton did a wonderful job and I hope to read more of her work.
4.5 bookmarks
Carol Langstroth, Manager
Mind Fog Reviews
I have to confess I love the format that this story is written in. It’s told from Billy May’s memories as she is dying. Sifting through her memories is like reading a diary. The characters are well rounded and they jump at you throughout the story. When she is remembering the mountain itself you can picture it in your mind very easily. There were times (especially toward the end) that I felt I was there.
Melinda Clayton did a wonderful job and I hope to read more of her work.
4.5 bookmarks
Carol Langstroth, Manager
Mind Fog Reviews
August 9, 2012
Delight hardly seems the right word for a book that deals with such horrific abuse. But this book does delight on so many levels. First, for the brilliant writing including the wonderful way Clayton captures the accent and mannerisms of speech. Secondly, for the beautiful rendition of love on many levels. Thirdly for showing strong but flawed characters as well as the terribly flawed with such realism that we can believe they exist even when we don't want them to. A beautiful book in all respects but one. I would have preferred a cleaner ending--one that wasn't quite so detailed and Pollyannish
June 20, 2014
This book was an intriguing read, and it shows just how much hate can cost. Love is more powerful when it is shared & shown to others, but too often we are afraid of those who seem different or odd to us. This books deals with social norms & mores, but also shows just how far some have come. Though you may not agree with another's lifestyle or choices, you can still show them love & respect. This book has some surprising twists & turns, and it shows just how some of the mountain people took care of their own (and many of them may still live by that code). We can all learn something from this book, about life in general & ourselves.
October 18, 2012
Wow! What a beautifully written story. Once I got used to the Appalachian prose I was totally there on Crutcher Mountain beside Billy May. Melinda grabs you by your heart and leads you through the life and times of Billy May Platte and doesn't let you go.
This is a poignant and totally engrossing story with well developed characters that will break your heart and then heal it leaving memories that are not truly your own. Billy May's story and strength of character will stay with me forever. I highly recommend this book.
This is a poignant and totally engrossing story with well developed characters that will break your heart and then heal it leaving memories that are not truly your own. Billy May's story and strength of character will stay with me forever. I highly recommend this book.
September 8, 2012
This is one of though books that most readers find thereselves torn on whether to download or not. You want to read the book but are afraid that some others may see you reading a book in this topic/genre. I tell you not to be afraid and to tell those who snicker to read it themselves. Melinda does a superb job of telling a side of a story we tend to ignore in a place that is seldom thought of. I applaud her book and challenge all who read this interview to sample the book. You will sample, read and then buy.
August 9, 2011
Being a "mountain" book, this had my attention before I opened it! But with the first page, the setting, the characters, and the writing all grabbed and wouldn't let go til I finished. The book's meandering through 3 different time periods is superbly done and is used to build incredible suspense and to weave a beautiful but at times disturbing love story. Billy May is one of those amazing characters you must meet! This is one for more than 5 stars for me!
April 6, 2011
Loved this book.
June 22, 2016
Not a typical love story. Made me smile and cry a tear, so it was a good book. I think I love Billy May!
September 1, 2019
The last of my Appalachian books and this one is just as bad as the one before.
Foul.
Deleted
Foul.
Deleted
April 7, 2025
Melinda Clayton’s “Appalachian Justice” is the first of a four-novel series set in the West Virginia mining town of Cedar Hollow. The story’s about a woman named Billy May Platte. As a teen, she was gang raped in 1945 and nursed back to health by a widow in a cabin atop 4700-foot Crutcher Mountain. Years later, living out her days in the cabin apart from the village, Billy May seizes an opportunity to pay it back. She helps a girl recover from sexual assault.
Clayton takes a close, uncomfortable look not just at the trauma of rape, but at the roiling emotions of a closeted lesbian in a rural Southern Baptist community during the ‘40s and ‘50s. There’s fear of violent reproach. There’s shame stemming from a deep-seated conservative faith and Sunday sermons about the sin of homosexuality. But there are themes here, too, of courage, community and personal growth, of summoning our better angels to help others.
“Appalachian Justice” is grit lit. It spares little in graphic, colloquial descriptions of all-too-common violence against Cedar Hollow women and the harsh realities for generations of men who work in the mines. The richly drawn characters are flawed, scarred – just how we like ‘em.
And like all good grit lit, Clayton links place with story in wonderfully descriptive prose. One passage early on says much about Billy May’s secluded life in the cabin: “The sun was just beginnin’ to dip below the summit of the mountain, spreadin’ rosy streaks across the western sky the way it does on clear mountain evenin’s. A cool breeze kicked up sudden like from the north, causin’ the dust to dance in miniature tornadoes and sendin’ an involuntary shiver down my spine.”
Reflecting growing suspense, Clayton later writes, “Overhead, dark clouds were building on the horizon, creating an eerie glow as they filtered out the sunlight. … [Sue Ann] could see the top of the mountain in the distance, shrouded by purple clouds.”
A soothing balm for the raw “Appalachian Justice” is Billy May’s communications with her deceased mother and father. Another character in Clayton’s novel, shortly before death, is visited by his deceased wife in prose that is tender and deeply affecting. Are these communications with the other side real? Or are they a coping mechanism of the mind? No matter, really, because these moments provide the reader with a relieving counterbalance to an often violent narrative.
Further relief comes in the novel’s resolution. Things do get sorted. However, I could’ve done with fewer details, and so I struggled a bit to complete the last two chapters and epilogue. It’s enough to intimate a happy ending or better days ahead. It’s fine to leave a little to the reader’s imagination after turning the final page.
Clayton takes a close, uncomfortable look not just at the trauma of rape, but at the roiling emotions of a closeted lesbian in a rural Southern Baptist community during the ‘40s and ‘50s. There’s fear of violent reproach. There’s shame stemming from a deep-seated conservative faith and Sunday sermons about the sin of homosexuality. But there are themes here, too, of courage, community and personal growth, of summoning our better angels to help others.
“Appalachian Justice” is grit lit. It spares little in graphic, colloquial descriptions of all-too-common violence against Cedar Hollow women and the harsh realities for generations of men who work in the mines. The richly drawn characters are flawed, scarred – just how we like ‘em.
And like all good grit lit, Clayton links place with story in wonderfully descriptive prose. One passage early on says much about Billy May’s secluded life in the cabin: “The sun was just beginnin’ to dip below the summit of the mountain, spreadin’ rosy streaks across the western sky the way it does on clear mountain evenin’s. A cool breeze kicked up sudden like from the north, causin’ the dust to dance in miniature tornadoes and sendin’ an involuntary shiver down my spine.”
Reflecting growing suspense, Clayton later writes, “Overhead, dark clouds were building on the horizon, creating an eerie glow as they filtered out the sunlight. … [Sue Ann] could see the top of the mountain in the distance, shrouded by purple clouds.”
A soothing balm for the raw “Appalachian Justice” is Billy May’s communications with her deceased mother and father. Another character in Clayton’s novel, shortly before death, is visited by his deceased wife in prose that is tender and deeply affecting. Are these communications with the other side real? Or are they a coping mechanism of the mind? No matter, really, because these moments provide the reader with a relieving counterbalance to an often violent narrative.
Further relief comes in the novel’s resolution. Things do get sorted. However, I could’ve done with fewer details, and so I struggled a bit to complete the last two chapters and epilogue. It’s enough to intimate a happy ending or better days ahead. It’s fine to leave a little to the reader’s imagination after turning the final page.
February 8, 2021
This was an easy read of 239 pages and I finished it rather quickly. The protagonist Billy May endures a heinous attack as a young teenager, that both shames her, and physically drives her from the local community of Cedar Hollow West Virginia. As the title implies the location, so does it, the plot of the story. The author, Melinda Clayton writes in Billy May’s mountain accent/dialect whenever she is writing from her point of view. At first it was distracting but I quickly became comfortable with it and it became a place of comfort as the story evolves. I appreciate how the story would jump from a past to a more recent present and then back again with each chapter. We learned much about the many characters by being introduced to them with dedicated chapters and often in their point of view.
I was uncomfortable with the violence and at one point I remember thinking “Why am I reading this, as it is such an awful situation.” The writing was not too graphic, but still left me unsettled. Also, I thought it odd that the local doctor would just assume that Jessie was Billy May’s daughter; I did not find that connecting well as the doctor had lived there for 15 years and would of seen Jessi with her step-father and mother. Or at least that was my take.
That aside, I enjoyed this book, but was surprised that the mountain dialect, for the most part was only shared when writing in Billy May’s point of view. If there were other characters sharing in the dialect it was minimal at best. Or perhaps in Billy May’s case the dialect was much stronger. I realize the argument could be made it was because she retreated to spend many years living on the mountain, but she did so in isolation, for the most part.
I especially enjoyed how the beginning connected with the ending. The ringing of the bell was a nice touch!
This is the first of a series and if you are interested in the lives of the Appalachian people and a story where justice prevails, then you will want to read it.
I was uncomfortable with the violence and at one point I remember thinking “Why am I reading this, as it is such an awful situation.” The writing was not too graphic, but still left me unsettled. Also, I thought it odd that the local doctor would just assume that Jessie was Billy May’s daughter; I did not find that connecting well as the doctor had lived there for 15 years and would of seen Jessi with her step-father and mother. Or at least that was my take.
That aside, I enjoyed this book, but was surprised that the mountain dialect, for the most part was only shared when writing in Billy May’s point of view. If there were other characters sharing in the dialect it was minimal at best. Or perhaps in Billy May’s case the dialect was much stronger. I realize the argument could be made it was because she retreated to spend many years living on the mountain, but she did so in isolation, for the most part.
I especially enjoyed how the beginning connected with the ending. The ringing of the bell was a nice touch!
This is the first of a series and if you are interested in the lives of the Appalachian people and a story where justice prevails, then you will want to read it.
April 1, 2019
I listened to the Audible version but could not assign this to the correct edition.
The narrator is part of the reason for the rating. She was fantastic. I have family in the hills and in many places slang and pronunciations that are not usually known were used. (although this was not consistent)
The book itself was a bit rough. In large part this was due to the subject matter and the level to which people chose to ignore what was happening in front of them. However, the story was also rough due to a few difficulties in the transitions between times. I liked seeing what happened through three times in the main character's life however the tenses didn't quite match which time frame or narrator was talking or thinking. Despite this the story was brought to life to the point that I would give a massive trigger warning for realistic violence, sexual and otherwise. And I am not usually one to give trigger warnings.
For those who are thinking that the mindset of the antagonists was just because of when and where the story took place. Think again. There are still men who think that way. There are still people who look the other way. There are still people who choose not to see. We have not come very far.
The narrator is part of the reason for the rating. She was fantastic. I have family in the hills and in many places slang and pronunciations that are not usually known were used. (although this was not consistent)
The book itself was a bit rough. In large part this was due to the subject matter and the level to which people chose to ignore what was happening in front of them. However, the story was also rough due to a few difficulties in the transitions between times. I liked seeing what happened through three times in the main character's life however the tenses didn't quite match which time frame or narrator was talking or thinking. Despite this the story was brought to life to the point that I would give a massive trigger warning for realistic violence, sexual and otherwise. And I am not usually one to give trigger warnings.
For those who are thinking that the mindset of the antagonists was just because of when and where the story took place. Think again. There are still men who think that way. There are still people who look the other way. There are still people who choose not to see. We have not come very far.
August 9, 2018
Wow! This is one of those books that even though you have a pretty good feeling early on what will eventually happen, you are glued to the book.....staying awake until,the early morning hours to finish.
Set in the coal mining country of West Virginia in one of many small little towns, Appalachian Justice deals with the basest of emotions, of behaviors....of wishes and dreams. You realize how the actions from one’s youth can stick around forever....that good people exist as do evil people. Within the covers of this book, you truly love and hate characters and feel such sorrow for Billy Mae, Corrine, and Jessie. You love the men who were Billy !Amy’s friends since childhood yet she didn’t know it. You are reinforced in a belief that there are good people in this world and that evil can be conquered.
I don’t want to share much of the story. I think it would be a good one for a book club; a discussion guide is included. It is a good story to read if you ever need proof that people can overcome terrible things in their lives when they are determined and someone truly cares/ loves about them. Or maybe, we overcome things when we believe that love is out there somewhere.
Set in the coal mining country of West Virginia in one of many small little towns, Appalachian Justice deals with the basest of emotions, of behaviors....of wishes and dreams. You realize how the actions from one’s youth can stick around forever....that good people exist as do evil people. Within the covers of this book, you truly love and hate characters and feel such sorrow for Billy Mae, Corrine, and Jessie. You love the men who were Billy !Amy’s friends since childhood yet she didn’t know it. You are reinforced in a belief that there are good people in this world and that evil can be conquered.
I don’t want to share much of the story. I think it would be a good one for a book club; a discussion guide is included. It is a good story to read if you ever need proof that people can overcome terrible things in their lives when they are determined and someone truly cares/ loves about them. Or maybe, we overcome things when we believe that love is out there somewhere.
February 9, 2025
Here’s the thing: the concept of this story is really good. It’s a story that needs to be told and explored; it’s heavy to get through, but important to do so. I can tell that the sensitive topics in the book are cared about very deeply by the author, and they are handled with relative grace.
That being said, PLEASE fire your editor.
There were so many little inconsistencies (for example, Billy May’s last name is spelled two different ways, and that spelling is seemingly used interchangeably?) and inaccuracies (for example, Indian Paintbrush does not grow in West Virginia- coming from someone who has spent a good chunk of my life in the Appalachians and now lives in a place where it DOES grow); the way the accents were written was also… weird. You need to fix the little things and research the seemingly trivial details as well as the greater framework of the story. I picked up this book because it promised a good story rooted in the Appalachians, but it felt like it was written by someone who had no experience in the region at all, which was really disappointing.
That being said, PLEASE fire your editor.
There were so many little inconsistencies (for example, Billy May’s last name is spelled two different ways, and that spelling is seemingly used interchangeably?) and inaccuracies (for example, Indian Paintbrush does not grow in West Virginia- coming from someone who has spent a good chunk of my life in the Appalachians and now lives in a place where it DOES grow); the way the accents were written was also… weird. You need to fix the little things and research the seemingly trivial details as well as the greater framework of the story. I picked up this book because it promised a good story rooted in the Appalachians, but it felt like it was written by someone who had no experience in the region at all, which was really disappointing.
December 11, 2020
Glad I purchased
After reading the synopsis I had doubts about delving into such serious topics. I am happy to say this is a well written book and the difficult topics are handled tactfully. I would also like to say that I was just a young woman in 1975 which is the central time of the story. I grew up in the north but my family came from the coal mines of Pennsylvania and from Tennessee. That being said between the tumultuous time in our country and the ways of my family elders I can totally understand/believe the behavior of the persons in this story.
I will be looking into more books from this author.
After reading the synopsis I had doubts about delving into such serious topics. I am happy to say this is a well written book and the difficult topics are handled tactfully. I would also like to say that I was just a young woman in 1975 which is the central time of the story. I grew up in the north but my family came from the coal mines of Pennsylvania and from Tennessee. That being said between the tumultuous time in our country and the ways of my family elders I can totally understand/believe the behavior of the persons in this story.
I will be looking into more books from this author.
August 29, 2018
It was ok. Just ok. Not as amazing as all the 5 star reviews make it out to be. Story is interesting but completely predictable. The differing points of view switch from one paragraph to the next leaving confusion about who really said it,, and the need to go back often and figure it out. Has potential but is put together in a very amateurish way.
September 24, 2018
Excellent read. The great story telling gripped me and dragged me through the good and bad of humanity. The story is told in both first person and third person, present and past. A glitch in formatting often had first and third person sections running together, which was confusing. I highly recommend the book and will look for the second book in the series to get started right away!
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