Matchbox Mountain: Stories Based on a Mountain Childhood

by Amy Ammons Garza, Doreyl Ammons (Illustrator)

Matchbox Mountain is a collection of stories told by the author about one year in her life in 1952 when she was 10 years old. Living in the mountains of western North Carolina in a house with no electricity, no running water, and no close neighbors, the author shares stories of how she and her siblings made their own world with little but creativity.

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Amy Ammons grew up in Jackson County, WNC, listening to the stories her grandfather told her. Because she was the eldest of her generation, he impressed upon her to "pass on the stories of their heritage to the next generation.
For 30 years, throughout the South, Amy has been telling stories of growing up in the mountains, working with her sister, Doreyl Ammons Cain, mural artist, who spontaneously illustrated them. The Ammons Sisters are the co-founders of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, a non-profit 501c3 organizaton dedicated to "planting seeds of heritage through the arts."(Amy and Doreyl's brother, David Ammons, has also been working within his mountain heritage of caning chairs.)
Amy is the author of 13 books, mostly about the heritage of her families and the local mountain
community. Amy books give a glimpse of the culture in which she grew up.
Amy is also a publisher for others who want to share their talents. She has published close to 170 books for others through Ammons Communications and its imprint, Catch the Spirit of Appalachia.

Reviews

[LeeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

These sweet stories of growing up in Appalachia were exactly what I was hoping for when I bought this book. I especially enjoyed the story about making baskets and the mystery of Granny’s jars.