Holler of the Fireflies

by David Barclay Moore

A boy from the hood in Brooklyn travels to a STEM camp in an Appalachian holler for one epic, life-changing summer in this brilliant novel from the award-winning author of The Stars Beneath Our Feet.

Javari knew that West Virginia would be different from his home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. But his first day at STEM Camp in a little Appalachian town is still a shock. Though run-ins with the police are just the same here. Not good.

Javari will learn a lot about science, tech, engineering, and math at camp. And also about rich people, racism, and hidden agendas. But it’s Cricket, a local boy, budding activist, and occasional thief, who will show him a different side of the holler—and blow his mind wide open.

Javari is about to have that summer. Where everything gets messy and complicated and confusing . . . and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

J + C + summer = ∞

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, LGBT, Friendship, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

Published September 27, 2022

About the author

Photo: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Follow DAVID BARCLAY MOORE online at DavidBarclayMoore.com, on Twitter at @dbarclaymoore and on Instagram at dbarclaymoore.

David is a Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe Award-winning author whose novel, The Stars Beneath Our Feet, is being made into a film by actor/director Michael B. Jordan.

Wanna know more?

Writer, filmmaker, photographer, super geek, cherry cobbler gobbler. Knows the Death Star plans backward and forward. Adores Mark Twain, Haruki Murakami and old Prince songs. Loves the ocean. Sincerely wants to fly. David is constantly trying to see the world differently.

He was born and raised in Missouri where he read too many novels and comic books as a child. After studying creative writing at Iowa State University, film at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and language studies at l’Université de Montpellier in France, David moved to New York City, where he has served as technical producer for Sony StudiOne, communications coordinator for Geoffrey Canada’s Harlem Children’s Zone and communications manager for Quality Services for the Autism Community.

David has received grants from the Ford Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, Yaddo, and the Wellspring Foundation. He was also a semi-finalist for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab.

He now lives, works and eats Twizzlers in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

A checklist of any issue that ever was squeezed into one book. It made for a jarring experience as I was pulled this way and that as new issues popped up and took a fleeting moment on centre stage. Just too bitsy to enjoy.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore. While I haven’t read The Stars Beneath Our Feet yet, it does live on our classroom bookshelf.

Things I liked… the STEM that is deeply embedded throughout this MG novel. This is what I think my students would love the most. The projects, research, and video games are intriguing and well done. The environmental justice issues. As someone whose grandfather worked in a mine, the implications of the mining industry on local communities can be devastating and is often not addressed. I appreciated the connections made between the mining companies and the varied damage that they left behind. The social justice issues are also prominent throughout the story. Overall, there is a lot to generate discussion.

Things I didn’t like… there were a lot of issues brought up. While I think all of the issues brought up are very valid, a few of them felt a little forced and possibly overwhelming to a middle grade reader to be hit with all at once. Though, they often don’t register all of them, so could go either way. If you have a highly sensitive child, this might be one you would want to read with them. Also, this is definitely written for MG readers. It’s not so much the language itself, but more that it tells instead of shows sometimes in a way that I feel does a slight disservice to students.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is amazing, but this is not what the story is about, and yet it is. The story is about Javari, who comes from New York City to a town in the Appalachians that has had its hills strip mined, and its water ruined, but he doesn’t know that. He just knows it is a STEM camp, and he wants to learn about that.

But, as a boy, Cricket, befriends him, and shows him the true town , and its troubles, he realizes that he has to do something about it.

Realistic. Good story. But the cover fools you, so don’t go in thinking he is going to learn about nature, even though he sort of does. He also learns about bureaucracy, and wealth, and how things aren’t quite what they seem.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviewers said - there's alot going on in this story. There is bullying, issues with money, friendships, identity, and environmental issues. If I was to do this as a read aloud, I would focus on the environmental issues.
Javari, who lives in Brooklyn, travels alone on a bus to West Virginia to go to STEM camp. The little town with iti's prejudices and racism is a bit of a shock to Javari. When he meets Cricket, a local boy who occasionally takes stuff from the camp, he learns a lot more about life than just science and engineering.

[Rhonda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure I can finish this one. There are so many stereotypes and hate is is sad. I expected so much better from this book. My favorite part? The explanation of the lightening bugs. Oh yeah, they are called lightening bugs. I don't know why anyone would ever come to WV after reading this book.

[Jen Donnalley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish. Felt like it covered every topic that a teen might be dealing with and it was not a show don't tell method. Found myself rolling my eyes as I was reading, so that's when I stopped.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Javari Harris lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn with his parents, younger sister, and grandfather and loves all things STEM. There are issues with police brutality as well as gentrification in his neighborhood, and as Javari is going off to summer camp, the family gets an eviction notice. The STEM summer camp is held at Appalachian Ridge Christian College, which is owned by Uncle Billy's General Stores. There is a competition for the campers, and the prize is money that would be useful to Javari's family. Unfortunately, he has to deal with constant racism in the area. He sneaks out at night and meets Cricket, a local boy who is trying to draw attention to the fact the local water supply is polluted by coal mines. The two explore Horsewhip Holler by night, and by day Javari works with a virtual reality program to progress towards the prize. Like this author's The Stars Beneath Our Feet, this book has a lot of racial issues, a lot of use of the n-word, gay characters, and discussions of Black history. I know that Appalachian culture is problematic, but's it's also... somewhat protected(?) so I'm not sure what the policy on referring to people from that area as "rednecks" is. This is one I would suggest reading before buying.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Our main character, living in NYC, is invited to Kentucky to participate in a camp for young scientists. He is very uncomfortable and unsure of his place when he arrives to a predominately white camp, in an area that still flies the confederate flag.
He manages to befriend a young man from the area who is not attending the camp. Through his friendship, a number of lessons are learned and his view of the world begins to change.

I found this to be an excellent book. The characters are well developed, with a variety of personalities just like you would find at any summer camp. The book is action packed, between camp events and his late night escapades.

This book would be a good fit for upper elementary school students, especially those who are looking to broaden their horizons.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars Thanks to. Netgalley for the ARC. This book was ok. I just felt like it was ok because at one point I thought to myself-what else could this author possibly try to fit in here? Race, sexuality, a serious illness, bullying, environmental concerns, big business…it was starting to get a little overloaded. The story itself was fine, although I felt like there were some loose ends (again, back to it being packed with A LOT). The main characters were decent and fairly likable, but I just couldn’t get into it. I couldn’t figure out what I was really supposed to care and focus on the most. I was talking about the book to my students one day and couldn’t really muster any enthusiasm about it, and that made me realize this one wasn’t for me and wasn’t really one I felt was for them.

[Shae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where to start? Begins with anti-police, followed by white-hate, then it just goes downhill from there.

So many racist remarks against Caucasians and Asians, Southerners, then throw in a little homosexuality because that’s required by the publisher, but it doesn’t add to the storyline or character.

The plot has nothing to do with what you’d assume from the title, cover art, and synopsis.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just not for me. I started listening and couldn't get into it, so I switched to the print version but it still felt disjointed. Too many big story lines (camp, night adventures, home things) happening to the same character I think

[Anna Moberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not for me. I really thought it would be more about the STEM camp and that is what I was looking forward to.

[Ashley Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS: Javari knew that West Virginia would be different from his home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. But his first day at STEM Camp in a little Appalachian town is still a shock. Though run-ins with the police are just the same here. Not good.
 
Javari will learn a lot about science, tech, engineering, and math at camp. And also about rich people, racism, and hidden agendas. But it’s Cricket, a local boy, budding activist, and occasional thief, who will show him a different side of the holler—and blow his mind wide open.
 
Javari is about to have that summer. Where everything gets messy and complicated and confusing . . . and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

REVIEW: This book touches on current/relevant topics in an age appropriate way. Topics include: police brutality, racism, discrimination, incorrect first impressions, drug abuse, cancer, poverty, homelessness, environmental impacts of human development (coal mines, mudslides, contaminated drinking water), corporate greed, friendships, gaining independence, critical thinking, self reflection, and even a smidge of sexual orientation. The characters were quite diverse, and all had their own backstory/baggage, which also added dimension and authenticity to concerns addressed in the book.

I thought the author did a great job accurately bringing attention to these topics for middle grade readers without it being too advanced/in-depth/heavy. The topics are woven naturally into the storyline, and because many of these topics are true in rural Appalachia, it didn’t feel forced or out of place regarding the location/setting. Though moral lessons are occurring throughout the book, actual science facts/lessons are also included, and with it being in WV, you can imagine that many are based around nature and coal mining; however, other topics are also discussed.

If you are wanting a young child to read a book with a STEM theme, but also touch on many aspects of social justice in an age appropriate way, this book is a fabulous option. With that saId, even if your child isn’t into STEM, the storyline is compelling enough that they would also enjoy it.

(Review will be shared soon on Instagram— @slowerlowerliving)

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is summer vacation and twelve-year-old Javari Harris has a rare opportunity to attend STEM camp for two weeks in the heart of Appalachia. Coming from New York City, Javari encounters extreme culture shock on his journey to West Virginia, beginning first on the bus and then in myriad moments thereafter. Javari’s family is experiencing financial hardship, but they have been careful not to let that get in the way of Javari’s studies; and when Javari learns that the grand prize for winning a contest at camp comes with cash, he knows he must win it for his family. But camp is not just about STEM, and Javari quickly discovers an important education beyond the confines of his summer program.

This is a captivating middle grade novel that centers around Javari, a smart and sensitive boy from New York City. Told in the first person, the narrative utilizes a heavy dose of colloquialisms and informal language, which propels the plot and gives each of the characters a very clear definition in the mind of the reader. Javari spends brief amounts of time talking with his family back home, but the bulk of the book places Javari in the company of other people who challenge his perception of life. As a twelve-year-old, Javari is beginning to realize there is more to the world than he has seen, even in New York City, and he is learning about it first hand through raw and honest experiences in the Appalachian landscape.

Though this book is centered around the story of a boy at STEM camp, it manages to investigate several other, weightier subjects within its pages in an accessible way. From police brutality to poverty, racism, and the adverse effects of big business on the environment, there is a huge array of conversation starters from which to choose. These moments educate readers of all backgrounds, and by the end of the book, readers will have undoubtedly expanded their own perception of the world through Javari’s eyes. Filled with dialogue, a sizable cast of characters, and important considerations about the human condition, this is a thought provoking and well crafted book for middle grade readers.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short heads up - there is a brief dealing with homosexuality, nothing graphic, but if parents are concerned about that, they should read the book before giving it to their children. Actually, parents should read the book because it is a well-written book that has plenty of fun while addressing many serious issues that could be discussed with their children. In Holler of the Fireflies, shy 12-year-old Javari, a Black boy from Brooklyn, attends a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) camp in rural West Virginian Appalachia. Although the subject matter is what he loves most, the thought of meeting new people is nearly enough to make him stay safely at home. The book is peopled with a huge number of characters, all of which are fleshed out whether they are main characters or one met just in passing. David Barclay Moore’s superb characterization is one of my favorite things about the novel. It is amazing how he can give us a full, interesting character in just a page or two of interaction with Javari. Javari, as a narrator, is funny, vulnerable, intelligent, and generally quite kind even to kids with racist ideas. He befriends a local boy, Cricket, who is not at the camp but who causes plenty of mischief for the camp authorities. Javari sneaks out of camp at night with Cricket, who shows him many eye-opening things in what he calls “Affrilachia”.
Moore brings up many ills of our present-day world (racism, poverty, pollution, environmental destruction) but does so in a very subtle way, making these things just part of the story. A very good book to make middle school readers think about some of these things. It would be a wonderful book to read and discuss in school.
A big thank you to NetGalley, David Barclay Moore and Knopf Books for Young Readers for this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is HOLLER OF THE FIREFLIES about? That's a great question because this novel is about A LOT of things. A whole bunch of issues are packed into the story (racism, prejudice, environmental hazards, police brutality, gentrification, the opioid crisis, the economic divide, etc.), so many that it often feels overloaded and heavy-handed. One theme does come through very loudly and that's the danger of judging people based on how they look, how much money they have, or where they come from. Javari learns this lesson over and over in the tale; it's a good one for all of us to take to heart. Moore also touches on some deeper, less often explored ideas like racism between members of the same ethnicity, the difference between racism caused by ignorance and racism from maliciousness, racism of Black people toward white people, etc. There are lots of thought-provoking questions and ideas here that can provide springboards for interesting discussions.

My favorite part about this book is definitely its atmospheric setting. Moore's descriptions of rural West Virginia brought it to life for me in all of its beauty and bleakness. I also enjoyed learning about the Affrilachians, which I had never heard about before. As far as characters go, Javari and Co. are likable enough, although not overly so. I didn't feel super connected to any of them. The book's plot is a little here-there-and-everywhere with all the various issues mentioned above, but there was enough going on to keep me interested. Moore's prose is dynamic and strong. All of these things combined to make HOLLER OF THE FIREFLIES both enjoyable and instructive. I didn't love it, but I liked it.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Random House Children's for providing a review copy via Netgalley!

Holler of the Fireflies is a book about too many things. Javari is a black boy from NYC who attends a STEM camp in West Virginia, and meets Cricket, a boy who teaches him about a lot more than science. This book opens with a police brutality protest, and I was led to believe this would mainly be a story about race. It is a story about racism, but also environmental issues, queerness, classism, capitalism, poverty and much more. I appreciate the effort, but it is often too much and these issues are not given the page time they need. There are things covered here that never come up again. Mainly, a vivid drug overdose scene that has no bearing on the plot whatsoever.

The best part of this is easily Cricket, who is scrappy, wise and has a taste for justice. His connection with Javari is quite lovely. and I wish the book was about them and nothing else. Cricket teaches Javari so many things, and these are the most valuable parts of the book. Cricket is deeply layered and we never quite break through them all because of the page time dedicated to less relevant topics.

Still, I appreciate what David Barclay Moore is trying to achieve here. He is clearly so knowledgeable and I would totally read more about Cricket and Javari. It's the other stuff that bogs them down. This would work better as either a book about a boy experiencing racism at a camp attended by mainly white and privileged kids or a book about a boy exploring Appalachia with his new, weird friend, Its less successful as both, but is still something I could see in our library.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

12yo Javari got into a 2 week STEM camp in West Virginia, sponsored by a small Christian College in the town of Horsewhip Holler - a far cry from his hometown of Brooklyn New York. Javari is super good at science, but is shy and doesn't make friends soon enough to get into a good group for the final project. He does, however, meet a local boy named Cricket, who gives him a look at what the black community of Horsewhip Holler is like. Javari gets more than a stem education that summer. He also learns about racism, activism, and sees that some things aren't all that different away from home.

Javari's experience at camp is complicated - I think my middle-grade gamers will like the story, as there is a cool game the kids are beta testing. I wonder, though, when he sleeps - sneaking out at night to meet up with Cricket after his roommate has gone to sleep, even attending a late-night book club? I wish he had been a bit older than 12 - sending him alone on a bus with transfers to make and then to arrive at the destination with no one there to meet him felt irresponsible, so I was suspect of the whole program. Setting aside these issues, I think it will be a good addition to a middle school library. Interesting that the cover reflects (pun intended) Moore's "The Stars Beneath Our Feet," and it contains some interesting elements of the history of African Americans in the Appalachians.

Javari and Cricket are black, Veer is Indian culture, Tuyet is Vietnamese culture. Rebecca is white.

Crosspossted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com

[Denise LaRosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Javari is in for a culture shock whenever he signs up to attend a STEM camp in a small town in West Virginia. Never before has this Bushwick native encountered country folk and massive mountains.

I appreciate how our protagonist never fully finds his footing during this unique summer experience that stretches his confidence and imagination. He remains awkward yet enlightened as he navigates camp and forms a new friendship with a local boy by the name Cricket. In fact, it is in these moments that Javari shines while remaining true to his authentic self while also leaving himself room to evolve.

I think the author did a solid job of representing both city and country life with respect as opposed to creating caricatures to reflect both ways of living. As a West Virginia native, I must say the author seems to be most comfortable writing from the city perspective; some country representations felt exaggerated.

There’s also a lot of societal issues covered within this middle grade adventure. I found myself wondering how in the world is the author going to tie up so many loose ends. To my pleasant surprise, the author does a fine job, leaving me feeling satisfied with the ending.

All in all a solid read!

[Penny Louks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another book that was purchased for my classroom library. I finally got the chance to read it this summer. It was very good, but I feel that it dragged in spots. My main criticism would be that the events in the book would have needed to take place over a much longer time than just a two-week camp experience to be realistic. This is probably just an adult perspective, however, and I feel that young teens wouldn't have the same train of thought. One other reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 would be the main character was tentative and hard to get to know. I believe mystery surrounding a main character can be attractive, but it left gaps instead of intrigue. Also, while I understand that a character can shift in and out of dialect, this was a sticking point for me. The character was unapologetically himself all of the time, yet he drifted in and out of poor grammar. As an English teacher, that was troubling, and sometimes I had to trace back to make sure which character was speaking. Students do not have the patience to do that in a free read situation. What the book will bring to my students is a new cultural experience all in 300+ pages; that will keep it in my library. I will have to ponder which students will be recommended the book, though.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Javari is going to some STEM camp his uncle found, but Jay isn't good at meeting people. He finds himself with a snoring roommate, unlikable group members, and accidental rivals: basically camp isn't all that great. But that all changes when he meets Cricket, the sneaky kid who keeps creeping onto campus playing jokes and then fleeing into the night. Jay does his best to try to win the top prize as well as the virtual reality game, but soon sneaking out with Cricket is taking up all his time and allowing him to see a side of Appalachia that he never would have understood otherwise.

I'm not usually a fan of the unreliable narrator bit, and this one is leaning toward that. It's also not really clear what the main plot is for most of the book; even though there are a lot of problems, Javari doesn't really do anything until about 80% through the book. That last 20% was worth it though as all the little pieces came together in a dazzling finish. This'll never be one of my favorite reads, but I'll still be thinking about it for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Pat Trattles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Javari, Black, poor, and living in Brooklyn travels to rural Appalachia to spend the summer at a STEM camp. While STEM is his forte, Javari doesn’t make friends easily and being plopped down in the middle of rural White America takes him way outside his comfort zone. On one of his first nights at the camp, Javari meets a local boy, Cricket, who shows him life outside the camp – the darker side of the region the camp hopes to keep secret.
The characterizations and voices of the book are spot on and I was totally engrossed in the story. It handled some tough subjects but did so with tact and humor. At first I couldn’t figure out the title of the book as the fireflies played such a small part, but then I got it. Like the fireflies who provided pinpricks of light in an otherwise dim world, Javari grows, becomes more comfortable with himself, and learns to let his own light shine through in spite of the odds stacked against him. Recommended read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Cohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holler of the Fireflies is a coming-of-age story, about Javari, a boy from New York City who leaves home, for the first time, to attend a camp for gifted children. For the first time in his life, he's exposed to people from totally different backgrounds from his own, from all across the country - and then there's Cricket, a local from Horsewhip Hollow, the "holler" of the title, and native to the Appalachian area in which the camp is held. Through the course of the camp, Javari learns about cultural differences, the problems that plague people from different backgrounds, himself and, oh, yeah, about science and nature, which is the purpose of the camp.

Told in simple, first-person language that highlights Javari's age of 12, this novel addresses some complex issues, including racism, stereotypes about where one is born and into what circumstances, family financial problems, health issues, self-identity, and interpersonal relationships, between friends and potentially more-than-friends. Recommended for middle school and older; this novel would be a great class read-aloud.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Javier was an African-American boy who was very smart. Javier lived in New York, and he was spending the summer at a STEM camp that was located in West Virginia. Everything about West Virginia was new for Javier. His entire family loved anything STEM and Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald. I was delighted for there to be a African-American, boy, which opens the opportunity to ask different question.
The author introduced issues that Javier was exposed, where not only does he learn math and science, but also prejudice. For fun there are sprinkled, through the book mathematical equations. David Moore introduced many relevant learning opportunities, although the topics are heavy, the author handles them well. This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, which would ask many questions and the opportunity to learn many subjects.
Thank you to David Moore, Random House Children's Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Gedeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore read by Zeno Robinson and David Barclay Moore. Thirteen year old Javari is accepted into a two week STEM camp in the Appalachian Mountains. The New York City boy shares his mixed feelings of having to meet new people and being so far from home with his excitement of using math and science. In West Virginia Javari makes friends with a local kid named Cricket who shows him around the holler, introducing him to people and the issues they face. Javari struggles with the group he is assigned to work with at camp as well as with his roommate, both issues many readers will be able to relate to. From the moment the story opens readers will see that racism plays a large role in the story, however Moore explores it through multiple lenses opening the readers eyes to versions they may not have noticed before. Other themes include socioeconomic differences, politics and touching lightly on LGBTQIA. An excellent novel for grades 6-8.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle School review!
Javari is a young boy from Brooklyn that is getting to attend a STEM camp in West Virginia, a world away from his home environment. The Appalachian town is completely opposite than the city that he lives in. Javari does not make friends quickly in the STEM group, but he does meet Cricket, a local kid, that is sneaking around the camp and causing mischief and trouble at the camp. What Javari gets from his friendship with Cricket is learning about the culture of Appalachia and what is meaningful to Cricket: His friends, local life in a small hollow and fighting for what is right in his community. Javari has “the” summer of his life!!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to preview and give you my honest review.
I just reviewed Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore. #HolleroftheFireflies #NetGalley Pub Date: 27 Sep 2022

[Erica Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy.... Wow!

This is such a powerfully moving work that really highlights the prevailing issues of race relations in the US, particularly the Appalachian area. When writers tackle a huge issue, such as this, they run the risk of coming off as moralizing and preachy. But Moore has so seamlessly integrated the topic of race into the plot of his story that it simply serves as an informative and educational backdrop to a superbly compelling story.

This is a book that I'd recommend to readers of all ages. Anyone reading this is bound to walk away more enlightened for having read it. It would also be a great required reading book for middle grade students.

Lots of great themes: Affrilachian, STEM, Black Lives Matter, race relations, summer camp, multi-generational family, LGBTQ+, ownvoices.

[Carolyn Fagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely highlights the importance of traveling beyond your sphere. Javari, a young black student from NYC, travels to a STEM camp in Appalachia and comes face to face with a type of racism and isolation he has never experienced in the past. This book deals with a lot of social issues, including poverty, gentrification, racism, corporate greed, LGBT issues and more. Sometimes it feels like some issues although raised aren’t given the attention they deserve, but addressing them all would have been impossible. The two weeks Javari spends at camp will change him for life and his friendship with a local boy Cricket definitely expands his horizons. Tuyet is a great supporting character. Worth the read. 3.5

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsure how I feel about this one. While I appreciate the attention drawn to the obstacles West Virginians face as a result of mountain-top removal, and the impact of big companies that have abandoned messes they've created in this beautiful state, I didn't appreciate the characters he created from my home state. While he gives them some intelligence, thank goodness, he keeps them marble-mouthed hillbillies who struggle to string together clear sentences or possess all of their teeth. This was disappointing and not a realistic depiction, which, at times, I just found somewhat insulting bc it applied to every WVian, not just a few. Hmhph! Or should I say, "I was jus' madder n' a wet hen at that ole fella." (Eye roll)

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Javari (A NYC native of Brooklyn) heads to West Virginia for a two-week STEM summer camp. Here he deals with racism and the reality of what coal mining does to the environment while he tries to makes new friends and win the camp-long contest. Harsh reality, Javari realizes, exists outside the city as well as within it. Lots of middle school type drama alongside some starkly real scenes of just about everything from drug overdose and a coal mining induced mudslide to a racially motivated hospitalization of a Black kid by a white security guard and an unwanted first kiss. It was a big two weeks.