Alabama Moon

For as long as ten-year-old Moon can remember, he has lived out in the forest in a shelter with his father. They keep to themselves, their only contact with other human beings an occasional trip to the nearest general store. When Moon's father dies, Moon follows his father's last instructions: to travel to Alaska to find others like themselves. But Moon is soon caught and entangled in a world he doesn't know or understand; he's become property of the government he has been avoiding all his life. As the spirited and resourceful Moon encounters constables, jails, institutions, lawyers, true friends, and true enemies, he adapts his wilderness survival skills and learns to survive in the outside world, and even, perhaps, make his home there.

“Excellent. A terrific choice for reluctant readers.”—Booklist, Starred Review “An unusual coming-of-age story.”—The New York Times Book Review “A winningly fresh look at life and culture almost never seen in children’s books.”—The Horn Book Magazine “Key writes honestly about hunting, trapping and the hardships of survival in this rather unusual coming-of-age story.”—Kirkus Reviews “Well written with a flowing style, plenty of dialogue, and lots of action.”—School Library Journal “Compelling.”—Voices of Youth Advocates “Absorbing.”—Publishers Weekly “For boys who dream of unfettered life in the great outdoors . . . Moon’s a bona fide hero.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books