A terrific choice for reluctant readers and also for fans of Gary Paulsen's Brian novels. Stylistically, the book is perfectly paced, and Moon's narration is thoroughly believable. Key's first novel is populated with memorable characters-such as Moon's reform-school buddy's dad, whose life is devoted to drinking and shooting machine guns-and studded with utterly authentic details about rural Alabama and survivalism. Of course, no reform school is gonna keep Moon in check.

After a brief stint in jail (a lifetime of hunting and gathering leaves Moon hilariously pleased with the prison food), Moon again lights out for the territories, only to be recaptured and end up in reform school. Unfortunately, Moon quickly finds himself in the claws of civilization, as personified by a sadistic cop. Moon has never known any truth but his dad's, and so he tries to continue his father's lifestyle.

Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2006 November #1 /*Starred Review*/ This excellent novel of survival and adventure begins with the death of young Moon's father, an antigovernment radical who has been living off the land in rural Alabama with Moon for years.

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. But Moon is soon caught and entangled in a world he doesn't know or understand, apparent property of the government he has been avoiding all his life. When Moon's father dies, Moon follows his father's last instructions: to travel to Alaska to find others like themselves. They keep to themselves, their only contact with other human beings an occasional trip to the nearest general store. For as long as ten-year-old Moon can remember, he has lived out in the forest in a shelter with his father. Pap said he even figured I could whip somebody three times my size. I could find my way by the stars and make fire in the rain. I could trap my own food and make my own clothes. After the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon leaves their forest shelter home and is sent to an Alabama institution, becoming entangled in the outside world he has never known and making good friends, a relentless enemy, and finally a new life.

Alabama moon novel