Though it is largely predictable and somewhat didactic, this is still a pretty good book. I liked the journey of the main character, Lydia, and there was a great hook in the beginning of the book to keep you reading. Why is Lydia's mother in jail for killing Lydia's little brother?

Many other reviewers are saying the 1950s Appalachian voice in this book is pitch-perfect, so I may be all alone in my opinion, but I thought it was overdone. I can only take so many folksy analogies (e.g. "He didn't weigh much more than a mess of green beans") before I start to feel queasy. If it weren't for the heavy dialect, I might have given this four stars.

Recommended for girls 10-14 who are interested in historical fiction. You can maybe sell this by mentioning that Katniss from [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1337857402s/2767052.jpg|2792775] is portrayed as Appalachian and these characters could be her ancestors.

The big twist in the story, Lydia's mom not being her biological mother, was great, but it didn't quite make up for predictability of the ending. It wasn't hard to see that Lydia would succeed in proving her mom's innocence. In fact, the proving the mom's innocence was the part that got didactic, with the angel lawyer swooping down and saving the day, explaining all along just how she's doing it. ( )

The best book I have read in some time. This first time author has my highest regards. I would like very much to visit West Virginia and have been inspired to learn to play the dulcimer. ( )

Child of the Mountains by Marilyn Sue Shank is a wonderful book narrated by a young girl from the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. It's written in her southern dialect, but that only adds to the richness of the story. Set in the '50s, the hard mountain life is shown. Lydia's immediate family is taken away from her through death and jail. She goes to live with her aunt and uncle who pay little attention to her, and supply her with barely what she needs.

Lydia tells her story, remembering the past and updating the present. Through all the sorrowful things that happen, we see her steely resolution to survive and save her mother. I wish the mother's personality had been fleshed out more. Gran and Lydia's brother BJ were good strong characters, easy to connect with.

This is a beautiful southern story by a debut author. I can't wait to see what she writes next! ( )

Child of the Mountains – A Good First Book!



This is a story about Lydia Hawkins born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. After her Mama is taken to prison Lydia ’s life is turned upside down. She has to move from the home that she has grown to love into the home of her Uncle William and Aunt Ethel Mae’s. Lydia feels she is a burden on her Uncle and Aunt and tries her best to please them.



Lydia had to change schools when she went to live with her Uncle and Aunt and is not made to feel welcome by her peers. She is teased and bullied. Lydia tries her best to keep her distance from the mean girls. After pushing one of the girls down because of the girl’s remarks about her Mama, Lydia is made to stay after school by her teacher Mr. Hinkle. Mr. Hinkle knows that Lydia is picked on and takes her under his wing. He is able to get the story from Lydia why her Mama is in prison and what really happened on the dreadful day that Lydia was removed from her home to go live with her Uncle and Aunt. Mr. Hinkle’s fiancé happens to be a lawyer and she listens to Lydia ’s story and feels she can help get her Mama out of prison.



This book was a good read. I felt so sorry for Lydia and all the secrets she had to keep. The author did an excellent job of portraying the strengths that Lydia possessed. Ones that even Lydia wasn’t aware of. My emotions went through the gamut. I felt anger, sadness, and felt Lydia ’s disappointments and pain. I wanted to take this little girl into my arms and hold her. I also laughed at some of the antics that Lydia came up with.



I thought that the author did a great job capturing the dialect of the mountain people.



This is the author’s first novel. I hope to read more of her books in the future.



I wish to thank the author for providing me with this book to read and review. The opinions are mine alone. ( )

This story is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. Lydia Hawkins is a young woman (child really), that has been forced to see a lot of adversity in her young years. She doesn't really see much of the poverty and hard-work as anything other than routine until the death of her brother. Even after this event, Lydia strives to keep going strong. Ms. Shank has written a beautiful story of mountain living in the West Virginia hills in the early 1950s. There are no apologies made, nor are any needed in my not-so-humble opinion, for the speech patterns and life habits of mountain folk. Although there is prejudice prevalent for the poor and mountain folk, Ms. Shank presents a story filled with characters that any West Virginian can be proud to read.

Although written for younger readers, this is a story that can be read and enjoyed by readers of all ages.

(On a more personal note, I was filled with pride to read Ms. Shank's notes about her fourth grade school teacher, Mrs. Bette Nowling, my aunt. She even states that she used my aunt as the guide for the character of Mrs. Nowling in her story. Regrettably my aunt died before being able to read this book, but I'm sure she would have loved this story as much as Ms. Shank's childhood stories.) ( )