The secret wisdom of the earth by Christopher Scotton

5 Star

After seeing the death of his younger brother in a terrible home accident, fourteen-year-old Kevin and his grieving mother are sent for the summer to live with Kevin's grandfather. In this peeled-paint coal town deep in Appalachia, Kevin quickly falls in with a half-wild hollow kid named Buzzy Fink who schools him in the mysteries and magnificence of the woods. The events of this fateful summer will affect the entire town of Medgar, Kentucky.

Medgar is beset by a massive mountaintop removal operation that is blowing up the hills and back filling the hollows. Kevin's grandfather and others in town attempt to rally the citizens against the "company" and its powerful owner to stop the plunder of their mountain heritage. When Buzzy witnesses a brutal hate crime, a sequence is set in play that tests Buzzy and Kevin to their absolute limits in an epic struggle for survival in the Kentucky mountains.

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Sabrina-Kate - 5 Star

An absolutely riveting read, I am pretty sure that it will be difficult to beat The Secret Wisdom of the Earth as far as one of my favorite books of the year. I find myself stunned to discover that this is the first book that Christopher Scotton has written. I really and truly can only pray that he writes another one. And soon!

The story is set in a small town, Medgar, in the Appalachians and largely centres around Kevin, who is spending his time there to recover with his family after the untimely death of his little brother. If that wasn't story enough, more drama and unbelievable events occur that summer with his new found friend Buzzy. An incredible and almost epic tale, I really loved this book and was very sad when it was done.

It isn't a short book by any means, but felt too short when it was done as I could have continued reading on forever. The way that Scotton describes the characters and places he uses is nothing short of magical. You can tell that this is a place that is dear to his heart and he made me fall in love with it as well. Just remembering the story is making me reflect with a smile on my lips. It is just that good.
If you read one book this year that makes you believe in the power of an amazing story but also lifts you up and makes you believe that good can triumph over evil, this is definitely the one you will want to pick up.

Thank you to Hachette Books for our review copy. All opinions are our own.

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