I love everything about this book: the cover, the title and the story! If that isn't wonderful enough, the fact that it is based on a true story is icing on the cake! Many of the characters in the book were real people! Cora Wilson Stewart fought tirelessly for the education of the Appalachian children and adults. She didn't just campaign but took actions to further her dream. She herself grew up in the hills of Kentucky where poverty and lack of educational opportunity was the norm. How well she understood their plight. Her accomplishments are incredible.
In this fictional story, Cora's, wealthy and privileged younger cousin is sent by her father to assist her. Lucy has the impression that she is coming as a stenographer. Cora shatters that preconceived idea very quickly. In a few days Lucy is on horseback (she has never ridden a horse) and being sent up into the woods and hills of the Kentucky Hollows to see people she has not clue where they live! She is definitely put out of her comfort zone. Her job is to take write the letters they want to send family and loved ones. As you can imagine she is overwhelmed.
Severe poverty, lack of hygiene, not to mention countless traditions and superstitions of the people is a bit of a culture shock at first. She grows to realize the vast gulf between the life she has taken for granted and theirs. Very quickly Lucy develops a love the people and hurt for their suffering. She blossoms into quite activist for those she serves.
Appalachia and its people have always held a fascination for me. The author's descriptiveness of the people, their environment, and their customs added to my interest. The characters are captivating. Wyatt and Angie were two of my favorites. The book is much deeper than just this historical time and the wonderful people. There are many surprises, one especially about a tragedy in Lucy's past. A beautifully written book you don't want to miss reading!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.

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The title of this book is really a misnomer, because moonlight schools aren't even mentioned until halfway through, and the first one doesn't occur until the last chapter. I felt misled by the title and beautiful cover, because the main plot didn't focus on moonlight schools - it focused on Lucy Wilson.

This was more of a coming-of-age novel about Lucy than anything else. This book is extremely similar to Christy in that a young, naive, well-to-do woman goes to the backwoods to teach/help educate the locals. She begins by being judgmental, then ends up falling in love with a local man and committing her life to the backwoods people. Very predictable.

I didn't care for Lucy as a character. She hardly ever made a decision for herself - she depended on Cora and Wyatt for everything. Her outburst at the town hall meeting was very abrupt and struck me as odd. It didn't seem like character development - it just seemed strange.

Speaking of Wyatt, he was my favorite character. He had an interesting backstory that I wish would've been fleshed out more, and he was just about the only character in the book with an actual focus on God backed up by sound theology. I think Wyatt and Finley James had more depth than the rest of the book combined. I would read books about either of those two and I'm sure I would enjoy them more than this one.

On a final note, why does every book that takes place in Appalachia have paragraphs and paragraphs where people berate and belittle the Appalachian dialect? It's rather insulting, especially when it's compared to 'butchering the English language' and the main character has to 'grit her teeth' to keep from correcting the locals' grammar. There are kinder ways to express dislike, in my opinion.

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