Demon Copperhead is a 2022 novel by American author Barbara Kingsolver. It tells the story of a young boy who grows up in rural Appalachia, navigating numerous difficulties. Kingsolver has said it is a modern, Southern retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, dealing with society's mistreatment of the poor.
The main character of the book, Demon, is born to a single mother in a trailer park. They grow up in extreme poverty but have a relatively happy relationship. Demon enjoys spending time with his neighbors, the Peggots, and drawing. Then Demon's mother takes up with a man named Stoner, who seems to enjoy being cruel to Demon. One day, Demon's mother overdoses and she has to be rushed to the hospital. He is taken in by the state and sent to a foster home. He lives with an elderly man who uses the foster care system to get illegal child labor for his tobacco farm. From there, things go from bad to worse, as Demon's mother dies after a second overdose. He is devastated.
He moves to another home before running away to seek out his grandmother. His grandmother places him in the care of a football coach and things are better for a time. He becomes close to the coach's daughter, Angus, and eventually starts playing for the team, which makes him popular at school. He suffers an injury on the field and is prescribed painkillers. Demon becomes addicted, as he watches everyone around him also get caught in the grip of the opioid crisis, including his girlfriend. He stops being able to play football or keep his grades up in school. He moves in with his girlfriend, Dori, who is also an addict. After several horrifying incidents, including the death of several of his friends, Demon begins to turn his life around, beginning work on a graphic novel and getting sober. The book ends with him reconnecting with Angus, realizing she has romantic feelings for him, and driving to the ocean with her, a dream he has had for his entire childhood.
Published in 2022, Kingsolver's novel became a critically acclaimed bestseller. It received the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the Women's Prize for fiction. It was also named the best book of the year by The New York Times and selected as part of Oprah's Book Club. Critics praised its comic tone and handling of serious social issues. Reviewers also took note of Kingsolver's thoughtful repurposing of Dickens' themes for a modern context. In a review for The Washington Post, critic Ron Charles wrote, "Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this is the story of an irrepressible boy nobody wants, but readers will love."
