The Moonlight School Book Review

Book Description

Haunted by her sister’s mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn’t expected: love.

My Thoughts

I so enjoy a book based on historical events, and I was unaware of this moment in history until recently. The premise behind this standalone novel was based on starting schools for illiterate adults that were held after the busyness of each day was complete. Cora Wilson Stewart was on a mission to teach all the adults in Rowan County to read – if she could convince the teachers in her district to do it for free.

Set alongside the history of The Moonlight School was Lucy’s story. While this section was fictionalized, I imagine Cora needed to recruit more than one individual to bring her illiteracy plan to fruition. Lucy joined her in Rowan County initially to work as a stenographer, and she assumed that she would be helping Cora in her office. Cora’s plans were to send Lucy into the hills and hollers to transcribe letters for the illiterate adults. Lucy was in for more than one surprise as she saw firsthand how poor these people were, yet rich in community.

What I appreciated most about this story is that I have been so fortunate all my life to know how to read and to have a genuine love of books. So many do not have the same opportunity for a host of reasons. Even in my own city, there are so many students who go from one grade to the next without having the reading comprehension they need to succeed as they get older. It is a sad, overlooked issue. I applaud this author for pulling the curtain back on illiteracy in The Moonlight School in a tasteful and helpful way.

4 Stars

*Many thanks to the author and CelebrateLit Book Tours and Revell for providing a copy for review. All thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links, and I may be compensated for any purchases made through those links.

About the Author

Carol award winner Suzanne Woods Fisher writes stories that take you to places you’ve never visited—one with characters that seem like old friends. But most of all, her books give you something to think about long after you’ve finished reading it. With over one million copies of her books sold worldwide, Suzanne is the best-selling author of more than thirty books, ranging from non-fiction books, to children’s books, to novels. She lives with her very big family in northern California.

More from Suzanne

I’m Suzanne Woods Fisher, the author of The Moonlight School. This historical fiction will release on February 2, 2021, and is based on a true story featuring Cora Wilson Stewart, a Kentucky educator way ahead of her times. In 1911, Cora had a crazy idea—to open rural one-room schoolhouses in her county on moonlit nights to teach illiterate adults how to read and write.

So what happened next? Well, it’s so astonishing that you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Instead, I hope you’ll read the book and find out for yourself.

In the meantime, this infographic provides a fascinating look at illiteracy THEN…and NOW. Makes you want to thank your teachers, doesn’t it?