Mary Knight (1)

Having lost most of his family to coal-mining accidents as a little boy, Curley Hines lives with his grandfather in the Appalachian Mountains of Wonder Gap, Kentucky. Ever since Curley can remember, Papaw has been giving him a word each week to learn and live. Papaw says words are Curley's way out of the holler, even though Curley has no intention of ever leaving.

When a new coal boss takes over the local mining company, life as Curley knows it is turned upside down. Suddenly, his best show more friend, Jules, is interested in the coal boss's son, and worse, the mining company threatens to destroy Curley and Papaw's mountain. Now Curley faces a difficult choice. Does he use his words to speak out against Big Coal and save his mountain, or does he remain silent and save his way of life? show less

Curley lives with his grandfather in the mountains of Kentucky after coal mining accidents killed both parents and his younger sibling. His world revolves around his grandfather, his best friend Jules (who he wants to be his girlfriend), and the mountain that he sees from his home. When the local coal mine is purchased by a new "big coal" owner, plans are made to completely dig away Red Hawk mountain. Curley and Jules, along with unlikely friend J.D. (the son of the new owner of the coal show more mines) decide to fight to save the mountain.

This is a simple, straight-forward tale of friendship and environmentalism. While some books about friendships grow tedious because the friends get into a disagreement, or hurt each other, and then the books focus on angst for the next 50 pages... "Saving Wonder" has the opposite issue. The few disagreements the three friends have are resolved and brushed away so quickly it isn't even believable. show less

Set in the Appalachian Mountains, a young boy struggles to choose between maintaining his family’s way of life and the innate desire he has to protect the environment that he loves.