The Moonlight School

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher is an incredible homage to Cora Wilson Stewart, a woman who dedicated her life to stamping out illiteracy.

Lucy Wilson arrives in the Appalachian mountains, fresh from the city, to be a stenographer for her Aunt Cora. She had no idea that meant going into the hills on a horse (which she had never done before) and reading and writing letters for those who couldn't do it for themselves. Lucy is appalled at the poverty but more shocked that most adults on the mountain couldn't read. At Cora's insistence, that was all going to change with her idea to teach all the adults to read at Moonlight Schools.

There are so many interesting characters in this book! I felt like I just spent the last two days show more on a mountain, getting to know them. Each character was so fully developed and real to me that I will miss them terribly. This book is a keeper and will stay with me for a long time.

Never again will I take reading for granted. I have such a massive appreciation for my teachers now, and you will too when you finish this book. Kudos to the author!

I highly recommend this one!

I received this book courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest opinion. show less

“Oh, my stars and garters!” By the time I reached the 2nd chapter, my grin was firmly in place, stretching from ear-to-ear. Fisher recounts this remarkable tale of the real Cora Wilson Stewart, who campaigned for literacy in the Kentucky mountains, woven into fiction in a compelling, unforgettable novel. The Moonlight School is everything I’ve come to expect from Fisher and more. This is a tale of the triumph of faith, perseverance, and a love for one’s neighbor’s plight that motivates action. The end brings so many pieces together, with twists I wouldn't have seen coming.
Lucy is a very special heroine, changing from an inept, unconcerned city-girl to a caring, daring, and brave young woman, ready to fight for the rights of show more the mountain people.
Fisher gives creates a believable live triangle with Lucy and Andrew and Wyatt, then another with Lucy, Fin, and Angie. None of the characters are perfect, but some reach towards community betterment, while others reach only for what will benefit them. It is the ones who look out for the mountain folk who are “silent” that we learn to love. They share the following sentiment:
“The only way to lift people is to teach them to lift themselves. Literacy is the only road to true freedom... literacy gives a voice to the silent.”
I was amazed by the discovery that Cora makes through Miss Mollie that turns her educational philosophy upside down. I was also amazed by the natural teaching ability of Angie and her willingness to share with others when she is so antagonistic towards Lucy. I was proud of Lucy for tackling a job that she isn’t the best at, yet filling in because she is needed. The original pronunciations of the mountain folk make the book authentic, while the explanations of their need to hang on to their culture from the Old Country, caused me to think differently than I had before. A hearty five stars to this beautiful book from Suzanne Woods Fisher!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley, as well as Library Thing. These are my own, unsolicited opinions. show less

Lucy was no stranger to tragedy. As a young child, she had lost not only her mother through death, but also her baby sister who vanished one day. Now a young woman, she returns to the homeland of her father, in the mountains of Kentucky, to aid her cousin overseeing schools in that region. The year is 1911. Woefully out of place, city-born Lucy is appalled at the ways of the mountain people and the poverty. Gradually, Lucy comes to know and understand these people, the courage they possess and the endurance of their spirit. Based on the real personage of Cora Wilson Stewart, in this novel Cora is the cousin of the fictional Lucy. Much of the story revolves around Lucy and the friendships she makes. Her transformation from quiet, shy, show more and unassuming Lucy to an outspoken young woman who believes in the right of literacy for all people is a wonder to read. Though Cora leads the way, Lucy is at her right hand. The story of the “moonlight schools” is real, as the notes in the back of the book attest. Illiterate adults were given the chance to become literate, and they took it, willingly. This well-written account is a seamless blending of fact and fiction, giving readers a lesson in history as well as an interesting and intriguing tale. Highly recommended. show less

I have long been a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher, and she just keeps getting better!! The Moonlight School was a pleasure to read. I love that the story is based on true events, the actual woman, Cora Wilson Stewart, who strove to bring literacy to so many in Appalachia. I would never have heard her story if this book hadn't been written! The fictional part of the story Suzanne weaves around the literacy program is so full of interesting characters, and portrays the rich culture of the mountain people, many of whom can trace their Irish-Scottish roots back to their ancestors who immigrated there 200 yrs ago. I'd love to see the clog dancing and hear their music that is part of their heritage, and part of this story! But the poverty and show more the illiteracy is a shock to young Lucy, who comes from Lexington to help her cousin, Cora. Lucy is from a well to do family, and has been sheltered and pampered, but is still a sweet girl. It was interesting to see the growth of her character as she developed confidence and found a purpose in her life, and felt at home in the mountains. Her spiritual awakening is also sweet to see. The mountain people are colorful, and you grow to love them, too....and there are a few love triangles that add some intrigue, and also a long ago mystery that haunts Lucy, but is possibly solved?? It was so inspiring to see the mountain people, who most educators had written off as being unable to learn to read, embrace the opportunity to do just that! The only complaint I have is that the book was over too soon!! I want to hear more about the people I just met in Rowan County, KY! I want to see Lucy's story unfold, and see if Wyatt is part of it, and see if Fin and Angie have a story, and what is ahead for Sally Ann Duncan and her family. I want to see if Mrs Klopp changes her ways, and I want to hear more success stories among the mountain people! I want to know if the sheriff gets booted out, and how the story of the 'missing' Charlotte plays out. And I would love to hear the stories Miss Mollie will be telling Lucy, stories that have been passed down generation after generation ! I am so hoping this book is the first in a series!! show less

I KNEW I had to read this book when I first heard it mentioned last fall. I live about twenty-five miles from Morehead so I've long known about Cora Wilson Stewart and the Moonlight Schools but, after reading this story, I truly understand this tremendous legacy. It's apparent that a lot of time and effort went into researching Stewart's life and Susanne Woods Fisher has seamlessly integrated fictional characters and historical facts into a heartwarming story that you won't soon forget! These realistic characters are so endearing and I found myself often referring to the end notes to see who was a real person!

The difficulties encountered and the long ago disappearance of Lucy's baby sister add intrigue to Fisher's well-written plot but show more the real strength of The Moonlight School is in the depiction of emotions experienced by both teachers and students. We all know the joy young children feel when learning to read but try to understand the tremendous sense of accomplishment felt by adult men and women who had been illiterate all of their lives! This is historical fiction at its finest and an excellent reminder of the value of literacy. I highly recommend The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

I voluntarily accepted a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley but was in no way obligated to write a positive review. These are my own thoughts. show less

Do you know what a moonlight school is? I had no idea until I read Suzanne Woods Fisher’s book. Now I want to learn more about them, and that’s how I know an author hooked me into their story.

The Moonlight School is a fictionalized version of how the moonlight schools in Appalachian Kentucky got their start, complete with true historical figures. Through Lucy Wilson’s eyes, readers learn about the people, traditions, superstitions, and struggles of these people.

While Finley and Angie’s antics had me chuckling throughout the entire book, it’s Lucy’s journey that shows the heart and hope for the people. Fisher reminds us that sometimes the most rewarding and fulfilling results come from taking a step of faith into the unknown show more and persevering through the hardships.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. show less

Talented storyteller Suzanne Woods Fisher shines a light on a revelatory chapter of American history in "The Moonlight School". Blending fact and fiction, and introducing real life figures to created characters, the author weaves an inspiring tale which focuses on adult illiteracy in 20th Century Kentucky. "Moonlight Schools" got their name because classes for adults were held in children's daytime one-room schools on nights when the moon cast enough light for students to see the paths and trails to the school buildings. In the Spring of 1911, Lucy Wilson is sent by her father to rural Rowan County, KY to assist her cousin Cora (real-life historical heroine, Cora Wilson Stewart) in the fight for literacy by providing reading and writing show more lessons for adults seeking to improve their lives. Raised in privilege, Lucy is taken aback by the poverty and age-old primitiveness of the lifestyles she encounters. However, as time passes, she begins to see a simplistic beauty in the people and the surroundings. A certain young man of a fine character, Brother Wyatt, catches her interest and stirs her heart. Long haunted by the childhood disappearance of her younger sister, Charlotte, Lucy will also discover unexpected, life-changing news about what really happened to her sister all those years ago. This story really resonated with me because one of my goals is to promote literacy--there are still many people in the United States and the world who are struggling with literacy. Improving reading skills boosts self-esteem, opens up the world, enables informed decision making, and brings forth all kinds of new opportunities. People who read for pleasure have good imaginations, an ability to think outside the box, and the vision to go beyond black and white to see all the shades in between. Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wonderful writer, and she brings these people and their place in history to life with great care and detail. Highly recommended.

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via LibraryThing show less