The Moonlight School

By: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Narrated by: Pilar Witherspoon

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.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this stand-alone novel from best-selling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You'll finish the last moment of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

©2021 Suzanne Woods Fisher (P)2021 Recorded Books

The dialect used was fantastic.

I really enjoyed this book, the missing sister, and the growth of Lucy, with all her prospects!

EXCELLENT STORY TELLING!

Beautifully written story of love for Almighty God, people and learning. Even more appealing knowing that it is based on factual events! This story winds from a city in Kentucky to rural communities and up into the mountains.

A look inside the hills and hollers of Kentucky

Read this on recommendation of a church book group. I Disciples of Christ Church mentioned several times in the book. Excellent read.

Moonlight School

The book was entertaining and interesting. However the reader should learn how to pronounce Rowan County. It’s not like Row your boat but with a short o sound. It was interesting being from Rowan County hearing the local story and connecting with the local area.

great story!

this was a great story! loved, loved it. feel good story. didn't realize it was based off actual events.

Great narrator

Well done Historical fiction. The narrator brought the story to life. History I was not aware of prior to this book.

Fine historical fiction, engaging storytelling

The storyteller takes you along a backwoods journey of early 20th century Kentucky populated with both real characters and believable supporting fictional characters. The story is of brightening of the darkness cast by illiteracy in Appalachia and of the places and people there.

love the truth

I felt as I was there even though only some is true, I could see it play out in around about way as thought I was one of the people.

Well done!

I selected this book because I recognized the narrator. Pilar Witherspoon always does a great job. The story was quite good also. It took me a moment to get into it, but I’m glad I stuck with it! I enjoyed it!

A delight!

It was a joy to read this story about changes in illiteracy and the people who were the “fighters” for adult literacy in rural areas. This story helped me to imagine and feel what it must’ve been like for “poor folk” or underprivileged of the time to experience the delight and satisfaction of learning to just write their name.
The author did a great job bringing something we don’t think about often to light.

It certainly helps change our/my perspective on things that can still exist and the empathy necessary to try and understand

I definitely recommend this book