Whistle in the Dark
In the 1920s Ozarks, Clemson Jasper Harding is turning 13. While his birthday wish is for a dog, his gift from Pap is a miner’s cap and carbide lamp. As engaging historical fiction does best, this debut novel vividly brings to light a period in time where values prove timeless. Through Clem, the reader learns about the dangerous life of a child lead miner. Forced to help pay for his little sister Esther’s medical bills to treat her epilepsy, Clem grudgingly assumes his responsibility and adjusts his sights to the darkness underground, rather than the life he would prefer—attending school and writing stories. Then Clem discovers the illicit moonshine business through Lindy, his bullied school friend, who has her own family obligations to fulfill and a disfiguring facial scar that serves as a reminder of her burdens. In Long’s gentle rendering, what emerges from this story of overcoming obstacles are strong family bonds and Clem’s renewed resilience that points him toward a well-earned path to his dreams. Grades 5-8. --Gail Bush