I became acquainted with Zentner as Ezekiel Boone and writing horror fiction. This is quite different but still outstanding writing and I highly recommend him.

Genre: Adult Fiction
Publisher: Viking Press
Publication Date: July 9, 2019

Mini-Review

“Copperhead” has a “Sins of the Father” theme. The novel reads like YA, but it is an adult story about racism that asks the question: Can you ever out-run your family history? We meet a17-year-old high school football player who has a good chance of getting into an Ivy League school on a scholarship. He is the star of the team and his grades are good. He desperately needs this scholarship to be able to attend college. He lives paycheck-to-paycheck in a trailer and takes care of his mom and his 12-year-old sister. His brother and stepfather are in jail for the murder of two black college students. However, the students attacked his brother, not the other way around. The stepfather was only given a four-year sentence since he arrived after the murder. His crime was just wiping the murder weapon clean. His family, but not himself, belongs to a white supremacist church. Many in his town call him white-trash, even though he has shown himself to be a decent and hard-working young man. The book begins with his stepfather’s release from prison on the same day of the school’s big game. Throughout the story, we watch the teenage linebacker struggle simply to avoid trouble while remaining loyal to his family and friends. Zentner’s prose is taut and powerful. You can almost hear the music of Johnny Cash playing in the teen’s pick-up truck. But the author never shares how this boy was able to see beyond his family’s beliefs. Most of us can not accomplish this while still living in the family system. Still, this is a heck of a good coming of age story for our times.

A standout book, without a doubt--measured, conversational, poignant, excellent pacing, and heart-wrenching. I rooted for Jessup from the first moment and never stopped, and I love how Zentner captured the spirit, intelligence and naivete of a 17-year-old boy. This book made me think about my own preconceptions, in the way great books do; reminded me that there are always nuances in every situation; and painted a picture of hope that is often missing in today's narratives.

Fingers crossed for this book's commercial and literary success. Highly recommend.