Okay, I am officially in Awe. This book is fantabulous! And that the backstory is true, is even better. Taking the time to make it more than possible for adults to learn to read, in a respectful way, making accommodations with both time and teaching materials to treat them as adults and not children, took a lot of courage, planning and effort.

The story in this book, well, Lucy could be any one of us, whom life circumstances left us wanting to be invisible. Having people who care, and an appropriate challenge placed before us can have amazing results, as in Lucy's case. She's an inspirational heroine, having to be pushed past her insecurities, to becoming someone she could be proud of.

Getting to 'know' the mountain people, both respecting their traditions, personality struggles and honor, and wishing more for them, was so well done.
Finley James and Angie and Wyatt stole my heart from the beginning, and never let it go.

I would recommend this book to anyone 14+ and say it might even make a good family read-aloud with middle schoolers.

Topics include a missing/stolen child, superstitions, 'iffy' business practices, incredible faith, perseverance, prejudices, and the power of learning to read.

I received a copy of this book from #netgalley, and chose to review it here. all thoughts are my own.

I read this as an ARC from NetGalley and after the first 2 pages was not sure I'd finish it. It felt overly written and a little juvenile in the description. But a few chapters in and I was hooked. I loved the personalities of the mountain people, the heart of Cora as she tried helping those she loved, and seeing the creation of the Moonlight Schools. I hadn't realized this was based on real events until the end of the book. Recommend!

This book would be such a fun Audiobook. Fisher is so talented at using dialect. I'd love to hear it all read aloud. Such an interesting piece of american history that I had no idea about. Reading this novel made me want to find my own purpose and way to change and better the world. Definitely recommend.

I love this book! Already! And it’s only been one chapter! (Following a very dramatic prologue... ) Suzanne Woods Fisher is a very talented writer, successfully moving between different periods – all of which are extensively researched. Each of her books is well-written, & a ‘stand-out’ : they never disappoint (despite my high expectations!) The characters are nearly all likeable, & readers quickly come to care about them. I wanted the story to go on forever, but at the same time was compelled to keep reading – which unfortunately means I finished it in just a short time. And did I mention how much I loved this book?! It may be early in the year, but I already know this is going to be one of my top reads for 2021... If it were possible to give more than 5 stars, I would do so.

This is another good historical fiction book set in the Appalachia region. It is based on a true story about a woman’s efforts to increase adult literacy in the area by starting a Moonlight School at night for the illiterate parents of the children in school. The focus of the book revolves around her niece, however, who comes to help her out with the schools for a time period. It has interesting characters and also explores the issue of how illiterate people can be taken advantage of. I enjoyed how the main character started out so naive, but grew and became more socially conscious and took control of her life. Having been raised with privilege, she was proudful at the beginning of the story but learned from the poor folks. I think If you enjoyed The Giver of Stars or The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Suzanne Woods Fisher writes Amish fiction, Historical fiction, and Contemporary Christian fiction and I love them all!

The Moonlight School was an amazing story of how "night schools" began back in the early 1900's in Kentucky. I loved the characters of Wyatt and Lucy and their slow journey to love; but I also enjoyed learning about the real-life Cora Wilson Stewart who worked so hard to fight for literacy a century ago with very impressive results. Thanks to Suzanne we get a glimpse of the past and get to learn about another strong woman who did so much for our country.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. It was truly a pleasure to read this book. All opinions are my own.

As a child herself, Lucy Wilson "lost" her toddler sister as they waited on their father at the train station. Still haunted by the memory, Lucy is sent by her father to help his cousin, Cora Wilson Stewart as she serves as the first woman education superintendent for the schools in Rowan County, Kentucky. She thinks she'll be transcribing school business in her cousin's office. Instead, she's sent - on horseback - to read letters and take dictation for the return letters for some of the illiterate hill people of the county.

Stewart has been working tirelessly for some time to round up the children of the county and make sure they are attending school. She knows what a plague illiteracy has been, and how it has resulted in the lumber companies nearly destroying the area. She has needed help with the transcription for quite some time, and putting Lucy to work on that can only help open the eyes of the outside world to the plight of the people, since Lucy's father owns the lumber company.

Brother Wyatt was born in the hills, received an education, and came back to serve as a singing school master. The people flock to his "classes" and he doubles as their preacher. The more he helps Lucy, the more he sees her tender heart for the people he loves. Will their difference in station cause him to step away from any kind of relationship?

This story drives home the reason it is important to learn to read. Illiteracy isolates people and makes them feel unworthy of the rights and privileges everyone else knows they have. It also makes them vulnerable to unscrupulous companies who prey on those who can't read the contracts they put in front of them. It was shocking to me, first that this book was based on a true story, and second, how very many adults in the county could not read. Fisher put quite a bit of humor in the story to balance out the grim.

Readers who love historically-based books will enjoy The Moonlight School. The story will make any reader appreciate their ability to pick up a book, or a letter, or a legal document and KNOW what it says.

This was a very interesting look at how illiteracy can hold people back and even keep them confined to their homes and outdated beliefs even passing it on to the next generations.

Starting off with a bit of a tragedy, Lucy Wilson is a woman who tends to keep to herself and follow her father's leading. Her second cousin Cora Wilson has asked for Lucy's help in the hills of Kentucky. Cora is the superintendent of schools and she is trying her best to set up reform.

At first Lucy is reluctant to go and help. Her cousin gets her to come for a period of six months under some shady prospects. But as Lucy, a city girl, comes to these hill folk, she realizes a whole different culture exists. At first she is shocked and appalled by the poverty she sees but then she begins to see them as her cousin does. These people with their own way of life cut off from the rest of the world, are a treasure of their own.

I found the history quite fascinating. At the beginning the author talks about their speech and how and why they speak the way they do and what many would deem improper English. I actually enjoyed reading their speaking throughout the book and I must admit I was chuckling at Lucy as she was learning and growing accustomed to their speech and mannerisms.

This story was quite eye opening on how much illiteracy can affect a person and a whole people group. I was also surprised at a few of the twists this story took as well. Overall this was an enjoyable read as we the reader walked the trails with Lucy and had our eyes opened as well.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Likes
There were so many great things about this book. Firstly, the clear link to the true story of Cora Stewart, how she was a visionary progressive; determined to change the public's view of education and their need for it. Whilst the novel primarily focuses on Lucy Wilson, the impact Cora has during her dialect and conversations is evident. It sparked an interest in me to further research Cora and the achievements she accomplished during her life.

Secondly, I adored the different characters and their backgrounds, specifically how they were portrayed through the use of dialect and dialogue. When Lucy is in conversation, her speech is perfect Queen's English, third person usage and of course correct grammar. In comparison, when we are introduced to those who live in the hills, their dialect is extremely evident through the use of colloquial terms and region-specific slang. Moreover, when illiterate people of the region are introduced, both dialogue and dialect change again. This time we see sentences barely formed, words spelt poorly and pronounced incorrectly; in some cases, it is so far from the original I had to use the glossary provided! I thought this was a brilliant writing tactic, not only to establish the issues with illiteracy and clear class divides, but also to allow us to see the characters in depth and understand exactly who they are.

The storyline itself was engaging from the first page, I found myself doing the typical "just one more chapter," stint all us book lovers will have done at some point in time. Whilst some may feel the book is slower paced, I felt it lent itself to this pace as it reflects the laidback attitude of the Rowan County hills. The character development was brilliant to see, specifically with our protagonist. As you can imagine, Lucy has lived a life of privilege, of shelter and assume she knows all there is to the world. Oh, how poetic it is to see her whole world opened up to such issues; poverty, illiteracy, racism, anti-feministic attitudes, and to see how she embraces each challenge with valour. Lucy's progression has to be one of the best character developments I have read in a long time.


Dislikes
As I gave this book five stars and added it onto my favourites shelf, there wasn't any major, or minor, points that stood out as a negative.


Final thoughts
I could write and write about this book, but I try to keep my reviews snappy! I adore historical fiction, let alone when it relates to powerful women within education! This book is simply beautiful and reads as such. If you are a fan of Where the Crawdads Sing, then you will thoroughly enjoy this equally lyrical and powerful piece of work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Revell and Suzanne Woods Fisher for allowing me to review this book prior to publication.

In The Moonlight School, Suzanne Woods Fisher wraps a fictional tale around the real-life story of Cora Wilson Stewart and her Moonlight School Initiative to end illiteracy in Rowan County, Kentucky. The moonlight school concept intrigued me, and I admired Cora’s passion to end illiteracy. Unfortunately, Cora was a secondary character with limited page time and the moonlight schools showed up late in the book. I struggled to progress in this book until about the 75% mark. After that I enjoyed the last fourth of the book, but I wish the story had captured my interest earlier.

Sadly, The Moonlight School was not my cup of tea, but Suzanne Woods Fisher is a well-known author in the Christian Fiction realm and her loyal readers will likely want to read The Moonlight School.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

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 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!

A short but very informative historical novel. Moonlight Schools in Kentucky helped with adult illiteracy and was successful. I did not know this part of history. Found it to be very interesting. What I loved the most was the caring of your fellow man. Kindness and love. Belief.

The Moonlight School was definitely one of my favourite reads so far this year! As it is a fictional account based on true events, I really enjoyed learning about the history of the moonlight schools and Cora Wilson Stewart.

Lucy has blamed herself for her sister's disappearance for most of her life. When she leaves her life of privilege to temporarily assister her cousin in Rowan County, she is shocked to see how rampant illiteracy is among the mountain people. Cora, her cousin, and Brother Wyatt, both born in the mountains, are well acquainted with the struggles illiteracy has brought, and are eager to change it. Moonlight schools for the illiterate adults seem to be the answer, but will anyone come? Or will their pride hold them back? Will Lucy find answers about her sister, or is she lost forever?

I loved seeing Lucy's character grow and mature as the story progressed. I also appreciated the way the author wove scripture and Biblical truth throughout the book. Brother Wyatt's love for his people, and his God, was inspiring and made him an even better hero in my eyes.

I highly recommend grabbing a copy of The Moonlight School as soon as possible. I'm sure you'll fall in love with each of the characters, including the rough-around-the-edges characters like Angie and Miss Mollie, and of course, Cora, Lucy, and Wyatt. You won't regret taking the time to read this inspiring and heart-tugging novel!

*I received a complimentary copy of The Moonlight School through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

I hate when authors attempt dialogue with an accent. It seems to only happen when writing set in the South.

I love Suzanne Woods Fisher! This is definitely a different read for her - based on a true historical context. I enjoyed the characters and the little surprise at the end. So sweet and truly a great story of overcoming loss and finding love!

I enjoyed this gentle story of a young woman's journey of self-discovery as she blossoms in the serenity of nature with the new good people in her life. The romance is definitely on the back burner even though she has a beau in a lumber rep, a good friend in Brother Wyatt, and a young student in love with her. She is completely out of her element when she arrives, but her determination gets her through and she thrives on the feeling of making a difference in the lives of the mountain community. I loved the variety of people she befriended and interacted with, and it's neat that some were based on the lives of real people! Most of the story builds to the creation of the Moonlight Schools at the conclusion of the story, helping the reader understand how the idea came about and the vital need for and importance of literacy in the area. A fascinating slice of history that made me so appreciative of the trailblazers who worked and sacrificed for change and improvement in the lives of others.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

3 1/2 rounded up. Ultimately, this is a book about the importance of literacy. Lucy Wilson has chosen to go live with her Aunt Cora for six months to help her out with office work. Cora is the new superintendent of schools for Rowan County, Kentucky, and is determined to get as many children to school as possible. She believes she can help create a new generation of kids that can read and therefore better care for themselves and their families. Living in the back country, the majority are illiterate and the foresting companies have taken advantage of that and practically swindled the people. While a humble and happy people, the deforestation is affecting their homes, crops, and livelihood.

Lucy is given the responsibility to travel on horseback into the hills to help with reading and responding to letters that have come to these good people. Lucy is forced to change her idea of what happy living looks like and comes to love these "backward" people. Their stories, their customs, their music, their dancing. All seemed so foreign, yet she learns to appreciate the beauty.

It was neat to watch the story unfold of Lucy coming to see that the life she lived might not have been better than those who live in poverty. It's about being loved and happy.

There was a little side-story of Lucy losing her little sister when she was little and dealing with that her whole life. That felt a little forced, but ultimately worked okay in the end. The story was also very slow. I did enjoy the characters, the story was clean, and this was ultimately a feel-good story. I also love that it's based on a real woman who did accomplish great things with literacy.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I knew I was going to love this book before I even read the first line. I was intrigued when I learned that it was about teaching people in the mountains of Rowan County near Louisville, Kentucky, so I was delighted to receive a complimentary copy through NetGalley. These are my opinions on the book.

My favorite books start with a core of truth, whether it's a real person, place, or event. All through the story, I kept wondering what parts of this might be true, because it truly had the feeling of veracity. The author tells in her end remarks about the moment she heard about the Moonlight Schools as a passing comment on a radio program and how she knew this story must be told. The fictionalized account is about Lucy, a young woman who just can't seem to find her life after an incident in her childhood stole it away. Her father, a wealthy businessman, sent her away to visit his cousin in the mountains. She was continually put into situations that took her out of her element, it was through those situations that she found her purpose ,,,.and other things she was looking for.

It was fascinating to learn about the Moonlight School as the book was based on actual events. Lucy, Cora, and Wyatt work to try to help the adults in the area to learn how to read. They are hired to educate the children, but realize that there is also a need to help the adults as well. Lucy sees the need and finds a greater purpose at the same time. I can relate to how hard it can be to overcome all that can go against you and to accept what is offered.

I received a copy to read, the review is mine.

This book is set in the 1900's in the backwoods of Kentucky and is a Christian Historical read. It is based on the life of Cora Stewart, who taught and was an advocate for illiteracy. She helped the folks to learn and write so that they would educate themselves and get a better life for themselves. When her cousin Lucy shows up to help, little did Lucy know what she was getting herself into. She soon becomes friends with the people and also finds more than she ever thought she would about her 2 year old sister's disappearance. Can she live in this type of a world? Will she find out what happened to her sister?

This is a great book from the beginning to the end. It covers why reading and writing are so important to everyone, and everyone should have the opportunity to learn. The book also gives a little bit of a mystery as a side story. This book will not let you down, it is a great read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.