Thirteen-year-old Jack Hicks loves everything about Coppertown-his family and friends, barbecues and Friday music nights, and his best friend's beautiful sister, Hannah. Everything, that is, except for what keeps the community thriving and drove out nature long ago-mining. Living in a treeless landscape that looks like the moon, he yearns to see bugs and birds and frogs outside of books. Jack hates the mine where so many of his relatives have died, but how can he tell that to his dad, who wants him to follow in the family trade? When the miners strike, Jack is thrilled that green and growing things at last have a chance to return to the red hills. But when that same strike threatens to close the mine and force people to leave Coppertown for new homes and jobs, Jack finds himself struggling to hold on to everything he loves most.

 

This book was recognised by the Georgia Children's Book Award. It was recognised in the Historical Fiction - Preteen category by the Moonbeam Children's Book Award.

There are 270 pages in this book. This book was published 2016 by Little Pickle Press LLC .

Elizabeth O. Dulemba is an award-winning author-illustrator of several children's books. She is also Illustrator Coordinator for the Southern SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) region, on the board of the Georgia Center for the Book, a writing and illustration instructor at various venues; and she speaks regularly at schools and events.