Sunday, January 31, 2021

Book Review and Giveaway: The Moonlight School


When I was a teenager, I attended a couple of singing schools in some area churches taught by my uncle who often did this as part of his ministry.  Singing Schools are a holdover from the 19th century and continued at least through the 1980s.  I'm not sure if my mother ever attended, but her younger brothers often attended a specific Singing School that I believe was sponsored by Stamps-Baxter, a company that produces gospel music.

  (I may have the details wrong, but the spirit of what I'm trying to say is there.). In many, if not all, of these type Singing Schools, students are taught to sing using the shape note notation.  Using the notes of the scale, called do re mi fa so la ti do (like in the Sound of Music), they learn to read each shape which corresponds to a different note on the scale.  Many older hymnbooks, especially for rural churches, will have shape note notation.  Attending my uncle's Singing School was a lot of fun, and I actually won a trophy for the first one I attended (because I'm high-achieving and good at tests).  I figured out that one of the really cool things about shape note notation is that even if a person can't read normal music, if they recognize what the shapes mean, they can play any key they want to.  For example, for the Key of C, do would be the letter C.  A Major I chord is composed of the notes do, me, so  - which corresponds to (C-E-G) for the Key of C, D-F#-A for the Key of D, etc.  If you know the main chords for your favorite keys, you can just use the shapes to guide you in playing the right ones.  I have been learning violin/fiddle and this has inspired me to want to try to see if I can try use shape note notation.  Today's book review is about The Moonlight School which features a singing school and its teacher along with a young lady from the city who came to the area to help her aunt who is the Superintendent of Education for Rowan County.

I think I inhaled this book within about 48 hours.  You can ignore the fact that I had insomnia during the time or choose to believe that the book was so good it kept me up!  This was a fascinating look into rural eastern Kentucky and its mountain people inhabitants.  I loved the characters all of whom are very real - from moody Finley James to feisty Angie Cooper.  There was a distinct character arc for the main character Lucy (and I usually do not pay attention to that kind of thing).  There is a hidden subplot/mystery going on that was rather easy to guess at the beginning, but suspenseful and yet heart-wrenching to see unfold.  I want to visit this place because of the setting description.

Here are some quotes:

"She birthed pretty nigh on everybody in the county." "Oh! Now I see. You meant she's trained in midwifery." He turned to look at her.  "No. She helped the womenfolk have their babies."

I thought this was a funny misunderstanding between Lucy and Finley James who were just getting to know each other.  Lucy had to learn how to speak to the mountain people so that they understood what she was saying.  Finley James, while innocent, is dead set against anything to do with learning despite how intelligent he is.

"If a man cannot read or write or vote, he cannot speak.  He is mute.  He is forgotten.  You might think it's a pity they cannot read, but the real tragedy is they cannot speak."

This truth inspires Lucy's Aunt Cora in her quest to increase the literacy rate for the children, and later adults, of her county.  It caught my attention because I think there is nothing sadder than a person who has no voice, no way of speaking, and no way of being heard.

"When motivation meets opportunity, miracles can happen."

This is certainly true in this story for many of the characters.  Once they grasp their motivation, they seize the opportunity and achieve miraculous results.  One of the teenagers in the book passes 7 grades in just a few months!!  Incredible! 

"Yet the more I see of these people, of their lives and their hearts, I wonder if I'm the one who grew up in poverty and ignorance.  Poverty of spirit.  Ignorance of heart."

Here is a lovely example of how Lucy changes during the course of this book. 

A few funny quotes:

"tree feller" - When I first read this, I read it to mean tree fellow and then laughed when I realized she meant a person who fells trees.  It just struck me funny.

"There's something I want you to see.  It's just over yonder."  Over yonder.  Oh dear.

Poor Lucy has to learn that "over yonder" does not have a standard measurement!


There's one more thing to say before I close out my review.  I can't let this pass by.  Although I was a teacher in a classroom setting for 11 years, I am not specially trained in literacy or reading.  My perspective is one of experience.  This book mentions using the whole-word approach to learning how to read which basically means memorizing hundreds and thousands of words as opposed to the phonics approach which teaches the student how to decode 26 letters and put them together using phonics rules thereby having the ability to read thousands of words.  I whole-heartedly believe in the phonics system for teaching reading.  I believe that the whole-word approach to learning how to read has destroyed education and literacy for many children.  Our church -- before Covid-19 -- used to pick up boys and girls along with some adults and bring them to church on buses.  These children cannot read, and we do not believe it is because of their home life - although sometimes that's a valid reason for a child's inability to progress in his education - but because of the way they are being taught how to read.  Some day, we would love to offer reading classes or tutoring sessions for our bus kids to help them.  One distinction is made in the book:  the children were taught using phonics, but the adults were taught using whole language.  "Words that mean something to them.  Easy to memorize, easy to practice."  I am curious - but not enough to do the research myself because #NoTime - to know if that truly is a better method for teaching adults and if it truly has better results with adults over children.  If anyone would like to share their thoughts, I would enjoy reading them.

All in all, a solid 5-star book!  I am grateful to Celebrate Lit who gave me the opportunity to request, receive, read, and review this book.

 

About the Book



Book:  The Moonlight School

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: February 2, 2021

 

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.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author



Carol award winner Suzanne Woods Fisher writes stories that take you to places you’ve never visited—one with characters that seem like old friends. But most of all, her books give you something to think about long after you’ve finished reading it. With over one million copies of her books sold worldwide, Suzanne is the best-selling author of more than thirty books, ranging from non-fiction books, to children’s books, to novels. She lives with her very big family in northern California.

 

 

More from Suzanne

I’m Suzanne Woods Fisher, the author of The Moonlight School. This historical fiction will release on February 2, 2021, and is based on a true story featuring Cora Wilson Stewart, a Kentucky educator way ahead of her times. In 1911, Cora had a crazy idea—to open rural one-room schoolhouses in her county on moonlit nights to teach illiterate adults how to read and write.

So what happened next? Well, it’s so astonishing that you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Instead, I hope you’ll read the book and find out for yourself.

In the meantime, this infographic provides a fascinating look at illiteracy THEN…and NOW. Makes you want to thank your teachers, doesn’t it?

 



Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, January 30

Batya's Bits, January 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 30

CarpeDiem, January 31

Sara Jane Jacobs, January 31

A Novel Pursuit, January 31

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, January 31

The Avid Reader, February 1

Bliss Books & Jewels, February 1

lakesidelivngsite, February 1

Connie's History Classroom, February 1

She Lives To Read, February 2

For the Love of Literature, February 2

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, February 2

Library Lady's Kid Lit, February 3

Through the Fire Blogs, February 3

Texas Book-aholic, February 3

Inspiration Clothesline, February 3

Fiction Book Lover, February 4 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 4

Blogging With Carol, February 4

Lis Loves Reading, February 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 5

Jeanette's Thoughts, February 5

Simple Harvest Reads, February 5 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

HookMeInABook, February 5

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 6

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, February 6

Artistic Nobody, February 6 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

For Him and My Family, February 7

EmpowerMoms, February 7

The Write Escape , February 7

Mary Hake, February 7

Older & Smarter?, February 8

deb's Book Review, February 8

Splashes of Joy, February 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 9

Stephanie's Life of Determination, February 9

Beauty in the Binding, February 9

Blossoms and Blessings, February 9

Remembrancy, February 10

Bigreadersite, February 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 10

By The Book, February 11

Wishful Endings, February 11

Vicky Sluiter, February 11

Pause for Tales, February 11

Spoken from the Heart, February 12

Hallie Reads, February 12

To Everything There Is A Season, February 12

Southern Gal Loves to Read, February 12

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1068d/the-moonlight-school-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Recommended Book: 8 Great Smarts

 I can’t praise this book enough! 8 Great Smarts by Kathy Koch Your child IS smart!!