The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review

 Happy Wednesday Friends :)

I hope you're all doing well.

We're in the middle of an extreme cold spell where I live, so I've been spending a lot of time indoors under a blanket with my Bible and some great Christian fiction reads.

I've read a few of Suzanne Woods Fisher's books in the past and always enjoyed them, so I was really looking forward to reading her upcoming release.

I think a lot of you are going to end up loving this one as much as I did, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: February 2nd, 2021

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Synopsis

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.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You'll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

I've enjoyed every book I've read by Suzanne Woods Fisher, but The Moonlight School is my new favorite of hers. It introduced me to a period of history I knew nothing about. It highlights the admirable life of the lovely Cora Wilson Stewart, who fought for the education of people who everyone else had written off. It contains a lovely coming of age story, and it's all wrapped up in a shocking mystery that had me glued to each and every page of the story.

Right from the opening pages, I felt myself connect with this beautiful story. Lucy Wilson's been forced to carry the burden of losing her toddler sister since childhood, and she's struggled to find anything in life that feels worth living for. Her cousin, Cora, invites her to come work as her assistant helping the mountain people send and receive letters who are illiterate. Lucy starts off feeling out of her element, but soon comes to appreciate and respect the simpler way that these kind hearted people choose to live their lives. She depends heavily on the help of Brother Wyatt, a kindhearted man with a really big heart for both God and the mountain people he grew up with. When the illiterate conditions of the mountain people cause them to be taken advantage of by logging companies, Cora devises a plan with Lucy and Wyatt's help to give them the education they deserve-a moonlight school.

Based on real historical events and told in Suzanne Wood Fisher's unique atmospheric, storytelling style, The Moonlight School is definitely a new favorite and I honestly wish there were going to be a sequel. I adored Lucy and Cora and how Cora's determination to help others never stops. I loved the relationship between Lucy and her father being examined in detail, and I especially adored each and every one of the mountain people, with Brother Wyatt being my favorite character of all. My only complaint was the way the author chooses to leave the mystery, but that was just a personal preference and it definitely didn't hinder my enjoyment of the rest of the story.

I will most definitely be recommending this one, and I can't wait for Suzanne's next book release.

Final Rating: 5/5.

I can't recommend this heartwarming story enough. 

Thanks so much to Revell for allowing me to read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review. 

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)