Alabama Moon by Watt Key

Alabama Moon by Watt Key is about Moon Blake, a 10 year old boy who has lived alone with his father in the Alabama wilderness for has long as he can remember. They live basically off the land. Occasionally they'll walk to the nearest town to sell animal hides or vegetables from their garden to purchase things they need. That all changes the day Pap falls and breaks his leg. When Pap eventually dies, Moon is left alone to survive in a world he knows little about. Despite trying to continue his routines, Moon is caught and taken to the Pinson Boys' Home as a ward of the state of Alabama. This "cage" doesn't hold him for long, however. Moon escapes, taking all of the other boys with him, including his two new best friends, Hal and Kit. Immediately after arriving at Tuscaloosa National Park, the other boys decide they want to go back, so Moon, Hal, and Kit leave them with the bus they stole and venture off into the woods. They live together for several days, all the while being stalked by a mean-spirited constable who seems to want nothing more than to seek revenge upon Moon. Eventually, Hal leaves for his own home with his dad, taking the constable's two bloodhounds with him. Kit and Moon live for several weeks together in the national park before Kit becomes deathly ill. Moon begins to regret the decisions he's made that have put his friend in danger, and takes Kit to find medical help. After Kit is taken to a local hospital, Hal comes searching for Moon and takes him back to his own trailer to live with his dad. Eventually, Moon is found by the constable, after trying to visit Kit in the hospital. He is taken to jail to await his sentencing, but things take a surprising turn at the end of the story!

This is the second time I've read this book. I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first time! It is an amazing adventure story. My honors classes will be participating in a correspondence unit, reading this book along with a class of 7th graders from Huntsville, Alabama.