Fourteen year-old Kevin and his mother have come to live with his grandfather in Kentucky for the summer to try to heal after the tragic death of his three year-old brother.

"Pops" is a veterinarian in the small coal-mining town of Medgar, deep in the Appalachians.

His grandfather is wise and compassionate and soon Kevin is helping him with his rounds, getting acquainted with the area and making friends.

It soon becomes apparent the town is split between those who support the coal baron who provides jobs and economic activity and those opposed because of the environmental degradation caused by the new technique of blowing the tops off mountains to get at the coal rather then sink shafts and extracting it.

The tension mounts and culminates in the murder of a popular opponent to the mining. It's a complicated situation for a fourteen year-old and it tests his courage and his integrity.

Christopher Scotton has done a good job on describing the lifestyle of rural Kentucky as well as damage to the environment of this new type of mountain top removal mining.

Though the dialogue sounds authentic the characterization of many of his major characters is clichéd.

The novel seems to lack intensity and I found myself skimming pages to get to some meaningful action. Finally when it happens I found the motivation and unfolding of events went beyond this readers suspension of disbelief.

Then, when the story appears to be about to end naturally Scotton for some reason feels compelled to let the reader know how it all works out for everyone in the future.

Endings are difficult but in this case Scotten would have been better leaving the future to the reader's imagination.

3.5 stars, rounded down.

This was one I wasn't sure I was going to get through. A slow start for me. Not because it's a bad book or poorly written, it's just not the type of literature I typically pick up. The reason this particular book was interesting to me and I worked my way through it, was because it's set in a coal mining county in Kentucky. My mom's family lived(s) in West Virginia in a coal town, we still have a family house one of my cousins lives in - in a town called Coalburg. Go figure. I was fascinated by the coal parts of the story and pulled in (eventually) by the relationships. This book is very much about relationships and it's beautifully done. There is a lot of sadness and multi levels of tragedy. The writing is fluid. It's also a good book for readers interested in gay rights in small towns (this took place in the 1980's).  

Somewhere in the past few months I got in the library queue for this book and when it came available, I had no recollection of how it came to my attention. I almost let it slip by when I decided to give it a quick listen, just to justify moving onto something else. Happy surprise, The Wisdom of the Earth turned out to be pretty excellent. It's a coming of age story wrapped in a semi-historical (I have a hard time thinking of 1985 has historical) setting with themes of environmental stewardship, family, healing, acceptance, community, outsiders and homophobic attitudes. It's filled with both simple and complex characters, and portrays the tension that can happen in a small community with divided loyalties.

This is a debut book for Christopher Scotton who seems to have a vibrant career that has nothing to do with writing or publishing novels. And reading his author bio, he seems to have channeled many formative experiences into The Wisdom of the Earth. Here's to hoping that he is not a one hit-wonder.

The Secret Wisdom of the Earth

I've got a problem writing this like any other review, because this is not like any other novel. This may be the best book I've read in the twenty-first century. Don't believe me pick it up and read the first five chapters, that's all it will take, and you will not regret it. THE SECRET WISDOM of the EARTH written by "Christopher Scotton" is a novel right up there with the best of "Mark Twain", "Charles Dickens" and "John Irving". It's hard to believe that this is his debut novel. The author has been writing it for fifteen years and it shows. It's a emotional journey of a young boy Kevin who has been relocated from his town, school and friends to his grandfathers in Medgar Kentucky, after a horrible accident occurred. Kevin's dad blamed his son for the incident and has trouble copping with the aftermath. First Kevin does not like Medgar and has problems getting along until he meets a local boy, Buzzy, and slowly comes out of his shell. The story opened up a brand new world for me that has been right here in America for century's.
The book is a joy to read every page, every paragraph and every sentence. I don't think you will like this Novel, I know you will love it. I am so grateful for receiving a copy to review and it in no way influenced my opinion.

Douglas A. Thornley

By Christopher Scotton  

ISBN: Grand Central Publishing

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: 1/06/2015 

Format:  Audio

My Rating:  5 Stars 

THE SECRET WISDOM OF THE EARTH by talented Christopher Scotton, is a highly recommended compelling, multi-layered coming-of-age epic debut, crossing many genres.

A deeply-moving story, with a powerful voice of adult Kevin, main protagonist, telling his story--with a "heart of gold", and as big as the mountains; matched perfectly by audio narrator,Robert Petkoff, delivering an award-winning performance! This southern classic is a "must read" and guaranteed to win your heart.

Set in Kentucky in the 1980s, after the horrific death of Kevin’s younger brother, now 14 years old, he moves with his distraught mother to the rural Kentucky home of his grandfather. It is here he meets a local boy Buzzy and they two become friends; introducing him to all things the rural mountain area has to offer, from fishing, hunting, and country living.

However, what he does find is troubling, making him confused. The people are backward thinking, narrow minded, filled with hate, rage, racists, and bigotry. This pair slowly is drawn into the local politics of the good ole’ boys at the heights of the coal mountaintop removal mining in the rural Appalachia Mountains, and the death of a local gay guy, (and much loved citizen).

A small town mix of good and evil; from witty, humorous, rednecks, hillbillies, racists, activists, gays, bigots, and those without education and forward thinking—a murderer. A variety of viewpoints, in one small town --spells TROUBLE.

An emotional and heartfelt journey of a grandfather and grandson. Pops, Kevin’s grandfather, a veterinarian and a mentor for Kevin introducing him to a world he knows nothing of, along with his friend, Buz. With an array of characters from Boyd’s Mining (who is trying to buy up the land from locals),Paul, the local hairdresser (loved him), and environmental activists, for a fight which escalates, becoming personal and dangerous with a brutal murder. With many hard lessons, a young troubled boy, learns wisdom, tolerance, beauty, hope, and courage; in a world of ugliness, devastation, and hatred.

From the vivid settings, descriptions of the land, mountains, and nature combined with beautiful narrative, Scotton delivers an extraordinary tale which will remain with you long after the book ends

A gifted new author with a "winner out of the gate," takes readers on a journey of "human compassion, resilience, redemption, and the power of family.” An author I look forward to following for years to come!