Review of "Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds," by Cynthia Rylant and Barry Moser

Review of

Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds, by Cynthia Rylant and Barry Moser ISBN 0590512587


Five out of five stars

 The area known as Appalachia is a significant area of the United States and remains generally poor, despite many government efforts to stimulate economic development. Some people refer to the residents as “hillbillies,” but the referents often take that as an insult.

 This book is meant to be a primer on the people that make their homes in Appalachia. While they may not have a lot of wealth, they do have a lot of pride in their heritage and region. Coal mining is a main industry in the area, it is a dirty, dangerous occupation that has been a part of the heritage of many families for generations.

 Written at the level of the late elementary or early middle school student, this is a book that does an excellent job of introducing all people to a region that is often misunderstood and sometimes belittled.