WINNER OF THE 2023 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION
A New York Times “Ten Best Books of 2022 * An Oprah’s Book Club Selection * An Instant New York Times Bestseller * An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller * A #1 Washington Post Bestseller
“Demon is a voice for the ages—akin to Huck Finn or Holden Caulfield—only even more resilient.” —Beth Macy, author of Dopesick
“May be the best novel of 2022. . . . Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this is the story of an irrepressible boy nobody wants, but readers will love.” (Ron Charles, Washington Post)
From the acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, a brilliant novel that enthralls, compels, and captures the heart as it evokes a young hero’s unforgettable journey to maturity
Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Overall, what did you think of Demon Copperhead? If you’ve read other books by Barbara Kingsolver, how did this one compare?
2. How do you feel the first-person narrative shape your understanding of Demon’s character and his experiences? What do you learn about him that might be different if the story were told from another perspective? What do you think might be missing?
3. In what ways does Demon’s childhood environment impact his development, in your opinion? What specific challenges does he face that define his early years?
4. How does Kingsolver portray the foster care system? What do you think are the implications of Demon’s experiences within this system for his understanding of family and belonging?
5. What friendships did you see in the novel? How do these relationships help or hinder Demon’s growth, in your opinion?
6. How does the novel explore the theme of nature versus nurture in shaping Demon’s identity? What role do you think his biological and social influences play in his life? Which do you feel is generally more influential, nature or nurture, and how have you seen this play out in your own life?
7. Which characters experience trauma in the novel? In what ways do you find the characters cope with their traumatic experiences, and how does this affect their relationships?
8. What social issues are highlighted in the book, such as addiction, poverty, and mental health? How does Kingsolver weave these themes into the narrative? What did you think of this technique?
9. If you’ve read Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, how does Demon Copperhead compare? How Kingsolver draw on the themes and structure of the classic, and In what ways does she modernize or reinterpret these themes?
10. Discuss how Demon’s search for identity is central to the plot. Which factors, do you feel, contribute to his evolving sense of self?
11. In moments of despair, what sources of resilience and hope do the characters find? How do you feel these elements shape the overall tone of the novel? How do you approach coping with despair in your own life?
12. How do you think Kingsolver illustrates the impact of economic inequality on the characters’ lives? What specific examples resonate with you?
13. Analyze the different parenting styles depicted in the novel. How do these styles affect the children’s futures and their perceptions of love? If you’re a parent, do you see your own style reflected in the book?
14. What role does education play in Demon’s life? Do you believe it serves as a means of escape or entrapment – or both?
15. Is there a scene or a quote that you made note of while reading the novel? Why do you think it resonated with you?
16. Which character, other than Demon himself, did you enjoy reading about the most?
17. Reflect on the ending of the novel. How does it provide closure for Demon’s journey, and what possibilities does it suggest for his future?