Moon Blake, ten years old, lives in the wilderness of Alabama with his father, who mistrusts the government and teaches Moon how to live off the land and prepare for war when it comes. When his father dies, Moon sets out for Alaska, unable to accept that he should find other people to take care of him.

Watt Key creates an exciting story of a lost child and his search for a home. Part Pictures of Hollis Woods, part Hatchet-- my students will love this book when I share it with them this fall.

Alabama Moon has been living with his father in the wilderness. Relying on nature alone, they avoid contact with other people, especially people from the government. Moon's father doesn't trust others. But when Moon's father dies, the very people he has been taught not to trust come to take care of him. Can he trust the adults in his life to do what's best for him, or would he be better off striking out on his own?

This was an interesting book. It did not cast a giant negative light on those who distrust institutions, as I had initially thought it would. The main character has an interesting mix of bravery, resourcefulness, and naivete that is intriguing to watch in action. I enjoyed this story and applauded the decisions of the main characters.

Lord have mercy, this is a good book. Makes me miss Alabama somethin' fierce. A great story about a 10-year-old boy, Moon, who lives off the land with his dad. Highly recommend this book!

Good realistic fiction for students who might not have found the right book yet.

Alabama Moon is about a boy named Moon Blake. He lives in a forest with his father who dies in the first chapter. He lives purely off the land and can survive all on his own out in the wilderness. However, because both of his parent are gone he become property of the state and has to go to the Pinson boys' home, after a Constable named Sanders gets mad at him. He able to escape from Pinson with two of his friends, Hal and Kit before bringing all of the other kids with them. After their escape all of the boys but Moon, Kit, and Hal are tired and stay behind in the bus they stole while Moon and his friends head off into a Forest Preserve to build a shelter and live there. Sanders sends three dogs to find the boys but they just stay with Hal. Soon Hal just runs off in the middle of a rain to his father's house storm and Kit gets sick because he hasn't been taking his medicine. Moon drags Kit all the way to the road side and someone pulls up and brings Kit to a hospital. Meanwhile, Sanders is getting very mad that none of his dogs have returned nor have any of the escapees.
Eventually Hal comes back, gets Moon and they live together at Hal's until they are eating lunch on the side of the road one day and Sanders tries to chance Moon out into the wild and beat him up, instead Mr. Wellington , a retired lawyer comes and saves Moon, and brings him to his place saying that he has been accused of many things including firing a pistol at Sander(he did steal Sanders's pistol but he did not fire it at him). Moon has to turn himself in and stand trial with Mr. Wellington as his lawyer and all of Alabama wondering the outcome.

Really good book about a 10 year old boy who lives in the wild until his father passes away. Reminded me a bit of the book Hatchet.

Boys will love this but don't tell them it's also a tearjerker at the end. I'm eager to see if the author has written other books. The outdoor adventure is mixed with urban reality.

Book Talk: Moon Blake and his dad live off the land deep in the forest. They rarely leave the forest but they find their own food and have built a comfortable shelter When his father dies unexpectedly, Blake is on his own. Before he died, his father told him to go to Alaska. So Moon begins journey, but when one adult finds him he is turned over to a home for orphaned boys. Canl he escape? Will he make to Alaska? Or will loneliness drive him over the edge?