Alabama Moon

The story

For as long as ten-year-old Moon can remember, he has lived out in the forest in a shelter with his father. They keep to themselves, their only contact with other human beings an occasional trip to the nearest general store.

When Moon’s father dies, Moon follows his father’s last instructions: to travel to Alaska and find others like themselves. But Moon is soon caught and entangled in a world he does not know or understand. He has become the property of the government he has been taught all his life to avoid.

As the spirited and resourceful Moon encounters constables, jails, institutions, lawyers, true friends and true enemies, he adapts his wilderness survival skills to the outside world — and even, perhaps, makes his home there.

Details

Publisher: Farrar Straus and Giroux
Published: 2006
Audience: Middle grade and up — widely taught in grades 5–8
Translated: Eight languages
Film: 2009, directed by Tim McCanlies, starring John Goodman — see the screen work

Where it came from

Fourteen days in the swamp.

At nineteen, a college sophomore, Watt designed an independent study for himself: go into the Alabama swamp with two friends and live off what was there. They stayed fourteen days. He came out fifteen pounds lighter, and with the thing the novel is actually about.

Two young men with bows and packs at the trailhead — Setting out. Bows, packs, and not much else.

Lashing a shelter frame together from cut poles — The shelter, built out of what was standing nearby.

Watt Key as a teenager holding two small game animals — A good day. Most of them were not.

The full account of the swamp experience →

For schools & teachers

Classroom resources.

Free to download and adapt. The resource packet includes discussion questions, vocabulary, and activities; the book talk is a ready-made presentation.