The Moonshiner's Daughter: A Southern Coming-of-Age Saga of Family and Loyalty

The Moonshiner’s Daughter was an engaging, atmospheric read that kept me interested from start to finish. The setting was one of the strongest parts of the story as it felt vivid and grounded, and I really appreciated how the historical details were woven into the plot without overwhelming it. Jessie is a likable, determined main character, and her internal conflict between loyalty to family and doing what’s right felt believable and well done. The pacing was mostly steady, with enough tension to keep the story moving, though a few sections felt a bit predictable. While not every plot point surprised me, the emotional core of the story carried it through, and I found myself genuinely invested in how everything would turn out. Overall, this was an enjoyable historical novel with heart, strong atmosphere, and a compelling protagonist. I couldn't put it down.

Good read. Easy to follow. Not sire a true ending. Stick with it. It.came.around in the end of the book.

Love the book

his is important book on Eating Disorders and violence that occurred where moonshine was made in North Carolina in the 1960s. A scary time in a scary place, where people made moonshine as a defense against poverty and rival families in the business carried hate through generations. Jessie Sasser was determined not to follow in her father’s footsteps and wanted her father to talk about her mother. She witnessed at the age of four, her mother being burning to death while making moonshine. Not knowing what to do, she turned to food and stuffed herself until ridicule made her turn to eating and purging. As the story progresses, she slowly learns more about her mother and there are scenes that will turn your stomach, at least mine. I kept reading because I cared about Jessie and hoped that she would find a way to cope. So this is a great book but you must be strong to read it. show less

I enjoyed reading this story about moonshiners because it was something I didn't know much about. The family was highly dysfunctional and Jessie had a terrible eating disorder. But it was good to read it through her perspective. I will read more of this author's books.

It was OK

The beginning of this story put me off a little bit, the main character Jesse has an eating disorder. She's a typical teenager girl, full of sadness, rage, and hate for her family's legacy, a legacy she blames her mother's Death on. Every teenager, at some point, believes they know best. This story comes full circle with Jesse finally learning who her mother was, and eventually learning who she is inside, she pulls herself together & gets her family through a difficult time by continuing her family's legacy. In by doing so she finds the truth of what really happened to her mother & the Murry's. To read this young girl weave her way through these difficulties was amazing. I only wish the ending was a bit different for her. All in all a very good book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging and really drew me in. It one of those books that leaves you thinking about it even when it's over. If you enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing, you will love this one too. Trigger warning: themes of eating disorders, alcoholism, and mental health challenges. I don't like books that are too intense or violent and this did not bother me even though there was a fair amount of intense situations. The end really surprised me but also felt right.

Enjoyable book to read depicting life at the time.

Well done. Once again Donna Everhart has written a book that is gripping right to the end. Using story and research, she takes us back to a moment in time and gives us in depth insight into a slice of history exposing the ins and outs of making and running moonshine.

no comment

Really enjoyed this book and will definitely read another gr8 Donna Everhart Hope u have a few more like this one

Totally involved with all the characters especially Jessie as she went thru her struggles with friends, family business, school and her self esteem. Great story line, however I found there was a lot of repetition of situations repeated over and over in the last 3/4 or so of the story. Picked up again at the end which redeemed the story to its beginning of good story and character.