User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
At the beginning of the story, there is a flashback to a startling, dramatic event, one that haunts sixteen year old Jessie Sasser, a troubled girl who doesn’t want to be known as a moonshiner’s daughter. She’s frustrated wanting to know more about her mother, looking for remanants, signs, maybe finger prints on a wall perhaps, with little recollection of her mother since she was just four when the accident happened. She doesn’t fit in at school or at home, not wanting to be part of the family moonshine business not wanting to be known as a “moonshiner’s daughter “ with a father who in his own grief and need to provide for his son and daughter, doesn’t seem to see her. This is compounded by Jessie’s eating disorder and there are moments that are difficult to read as she endures this alone, except for a very kind and aware school nurse who recognizes Jessie’s issue. She doesn’t want to be a moonshiner’s daughter, yet later in the story, as she sits in her class room, “I gave a sky peep around the room, wondering what they would think of they knew I hauled moonshine, knew how to do a bootleg U-turn, could tell by the bead what was good liquor and bad.”
Coming of age in the south is the focus of the three novels that I have read by a Donna Everhart. I can’t say this one is my favorite and for at least the first half I would have rated it 3.5 stars, but the second half delivered, kept me captivated. The portrayal of this part of North Carolina in 1960, with hidden stills that needed tending, the violence of the competitors, provided a strong sense of the place, of the culture, the dangers, the violence associated with moonshining and an ending that I was not expecting.
I read received an advanced copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. I’m late in reading and reviewing this, but glad I finally got to it.
Rating: really liked it
North Carolina, 1959-61: Jessie Sasser, a teen girl, struggles to feel accepted by her family who runs an illicit moonshining business. For a number of reasons, young Jessie refuses to support her family's occupation moonshining. Unpopular, self-conscious, and motherless, she feels shame about her family’s reputation for moonshining and worthlessness about herself. But when harm comes her family’s way, Jessie feels she must decide between her family and her integrity. Will her family's legacy stand in the way of survival?
“I didn’t want to be known as the moonshiner’s daughter.” A big topic explored in this novel is
eating disorders. Very early on, Jessie’s eating disorder is introduced, and she struggles with her self-value and appearance throughout the novel.
“Out the windows to my left were my classmates standing or sitting under a perfect blue sky, a buttery sun shining warm on their flawless world. I saw myself in their midst, a mar on their perfection, a weed in their manicured garden.” The names of characters are simply amazing. And, in my opinion the name “Sasser” is one of the most epic last names for a Southern family. The southern language was remarkable, and the setting and environment set by the author was outstanding. The stark reality of Jessie’s situation with her family feels tangible.
Historically, this novel was extremely well-researched. After searching the internet because of this novel, I came to realize the area of the setting, Wilkes County, NC, was a huge moonshining contributor in the south during the 50's and 60's. The cars to transport the juice, the moonshining process, and the rivalry seem to be developed from genuine past reports or other remnants of history. As the author mentions in the end, moonshining was prevalent in Wilkes County, NC because voters continued to delay the license of regulated Alcohol Beverage Control stores.
The first few chapters started off strong, but then it
started to get slow here and there. I experienced a few static moments with the pacing in the first half of the story-line.
On the other hand, I can see the slow-moving pace in the beginning could benefit the solid foundation set for characters and the environment they live in. I really felt like I knew Jessie and her family. The last half, of course, was my favorite and everything was woven together beautifully. The very ending, the epilogue, truly made my heart sink.
There is no romance in this novel. Triggers in this novel include self-harm through eating disorders and abuse to a child.
I really liked this story and recommend it to lovers of Southern historical fiction. This would make for a great group or book club read. There is also a "Reading Group Guide" with questions included in the back.
4.5 stars 
I won an advanced print copy of this via Free Book Friday on Donna Everhart's blog. Thank you! Click here to watch the book trailer for The Moonshiner's Daughter. More on these topics: Willie Clay Call- The Uncatchable Moonshiner
Why moonshine?
Moonshiner History
Women's Health- Eating Disorders
Newspaper clip from 1938, Wilkes County NC Moonshine Capital:
A 1950’s Oldsmobile Rocket 88- Similar to Daddy Sasser’s car he used to run his shine:
A 1951 moonshine bust in Johnston County, NC. Image from the State Archives.
Rating: really liked it
Provocative, emotional, & compelling!THE MOONSHINER’S DAUGHTER by DONNA EVERHART is an engaging, fascinating, gritty, heart-wrenching, and soul-stirring southern historical fiction novel that was such a fabulous, compassionate, and heartfelt story. I was immediately sucked into the storyline and it gripped me right until the very end.
I absolutely love these types of gritty southern fiction tales and absolutely loved that this story was centered around moonshining. I’ve always had this fascination for the history of the making and running of moonshine and this definitely fulfilled my curiosity. Along with the moonshining there is some tough themes discussed here within this novel. Very early on we are privy to our main character here, Jessie having an eating disorder. We are given a firsthand look into how she struggles with her appearance and how that ultimately affects her self-esteem. DONNA EVERHART explores and delivers this subject-matter with tender loving care. Jessie and her journey totally consumed my thoughts and my heart, her story definitely resonated with me deeply on a personal level.
DONNA EVERHART delivers a steadily-paced, well-researched, and a beautifully written story here that remarkably captures the essence, time, and place perfectly. I felt like I was experiencing everything in this novel right along with these believable and exceptionally well-drawn characters. This novel deeply affected and touched my heart. It is one that I soon won’t forget.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Eye-catching, lovely, vintage, and an extremely fitting representation to storyline. I absolutely love this cover and it definitely enticed me in reading this book.
Title: An intriguing, relevant, effective, and fitting representation to storyline. I absolutely love this title!
Writing/Prose: Easy to read, eloquent, entertaining, vivid, palpable, engaging and captivating.
Plot: Gritty, stirring, heart-felt, memorable, atmospheric, plausible, interesting, steadily-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: A bittersweet, heart-felt, moving, and satisfying ending.
Overall: 4.5 Stars! I have such a deep affection for this story and highly recommend it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Donna Everhart and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
This review can also be seen at Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading book blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
Rating: really liked it
5 North Carolina stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Ok, so I happen to LOVE Donna Everhart. We are talking BIG love. She’s a North Carolina author who features North Carolina settings, and her books are filled with warmth and heart. Not only that, while I have loved every book, they only get better and better.
Set in Wilkes County, North Carolina, The Moonshiner’s Daughter is Jessie Sasser’s coming-of-age. Her family has lived in the Brushy Mountains for generations making moonshine.
Jessie, however, is no fan of moonshine. It killed her mother.
Jessie is eager to know the truth of what happened to her mom, but no one is talking about it, especially not her dad. And Jessie has pain and hurt deep inside that causes her to seek comfort from food.
Moonshining was dangerous business, and I recently learned from my dad that a family member of mine or two took part. I think this connection enthralled me with the book even more.
As with all her books, Everhart lays out the time and place with precision. I am quite familiar with Wilkes County. It’s a beautiful place I drive through on the way to the Blue Ridge mountains.
Jessie is a charmer. How she dealt with all her feelings was written in a way so relatable, especially for losing her mom at such a young age. The Moonshiner’s Daughter is a deeply emotional story as a result. I’ve mentioned before my best friend lost her mother when we were teens. Everhart captures that enduring pain in a way that viscerally took me back.
I will never tire of Donna Everhart’s stories. She brings the feelings, the strong characterization, precise settings, and stories that deeply move me every single time. I hope she has a neverending amount of stories to tell us because I’ll be here waiting to read them.
I received a complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Rating: really liked it
Donna Everhart has written a gritty and compelling southern fiction novel. Her clever and descriptive writing really brought this time and place to life. 1960 North Carolina Wilkes County an area known for its moonshine. 16-year-old Jesse has never felt as though she belongs. She does not fit in with her family, because she blames moonshine for the death of her mother. She also does not fit in with her classmates because she fears they see her as the moonshiner’s daughter. Jesse struggles with her self worth and battles with an eating disorder. This book got off to a bit of a slow start, but I think that was imperative because it really set the foundation for these characters. I felt so much for Jessie, although I didn’t always understand why she was so against moonshine. I mean I do understand it was illegal, I guess I just don’t really understand all the implications involved. I did some googling while reading this book and it seems as though this was the prime moonshine area of the country from about 19 20–19 60. I always love reading southern fiction, because the area seem so rich in history, history I really have very little knowledge of. So while the first half of this book was a bit slow, the second half was completely enthralling. The direction the story took completely surprise me, but I was really invested in the story and thrilled with the ending.
This book in emojis. ⛰ 💰 🥃 🚗
*** Big thank you to Kensington for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
For more of my reviews and bookish thoughts please visit my blog
Rating: really liked it
It's 1960 and Jesse Sasser is a 16 year old teenager who doesn't fit in. Jesse's family has been running a moonshine business in the Brushy Mountains in North Carolina for years. When Jesse was 4, she witnessed an accident where her Mom was burnt alive after one of the moonshine stills exploded. And that's one of the reasons why Jesse doesn't approve of her family's illegal activities and is thinking of reporting her father and brother to the Revenue.
I've read Donna Everhart's novel The Forgiving Kind earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Everhart is an exceptional writer and in her latest novel she depicts an authentic picture of the life in North Caroline in the 60s at the time when the Wilkes County was known as the Moonshine Capital of the World. I had no idea how popular bootleg liquor was at the time and enjoyed discovering this bit of US history.
What I struggled with was the character of Jesse and the lack of her character development. Jesse suffers from an eating disorder, but it is not clear when this started and what the main trigger for her bulimia is. Her body size is never discussed, only that she is always weraing ill-fitting clothes. Having no friends, she is also an outcast at school but again, it is not explained why that is. Overall, an interesting HF book which the fans of Donna Everhart will love, no doubt.
Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Everhart's fourth book blew me away. She is a very talented author. Living in NC this made this book even more fun to read. Everhart has done her research and this book was such a fantastic read.
If you have never read a book by Everhart change that soon. She is an author to watch out for. New York Times is on her radar.
I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
Rating: really liked it
Coming of age + southern fiction = a new Donna Everhart book! I have read Donna Everhart's previous book and was thrilled to read The Moonshiner's Daughter. Jessie Sasser is the daughter of a moonshiner and witnessed her mother's death at the age of four. She is now 16 and dealing with a serious eating disorder, unpopularity and the fact that she wants more out of life than running 'shine. Donna Everhart is an auto-read author for me! The Moonshiner's Daughter would be a great book club pick!
Rating: really liked it
Moonshiner’s Daughter by Donna Everhart
This is an amazing story set in North Carolina 1960, where a young woman is navigating the loss of her mother, and torn between the morality of her family’s legacy and the money they earn that puts food on their table. When she was only four years old, Jessie Sasser witnessed the death of her mother, burning alive from what she understands to be caused by their family’s Moonshine business. Her father refuses to talk about it.
Her father is convinced that moonshining runs in their blood as they are well known in those parts to having the best moonshine. Jessie would not have anything to do with the money they earn - refusing to eat or even buying much needed clothes! Determined to destroy the stills, her plans backfire when old rivalry escalates.
This is the first book I have read from Donna Everhart and what a great experience it was to read her amazing and unique characters full of grit, passion and strength.
The writing is solid and the plot kept my interest and fingers turning those pages. It was an entertaining read for me that I really enjoyed!
Rating: really liked it
Donna Everhart writes a terrific southern novel. Moonshiner's Daughter takes place in the mountains of N. Carolina in the late 1950's, where moonshine is quite popular in the dry county. Jessie's family have been manufacturers of a popular, quality brand for several generations. They run their shine all over the county and they are harassed by the maker's an inferior brand, who want to have a monopoly in the area and will do just about anything to succeed. Jessie's father, Easton takes the high road in the story. However, 16 yr. old, Jessie doesn't see things that way and she is blinded by her own agenda.
Everhart weaves a story of a stormy family dynamic, where several people are in discord with Easton's leadership. Jessie becomes laser focused on discovering more details about her mother's (Lydia) tragic death, which she witnessed and only partly remembers at age four. Desperate to uncover details, she devises several clever tactics to learn what happened to Lydia, that caused her death. In the midst of her angst, she alienates those closest to her, endangers her family and suffers from an eating disorder. Men don't let that scare you off from reading a great story that will appeal to you.
Everhart brings this story to a close in an amazing way. There are plenty of twists and turns and a lot of action to boot. There is an insightful examination of family dynamics that wasn't overdone. Forgiveness is incorporated but not in a preachy way. I particularly liked how Jessie's soul searching causes her to gain perspective on her pain and the harm she has caused as she let grief dominate her actions.
I plan to read more books by Donna Everhart. She has been given awards for her writing for good reason!
Recommend for men and women reader's, who enjoy drama with plenty of action and deeper wisdom.
Rating: really liked it
Have you ever tried Moonshine?
I have. I will never again. Imagine swallowing corn flavored gasoline while it's on fire. And it stays on fire. For hours after you swallow it.
What if ‘Shining' was your family legacy? It feeds your family and pays the bills. But what if it also is what killed your mother.
For 16 year old Jessie - she despises everything about the bootlegging her father does and although her family has been doing it for generations, she's determined to be no part of it. Even if that means destroying everything.
As Jessie seeks to do just that - she starts a chain of events that threatens danger to not only her, but her entire family. As old and dangerous family rivalries begin to emerge, she struggles to find her place, suppress her own inner demons, and questions everything she thought she knew about her family.
I adored Jessie and her steadfast strength despite her heartbreaking insecurities. And I was gripped by this fascinating look into the illegal enterprise of moonshining. It's a fast paced story that I didn't want to end, and although the final pages came as such an unexpected surprise - I still enjoyed every minute.
I fell in love with Donna Everharts' storytelling long ago, and The Moonshiner's Daughter is no exception to her gift of making readers connect with characters, fall in love with the South, and get lost in stories that seem almost too wild to be true.
Rating: really liked it
Donna Everhart has such a gift for giving voice to her characters. This about a teenage girl trying to find her place in the world.
1960s. Sixteen years old Jessie Sasser's family has been making and running moonshine in the hills of North Carolina for generations. Having witnessed her mother's death at the tender age of four, Jessie wants no part in the family business, much to the consternation of her father, uncle and younger brother. No one will talk to Jessie about her mother, leaving her with an emptiness she strives to fill with binge eating and purging. Jessie has just one school friend, and is ignored or bullied by the other students. It is the gruff school nurse who recognizes Jessie's struggles and tries with compassion and care to help her.
Resentful over the stigma of her family's heritage, Jessie makes some fateful choices with harsh consequences. As she tries to right her wrongs, things escalate and people are hurt. But as she learns more about her mother and grows in maturity, she does all she can to right her wrongs, and find a place to belong.
Jessie was flawed, troubled and stubborn, but I wanted to wrap her in my arms and comfort her, along with her younger brother. Well researched and beautifully written, a fabulous coming of age story.
Rating: really liked it
This was my 250th book for 2019... This was written with such grace... I fell in love with Jessie...would highly recommend this one! Thanks for giving me a chance to read, thank you for the giveaway!
Rating: really liked it
This book has many different family dynamics. All of them equal toxic, dysfunction that often ends in tragedy in many different ways. Death, bulimia, bootlegging, arson, and abuse to name a few. Slow in the beginning, picked up quickly
Rating: really liked it
Although this is my first novel by Everhart, she has been on my radar for a long time and will definitely be a new favorite. At first, I was feeling so depressed reading this that I didn't know if I would like it. Her writing is so good that I could really feel for the main character and her outcast status at school, as well as her feeling that she was in a family that she couldn't really relate to because of their family business and how it had related to her mother's death. This is definitely a gritty novel with plenty of awful people and terrible things that happen, but there is also hope and love. With novels like this, I've noticed that if there is at least one character that makes the hard times bearable and even hopeful, it makes for a much better story. In this one, there is a elderly school nurse by the name of Mrs. Brewer who is so wonderful that even though she is fictional she is inspiring. I hope we all have or have had a Mrs. Brewer in our lives and strive to be her at times too.
