Moon-calf : a novel

In southwestern Illinois, where politics is often less compelling than a barbecue and a plate of fresh roast pig, old Jimmy Fay stands apart from his neighbors. A passionate abolitionist, he reacts to the Dred Scott decision with a personal fast, earning a reputation for stubborn eccentricity long before the community comes to understand the convictions behind it.

From this vivid family history, the story opens onto a changing Middle America and the young people growing up within it. Imagination, idealism, romance, and self-discovery contend with family expectations and the hard hand of reality, while the Fays and their neighbors reveal the humor, contradictions, and generosity of their time. Rich in social observation and lively character portraits, this is an expansive coming-of-age tale about unconventional minds searching for freedom and a place in the world.