With his father imprisoned and his mother addicted to drugs, 17-year-old Kody lives with Nanny, his grandmother and legal guardian, in a small Kentucky town. As a closeted gay kid attending Nanny's fundamentalist church in a narrow-minded, mostly white community, he has troubles of his own, but he tries to help his mother. He drives her to Narcotics Anonymous group sessions and cares for her through detox and withdrawal, knowing that she has tried before and failed. Meanwhile, Kody loses his best friend when she discovers that Kody's gay, but he gains a loving Black half sister, whose existence brings up painful secrets from the family's past and sends his mother spiraling downward once again. Watts, who lives in Appalachia, captures the setting, the characters, and their voices with conviction. The writing style is direct and plainspoken. While a late-breaking plot twist threatens to overwhelm a tale that is already heavy-laden with issues, Kody's first-person narrative brings it back into balance through the common sense and uncommon resilience that are his character's fundamental qualities. A very readable novel.

A gay teen drags it up as Dolly Parton.With one parent incarcerated and the other struggling with addiction, 17-year-old Kody lives with Nanny, his maternal grandmother, in her Morgan, Kentucky, modular home. Between watching The Golden Girls, church on Sundays, and working on sewing projects together, the two have a lot in common. But, close as they are, Nanny doesn't know Kody's greatest secrets: He's gay, and he has a ritual Dolly Dress-Up Hour when she's not home. A third secret comes to light when a surprise Facebook message connects Kody, who is White, with Macey, the 15-year-old half sister he knew nothing about. Yet another surprise for Kody, given that the town is almost entirely White, is that Macey's late father was Black. The siblings meet across state lines where Macey lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and get to know each other. Macey believes she might be bisexual, and her family's casual acceptance surprises Kody. But the more they connect, the more Kody's personal secrets-and his family's own closely kept secrets-begin to unravel. Watts' latest contemporary Appalachian story movingly melds identity exploration with more prominent themes of addiction, family, faith, and racism. Though she doesn't skirt away from uncomfortable situations or harsh realities, the overall tone is hopeful-not unlike a Dolly Parton song itself. Although the end of the novel feels too rushed, the rural setting and community are richly drawn.A would-be "Backwoods Barbie" tale with a whole lot of heart. (Fiction. 14-18)

Gr 8 Up Growing up in rural Kentucky in a mostly white, Christian community and with little to no access to the internet, Kody lives a very insular life with his grandmother, Nanny. Life is tough for many in his hometown as job prospects dry up and the opioid epidemic claims a whole generation of parents. Following a serious car accident years ago, Kody's mother became addicted to oxycontin, leaving Kody and Nanny to pick up her pieces again and again. Nevertheless, Kody gets by with a solid routine of church, quilting, and The Golden Girls . He also takes comfort from the words and music of classic country stars, especially Dolly Parton. However, no one in his family knows that Kody feels the most free during "Dolly Dress-Up Hour," when he dons feminine clothes and performs Dolly songs in his bedroom. When a Facebook message arrives from an unexpected source, Kody's worldview begins to open up, and he glimpses a life where he could freely be his most authentic self, but he is also forced to confront uncomfortable truths about his family and community. Watts's engaging book addresses timely topics like addiction, homophobia, and racism, but her gentle, heartwarming prose makes this book a comfort read. Kody's sweetly honest narration makes it impossible not to cheer for him. VERDICT This uplifting page-turner is highly recommended for readers looking for modern Christian fiction with lots of depth, or for fans of Jeff Zentner. Catherine Cote, John Champe H.S., Aldie, VA