When 'Bear Cat' Went Dry

"When 'Bear Cat' Went Dry" by Charles Neville Buck is a story placed in the tough Appalachian mountains, telling about Turner Stacy, or Bear Cat, and how he deals with his dad, Lone Stacy, who makes moonshine illegally to stay alive. The book looks at being loyal to family, fighting against what's expected, and trying to beat bad habits, like drinking too much, as Turner tries to find his way when he doesn't have many choices. Right away, we see Lone is strict, which is different from what Turner wants for his life. Lone is annoyed because Turner doesn't want to help with making moonshine. Even though Turner is strong, he's not sure who he is and wants something better. The story shows how hard life is in the mountains, focusing on how tough it is to balance what your family needs with what you want, getting ready for when the family has to fight against society and each other.