Harnett County Public Library System awarded NEA Big Read Grant

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

About the NEA Big Read: “The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read—a partnership with Arts Midwest—broadens our understanding of ourselves and our neighbors through the power of a shared reading experience. The goals of the Big Read are to inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.” Learn more here.

Harnett County Public Library will be reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, and invites you to join!

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind.

Beginning this month, you can:

Read Demon Copperhead with many of our book clubs.
Enjoy visits from performers and special guests including Camp Flintlock and Bright Star Theatre.
Attend Opioid Overdose Response Trainings at our standalone branches.
Write with author KC Farrior at a Wellness & Writing Workshop.
And so much more!

The Harnett County Public Library Big Read kicks off on Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a special community celebration inspired by the novel.

All ages are invited to experience a little piece of history with Camp Flintlock, who will bring the past to life with an exciting colonial faire featuring historical demonstrations and activities, and enjoy live music that connects to the cultural traditions and musical heritage reflected throughout the novel. And, of course, free copies of Demon Copperhead are available for attendees (on a first-come, first-served basis).

This project was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. This project is also supported by Arts Midwest.

About Harnett County Public Library:

Harnett County Public Library serves the community through eight locations, including the Main Library in Lillington and branches in Angier, Benhaven, Coats, Dunn, Erwin, Anderson Creek, and Boone Trail. The library provides access to reading materials, digital resources, educational programs, and community engagement opportunities.

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