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The Serpent King, by Jeff Zentner, was published on March 8 by Tundra Books, a division of Random House. It’s the story of teenagers growing up in a small Southern town, learning about the beauty and cruelty of life. They stand together as things fall apart and they learn to move forward despite it.
Dill, Lydia and Travis are outcasts in their Tennessee high school. Dill is a musician and son of a degenerate snake-handling preacher. Lydia is a competent blogger that’s gaining fame and Travis lives in his imagination based on his favorite fantasy series. It’s senior year and they have to go their separate ways at the end of the summer. Lydia will go to New York City for college, Travis is happy to stay in town to work at his family’s lumber mill, but Dill feels stuck. When tragedy strikes, will Dill lose his sanity like his father and grandfather, or will he make life what he wants it to be regardless of opposition?
This is easily the best book I’ve read all year. Written for teens, it is equally powerful for adult readers. If you’ve ever lost someone or wished to be more than you are, this book will speak to you. The story made me cry like a baby for an hour. It’s very moving and absolutely worth reading.
Life can be scary and awful, but it can also be beautiful and spectacular. It all depends on what you make of it. I believe this is an important read for teens as proof that no matter how low life brings you, you can always come back up. The Serpent King shows the sun shining through the clouds and I recommend it to anyone who has had dark days; both those who need a reminder of the light and those who have made it to the other side.