Twelve-year-old Tom Higgins is learning the craft of making whiskey. Even though Prohibition forbids the production and sale of alcoholic beverages, Tom is determined to be a good apprentice. He is, after all, a moonshiner's son. His father has raised moonshining to an art, and Tom wants nothing more than to please this rough, distant man. Then a preacher comes to the wilds of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains to rid Bad Camp Hollow of the "evils of liquor." This is when Tom and his father begin their campaign to match wits with the preacher and try to outsmart the law officers he calls in. Tom's father is eloquent in defense of a way of life long and respectfully lived by the Higgins family. But the preacher and his pretty daughter make a powerful case against it. And when drink causes a tragedy in the community, Tom Higgins is torn....

For use in schools and libraries only. As he works with his father making moonshine in the remote hills of Virginia during Prohibition, 12-year-old Tom Higgins learns about hard work and honesty as he is forced to question his own notions of morality.

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The author's father was a major bootlegger in Southeastern North Carolina. He was known far and wide for his ability to make the best moonshine in the area. This bootlegger frequently imposed cruel and even inhumane treatment on his son, especially those involving illegal liquor. James often sustained unusual cruelty and savage beatings for not getting an assigned task perfectly correct. He learned early on to keep his distance from his father and his violent temper, especially when his father was drinking. In those days, there was no intervention by Social Services or law enforcement to prevent the cruelty. Life as a Bootlegger's Son reveals murder and adultery that existed in the family. It also addresses personal survival when confronted with abject poverty and the challenges of growing up largely without parental supervision. The book also has humorous moments that the reader is sure to enjoy. Be sure to read the squirrel story!