Copperhead

Copperhead

Adult fiction
"...It doesn't matter that he's always been a good student, not
just smart but dilligent, up late, up early, keeping his work
organized, reading ahead, extra-credit assignments. It doesn't matter
that he's done everything right, that he's had no margin for
error...It doesn't matter what Jessup has done, he knows; it's never
going to be enough. The starting gun went off well before he was
born, and no matter how fast he runs, he'll never win the race."
Putting his all into football (in hopes of an athletic
scholarship) and academic achievement, high school student Jessup,
protagonist of Alexi Zentner's Copperhead, is desperate to leave his
home town and never come back. It's not just the poor white trash
stigma of living in a trailer outside of town. It's not just the
unfairness of competing with peers whose parents have the means to pay
for tutors, test prep classes, and special camps--kids who consider
"the American dream not something to aspire to, but a birthright."
It's the cloud his family's reputation keeps him under.
Jessup's family is closely associated with the Blessed Church of
the White America, an avowedly supremacist organization that is
forming a militia for racial holy war. His brother is serving a long
sentence for killing two Black men--students at nearby Cortica
University. Although evidence pointed to self defense, the incident
had been framed as a hate crime. His stepfather, who had been serving
a shorter sentence, was just released, drawing renewed family scrutiny
from the public.
Then a football goes sickeningly wrong--not on the playing
field, but after the game. In the parking lot Corson, a Black player
from the other team accuses him of foul play and kicks out a tail
light on his truck. Unfortunately later that night they end up at the
same party. Corson, quite drunk, taunts him about his family loudly
enough for them to become the center of attention, trying
unsuccessfully to start a fight.
Their third meet up is not a charm. Jessup, after scraping the
ice off its windows, is starting his truck. Corson begins kicking it
again. Jessup pulls away as quickly as possible and hears a sickening
noise.
Even though Corson's death is an accident, Jessup feels that if
he calls the police the future he's working so hard for will be over.
Given his family's history and church affeliation, given motive and
opportunity, he'll end up spending decades behind bars with his brother.
Is there any way he can save his life?
On a purrrsonal note, I hope you had a good week. I did. I missed
class. Veterans Day. Craig sent us a surprise--a practice problem
based on the ill-fated Donner expedition. He's promised soon we are
going to take a look at the Titanic. I am obsessed with the Titanic.
Eugene is on vaca. He spent a few days at camp leaving just the party
animals (Tobago and me) to home. I've been getting quite creative
with cooking. Last night we had Black Bear Exchange sesame chicken,
real (not canned) carrots, and fries made from scratch. No big plans
for the weekend (Jules)
It is getting cold again (Tobago).
A great big shout out goes out to my ultra cool statistics professor,
Craig Mason. Can't wait to visit the Titanic.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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