Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for The Kudzu Queen by Mimi Herman - Available

The Kudzu Queen

by Mimi Herman
Courtney Patterson
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
Fifteen-year-old Mattie Lee Watson dreams of men, not boys. So when James T. Cullowee, the Kudzu King, arrives in Cooper County, North Carolina, in 1941 to spread the gospel of kudzu—claiming that it will improve the soil, feed cattle at almost no cost, even cure headaches—Mattie is ready. Mr. Cullowee is determined to sell the entire county on the future of kudzu, and organizes a kudzu festival, complete with a beauty pageant. Mattie is determined to be crowned Kudzu Queen and capture the attentions of the Kudzu King. As she learns more about Cullowee, however, she discovers that he, like the kudzu he promotes, has a dark and predatory side. When she finds she is not the only one threatened, she devises a plan to bring him down. Based on historical facts, The Kudzu Queen unravels a tangle of sexuality, power, race, and kudzu through the voice of an irresistibly delightful (and mostly honest) narrator.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    August 15, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9798350838114
      • File size: 322811 KB
      • Duration: 11:12:31

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Courtney Patterson brings mid-century North Carolina to life with her narration of this coming-of-age story. Mattie Lee Watson, age 15, is living an ordinary life when salesman James T. Cullowee pulls into town. Patterson brings the innocence and passion of a teenager's crush to fruition as Mattie strives to gain his attention. When Cullowee organizes a kudzu festival, Mattie competes to become Kudzu Queen and win his affection. Patterson recounts town, family, and personal secrets at a slow pace that adds to the novel's dramatic effect. Her portrayals range from an oily salesman to a deadbeat father and a boy who is desperate to demonstrate his manhood. Always present is Mattie--hoping to make things right. L.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading
Check Out What's Being Checked Out Right Now