Books like M.C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton
M.C. Higgins, the Great tells the story of a young African-American teenager, Mayo Cornelius Higgins, who lives in a rural Ohio community devastated by strip‑mining. Standing atop a homemade tower, M.C. contemplates whether to remain in his family's tight‑knit household—now a hollowed‑out reminder of their once‑thriving home—or to seek a future beyond the Ohio River Valley.
The novel explores the tensions between family loyalty, personal ambition, and the harsh realities of economic loss in a small mountain town. Through its vivid setting and heartfelt family dynamics, the book offers a poignant coming‑of‑age tale that has earned recognition as a celebrated Newbery Medal recipient.
With a focus on African‑American family life in rural Ohio, M.C. Higgins encourages readers to reflect on the choices that shape identity and community.
First publish date: 1974
Genre: Coming of Age/Young Adult Coming of Age
Authors: Virginia Hamilton
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