Running on Red Dog Road: And Other Perils of an Appalachian Childhood, written by Drema Hall Berkheimer, chronicles the author’s childhood in 1940s West Virginia as she was raised by her grandparents. (Berkheimer’s father tragically died in a coal mine.) It was interesting viewing the story through a child’s eyes as Drema learned new life lessons.

Running on Red Dog Road highlights the simple joys of Berkheimer’s youth. The book has a quaint, homey, and heartfelt feel, and Berkheimer’s writing has a warmth to it. While reading Berkheimer’s story, the pages come to life in a way that I feel as if I have stepped inside the story as the author recounts her childhood. Berkheimer writes with vivid description, and she is a natural storyteller, crafting real-life accounts into poignant chapters.

In some ways, the book reminds me of Loretta Lynn’s song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” as well as the song “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, with the beautiful chorus of “Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads.”

You can find Running on Red Dog Road here.