[1] The book tells the story of the main character's youth in West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains.

The book is based on Rylant's real life growing up in West Virginia.

[2] A West Virginia native, Cynthia Rylant spent her childhood surrounded by relatives and the Appalachian Mountains.

Though she was born in Hopewell, West Virginia (June 6th, 1954), Rylant primarily resided with her grandparents in Cool Ridge, West Virginia, after facing her parents' divorce.

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