Heaven by V.C. Andrews

I'll admit it. I was wild for this book and this series when I was a teenager and remember them fondly. I still have my raggedy old paperback copies.

This is the story of Heaven Casteel. She is pretty and bright and lives in extreme poverty in a tiny shack the back hills of West Virginia with her extended family. Unfortunately, the Casteels were considered the scum of the hills. The worst. 

Heaven and her brother Tom have dreams of education and rising above their poverty, unfortunate circumstances and horrible family reputation. Heaven's sister, Fanny, cares for nothing except boys. Her step mother, Sarah is a large, hard working but miserable woman. Also living in the tiny 2 room cabin are her elderly grandparents, 2 youngest siblings who are hungry and sickly much of the time, and her father, Luke, a good-for-nothing abusive, hard drinking man who seems to hate Heaven for reasons she cannot fathom.

All nine of the Casteels live in this shack with no plumbing or electricity or heat. They can feel drafts between the floor boards and have to scrounge mightily for food. They walk miles to school and back, sometimes without shoes or proper clothes for the weather. All of this determines Heaven to educate herself to overcome her  obstacles.

Not too intellectual, strictly a fun read for entertainment, but I enjoyed it immensely.

Followed by four other novels that further her story, all worth reading.