From: Shutta Crum <shutta>
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 13:21:12 -0500

Kathleen, Robin, and all: I, too, just finished Godless and found it to be compelling. There was a lot of humor, some really fine characterization, as well as a continual building of tension. The Magda/Henry pairing was bittersweet and very real. Loved the way he highlighted the flip-flop nature of teen relationships. Friend today...getting clobbered by a crutch tomorrow.

I think what made it click with me--in addition to the wonderful characters--was the ending. Jason is still a seeker, a kid with his own take on life, there is no easy solution. It seems to me that this gives the book a certain timelessness. Only one minor quibble: I would have liked to see his Dad's openness to other religions foreshadowed a bit more. He does briefly mention that he looked at other religions when he was younger. But then he piles on the Christian reading.

I'm so glad Hautman won the award. I really liked his Mr. Was as well, which won the Thumbs Up award for teen fiction in Michigan a few years ago.

Shutta Crum Ann Arbor District Library
(Spitting Image, Clarion, 2003)
Received on Sat 27 Nov 2004 12:21:12 PM CST