A Fine White Dust Book

This is an extremely brief book that sort of expands in your head once you've read it. It's a deceptively simple story: Pete, a thirteen-year-old boy who is discovering his Christianity, meets and itinerant revival preacher, who sweeps him off his feet with his religious fervor. Pete decides to leave town secretly with the preacher, feeling called by God to carry out His work. While making this decision, Pete is forced to deal with his less religious parents, as well as with his openly atheist best friend, Rufus.

I thought the whole thing was carried out beautifully. The preacher's irresponsible behavior is treated as the dangerous actions of one man, not as an indictment of Christianity, so this isn't by any means an anti-religious book. Instead, it's about humanity, and one boy's growing and changing faith. I definitely think it deserved the Newbery Honor it received, although like many of the Newbery books, I think it's a fairly specific audience that is going to draw a lot from it the first time they read. I think it's the kind of book that will stick in one's head, though, as it's stuck in mine.