Godless (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780689862786)

"I refuse to speak further of the Ten-legged One...but the more I think about it, the more I like it. Why mess around with Catholicism when you can have your own customized religion? All you need is a disciple or two...and a god."
Fed up with his parents' boring old religion, agnostic-going-on-atheist Jason Bock invents a new god -- the town's water tower. He recruits an unlikely group of worshippers: his snail-farming best friend, Shin, cute-as-a-button (whatever that means) Magda Price, and the violent and unpredictable Henry Stagg. As their religion grows, it takes on a life of its own. While Jason struggles to keep the faith pure, Shin obsesses over writing their bible, and the explosive Henry schemes to make the new faith even more exciting -- and dangerous.
When the Chutengodians hold their first ceremony high atop the dome of the water tower, things quickly go from merely dangerous to terrifying and deadly. Jason soon realizes that inventing a religion is a lot easier than controlling it, but control it he must, before his creation destroys both his friends and himself.
Pete Hautman, author of Sweetblood and Mr. Was, has written a compelling novel about the power of religion on those who believe, and on those who don't.

Author: Pete Hautman
ISBN-10: 0689862784
ISBN-13: 9780689862786
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Language: English
Published: 06/01/2004
Pages: 198
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 8.54h x 5.86w x 0.81d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.1
Point Value: 6
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 78884 / Godless

Award: National Book Awards - Winner
Award: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Volunteer State Book Awards - Nominee
Award: Grand Canyon Reader Award - Nominee

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 05/01/2004 pg. 442
Kliatt 05/01/2004 pg. 8
Booklist 06/01/2004 pg. 1730
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2004 pg. 421
Publishers Weekly 06/28/2004 pg. 51
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2004 pg. 453
Romantic Times 06/01/2004 pg. 51 - Very Good
School Library Journal 08/01/2004 pg. 123
Booklist 10/01/2004 pg. 345
Voice of Youth Advocates 10/01/2004 pg. 298
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2004 pg. 395 - Superior,Well Above Average
Booklist Editors Choice/Adult 01/15/2005 pg. 772
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2004 pg. 395 - Superior,Well Above Average
ALA Best Books Young Adults 02/15/2005 pg. 1008
Booklist Ed Choice Youth 01/01/2005 pg. 772