A Fine White Dust

by Cynthia Rylant

Overview

How much do you have to give up to find yourself?

When Pete first sets eyes the Man, he's convinced he's an ax murderer. But at the revival meeting, Pete discovers that the Man is actually a savior of souls, and Pete has been waiting all his life to be saved.

It's not something Pete's parents can understand. Certainly his best friend, Rufus, an avowed athiest, doesn't understand. But Pete knows he can't imagine life without the Man. So when the Man invites Pete to join him on his mission, how can Pete say no — even if it means leaving behind everything he's ever loved?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416927693
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	12/26/2006
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	922,041
Product dimensions:	5.12(w) x 7.62(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	680L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, Motor Mouse, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novel Missing May received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Table of Contents

1	Dust	3
2	The Hitchhiker	8
3	The Saviour	18
4	The Joy	22
5	The Change	31
6	The Telling	36
7	The Invitation	45
8	The Leaving	58
9	The Wait	71
10	Hell	83
11	The Messenger	88
12	The Light	94
	Amen	103

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Powerful."

— New York Times Book Review

Editorial Reviews

"Powerful."
New York Times Book Review

"Poignant and perceptive."
— Booklist, starred review

"Simply but beautifully written...a tale with enough suspense to hold readers till the end."
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From the Publisher

"Richly, heartbreakingly human" characters, said PW, populate this stirring Newbery Honor book about 13-year-old Pete, who yearns for religious fulfillment and seems to find it in Preacher Man, a traveling evangelist. Ages 11-13. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A FINE WHITE DUST is one of Rylant's older, lesser-known works, resurrected for this audio production. Thirteen-year-old Pete is "best friends with an atheist," and his parents are only "half-washed Christians," but he has a religious "itch" that needs scratchin'. It's the summer the Preacher Man arrives in his small town for a series of revival meetings. Keith Nobbs tells Pete's story with the exaggerated, enthusiastic lilt of a revivalist preacher as Pete finds a balm for his itch. Nobbs fills Pete’s voice with awe as he attempts to make sense of "being saved" and comes to terms with the value of faith, friends, and family. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2009 - AudioFile