A Fine White Dust [Hardcover]

Cynthia Rylant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000 | Age Level: 10 and up

Pete has always been religious and looking for salvation, so he easly falls under the mesmerizing influence of the Preacher Man who comes to town to lead a revival meeting. When the Precher Man invites Pete to join him on his mission, Pete can't say no, even if it means leaving behind his family, his best friend Rufus, and the home he loves. But during the long night he waits in vain for the Preacher Man--who has left town with a teenaged girl instead of Pete--he learns whom he can really depend on.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pete is 13 the summer the Preacher Man comes to his small town, vulnerable with both adolescent yearning and the need to find religious fulfillment. His parents are lapsed church-goers, who neither share nor encourage their son's deeper convictions. The Preacher Man, with mesmerizing blue eyes, is a traveling evangelist who holds revivalist meetings in Pete's town that summer; Pete finds in him a companion who can understand his feelings about God without speaking a word. As the Preacher Man takes on Christ-like proportions in his mind, Pete decides to travel with the man when he leaves town. Pete waits for him all night, his bags packed, feeling as if he were called to this journey. But Rufus, his best friend and a confirmed atheist, is the one who tells Pete that the Preacher Man has run off with a woman. A year later, Pete understands that the Preacher Man's fallibility was of this earth, not to be confused with a betrayal by God. Rylant's writing is deceptively simple, creating an emotional whirlpool for the reader that is not unlike Pete's own experience. Her characters are adults and teenagers who are neither good nor bad, but richly, heartbreakingly human.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7 During the summer following seventh grade, something religious is itching Peter. His interest in the church turns into mesmerization with the spirit of the Lord when the Preacher Man comes to town. Peter is hooked and "saved" at the first revival meeting; at the second the Preacher Man reels him in so tightly that when he is asked to join "the Man" on his travels to save people, he says yes. The pain of the thought of leaving home is dimmed by his haloed vision of being a savior. But the heavenly bliss of his mission is shattered when the Man doesn't meet him on the appointed night; instead he has run off with the girl from the drugstore. Devastated by the betrayal, Peter is saved again; this time by his trusty atheist friend Rufus, who helps him see the light of living. Few books have explored young people's fascination with God and their soul. Rylant's subtle telling has a hymn-like quality, sung in a melodic, soulful way which reverberates within the reader's compassion. Although the tone is serious, Peter's recounting is personal and sensitivelike religion and friendships, presumed and assumed. Like Peter, this story has soul. Julie Cummins, Monroe County Library System, Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068984087X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689840876
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,184,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is the author of numerous distinguished novels and picture books for young readers. In addition to her beginning-reader series: Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, and Mr. Putter and Tabby, as well as her Cobble Street Cousins early-chapter series, she is also the author of the Newbery Medal-winning Missing May, the Newbery Honor Book A Fine White Dust, and two Caldecott Honor-winning picture books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it, but not everybody will, August 10, 2001

By 

A. Douglas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Fine White Dust (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

As an adult reader, I think this book is remarkable. I found it to be totally gripping and extremely intense. I couldn't put it down. However, I don't know if young readers would enjoy this book very much. The thing that made this book so remarkable to me was the emotional impact that it left on me. I think that this is because as an adult I can look at my own life experiences and relate to the deep and troubling issues that the character in this book battles with. If I had read this book when I was middle-school age, or perhaps even in high school, I dont' think I would have gotten nearly as much out of it. It wouldn't have left such a strong emotional impact because I wouldn't have had the insight and understanding that I now have as an adult.

I am not saying that young readers should not read this book. I think that there is much to explore in this book, and highly recommend it. I'm sure that there are many younger readers who would enjoy this book and who would be able to gain a lot from it. However, I can also see how many readers, especially (but not exclusively) younger readers, would not enjoy this book very much.

This is the kind of book that causes you to search your own soul. The author doesn't give you the meaning behind it all but leaves you to make your own meaning out of it. Some people will find a lot of meaning for themselves, and some will find very little.

Basically, if you are just looking for a story that has an exciting plot and lots of action or suspense, then this is probably not the book for you, because if you just look at the story on the surface then you probably won't get much out of it. But if you are looking for some truly thought-provoking literature that explores issues of the human spirit, then I would highly recommend this.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars SELF SACRIFICE FOR PERSONAL GROWTH, June 9, 1999

By 

Plume45 "kitka12345" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Fine White Dust (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

Thirteen-year-old Pete relates the dramatic summer events which helped him come of age. Seems like all his life he has been fascinated with the Church--just waiting to be Saved. But why are his parents just superficial Christians? How can he justify being best friends with a cocky atheist? And why can't he bring himself to throw out the dusty shards of a ceramic cross which he hid in his bureau drawer, in frustrated grief?

Ah, that was the Summer of the Revival, of confessions, revelations, and hope for salvation. Pete's parents were only vaguely aware of his private turmoil. One thing was for certain: that traveling Preacher Man had one Hell of an influence on this naive youth--who just wanted to serve the Lord. It sure would be hard to sacrifice home and friends to follow in His steps. Was Pete really ready to take to the road as a fisher of men? What about family loyalty? It becomes a Tug of War over responsibilities.

This book is a short, intense read concerning teenage obsessions, adult foibles and the gradual dawning of gratitude for supportive parents and faithful friends. Pete grows to appreciate the simple joys in life, like the view and memories from his own bedroom window. How and where can he best serve Jesus? This introspective story does not drip with piety; rather, it relates the quest for the truth and trust. The book accumulates literary tension as Pete is waiting to sacrifice his sheltered life in order to start a new one. A fine undercurrent of suspense keeps readers hooked. Atheists--fear not, for there is no attempt to convert. It's not religion that the author examines, but human response, dreams and failings. As the back cover asks: "How much do you have to give up to find yourserlf?"

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine White Dust, May 10, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Fine White Dust (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

A Fine White Dust is about a boy named Pete who is afraid to going into hell.He meets this guy whom he thinks is a crimnal but it turns out that he is a preacher.The Preacher found out that Pete is very religious, so he helps him through his fear. The Preacher invites Pete to come along with him.Now he has to choose his parents or the Preacher...
I think that Cynthia Rylant wrote this book to teach us that you have to make choices.I also think she wrote this book because in our life we have to give up somethng to gain another.
I liked the book because the author describes it so well.I also like the suspense.I kept reading until I finished it.