Godless. 9781416908166. Pete Hautman. 2004. National Book Award. Age 15. Working class.

Jason decides to start his own religion, the Chutengodians. They believe in The Ten-legged One, which is the water tower. As Jason and Shin organize their religion some of their friends join in and they climb up the tower. In the middle of the night Henry breaks open the lock to the water tower and they all jump in and swim. When they all come out, Henry falls and breaks a few bones. The kids have to go to the authorities to get help and in doing so turn themselves in and get in a lot of trouble for being in the water and on the water tower. In the end, Jason says he isn’t sure what he believes in and he is going to figure it out.

This book would be good to use to discuss bullies and leadership. I think this book is a good way to show students it is okay to question and figure things out on your own.

The characters are real. Henry, who is a bully in the beginning, shows he has more to him than what is on the outside. He turns out to have a lot in common with Jason and they become friends. I also think that they are real because parents do tend to push things on their children and many times the children need to figure things out for themselves. I think it shows a very real topic that comes up in families. The problem was not very clear in the beginning. I wasn’t sure what was important, Henry punching Jason in the face or Catholicism. I eventually watched as Jason became a leader and had paved a path for him and his friends that was one that led them down a bad path.

The author is showing the reader how important it is for the leader to lead in a positive direction. There are many consequences that can come from going down the wrong path and you will bring down the people who follow. I also think a message in there was bullies aren’t always bad people on the outside. Sometimes you have to reach out and you may be surprised at what you find.