Godless by Peter Hautman

What did you do this summer? I bet it all started out fine and then, before you knew it, you were bored out of your mind. It’s not like you did any summer reading assignments, right?

Yeah, Jason Bock is having a summer like that. That is, until he comes up with a plan to shake things up a bit: Jason decides to start his own religion.

That’s right, people. This isn’t the usual summer story; you know, girl meets boy, blah, blah, blah, yawn. Jason actually convinces a group of assorted friends and misfits that the secrets of the universe lie in the town’s massive steel water tower, their new “god.” And what better way to worship one’s god than by climbing straight to the top? How about opening her up and diving into the water below? Sounds good? I thought it might.

As with all stories of course, someone has to ruin the fun with things like, oh, losing his mind and beginning to believe that the tower is, in fact, God. There’s nothing like a clumsy religious zealot (it’s a big word; look it up) to shut down a party.

I read this book aloud to my classes and not a single kid fell asleep. Need I say more?

LAME FACTOR: I’m happy to report a zero on the lame scale.

YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: Unless a book is likely to make you abandon your beliefs and start worshipping water towers, your parents should be cool with this one.

BRAIN POWER: Godless uses big people words like “reverent,” “exuberance,” and “quantify.” That’s OK. It’s time you started talking like a grown-up anyway.

Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Sigh. I apologize, children. There is lameness. But at least I’m warning you.

Having just finished Deadly Little Secret (which I liked) I decided to pick up another book by the same author: Blue is For Nightmares. Ugh. How about we get another plot? This book is, more or less, the same story as Deadly Little Secret: mysterious phone calls, threatening notes, unwelcome gifts, a stalker. The end.

If, however, you enjoy Wicca (which I don’t) and spells and all that, then you'll probably like this book. Personally, I found the Wicca stuff a little irritating. Oddly enough, although I'm all about the ghosts, candles and crystals don't do it for me. Not to mention the main character’s unfortunate problem with bed-wetting. And will someone please explain to me why she doesn’t wash her sheets right away? Ew.

All in all, I’m not loving this one - but maybe that's just me. Don’t say I didn’t tell you, though.

LAME FACTOR: At least a 3 out of 5 for using the same story twice - although, to be honest, this book came first.

YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: Will somebody please get a grip on these kids!? The story is set in a boarding school where the students seem to do whatever they want. I don’t think I need to explain that further. It’s not too horrible, but they’re not the greatest examples, either. Also, if your parents are hardcore against things like Wicca, they will definitely freak.

BRAIN POWER: Like I said before, this isn’t Tolstoy. You’ll manage.