The Sin Eater

The Sin Eater

By: Gary D. Schmidt

Published by: Puffin Books

Reading Level: Young Adult

184 pages

Summary: Cole's mothers death was hard on him. But not as hard as it was on his father. The depression was hitting his father hard so he decided to move them down to Albion to live with his mothers parents the Emersons. The Emersons have a long history line, full of stories that help Cole pull through his mothers death. That and his friends Will and Peter. His father on the other hand does not find anything to pull him out of his depression and just stays locked in his room. It is not long before Cole begins to discover stories about The Sin Eater. A Gealy who would walk around at night and eat every bodies sin that they left out, some even cooked it in bread. Some might find this very strange but it was his way of saving the people. This story intrigues Cole and he begins to dig up the real story of The Sin Eater, who just might save him as well.

Personal Review: Gary D Schmidt is a wonderful writer whose words intrigue you. The story line of Sin Eater at moments really bored me, but Gary never let me down with his smooth words. They were what made this book. Great descriptions, and in the end an over all good book with a good moral to the story. I would recommend it to anyone who may be struggling in life and needs to here some comforting words on depression or death. So they can see you can pull through it, you just have to find a reason to.

Warnings: Lots of death scenes

Godless

Godless

By: Pete Hautman

Published by: Simon Pulse 2004

Reading Level: Young Adult

198 Pages

Summary: It all started with a punch. One day Jason Bock and his best friend Shin were looking for snails below the water tower when they run into Henry Stagg. Henry Stagg is a little guy with a big temper and is a big bully. When he punches Jason he gets knocked under the towns water tower and looks up. After years of questioning his parents catholic beliefs he starts to wonder if there is another God. Like a water tower. He explains it to Shin as "what is the basis of life, water, where to we get water? the water tower". It isn't long until Jason is able to round up a few more members of the ten legged thing. Dan, Magda, and even Henry himself. They call themselves the Chutengodiansism. But do they take it to far? The night they decide the water tower for midnight tuesday mass changes everything. Leaving them with a memory of a night they will never forget.

Personal Review: Honestly this was a really hard book to get into for me, and follow. It seemed very athiest and very against religion. I felt that it made fun of faith, repentance, and religion in general. Not one of the best books i have read, and not one that i would recommend.

Warnings: Language, and Sexual References