Coaltown Jesus
Product ID: 180126949
“I would have been here sooner, but traffic on I-55 was awful.” Walker shouldn’t be so surprised to find Jesus standing in the middle of his bedroom. After all, he prayed for whoever was up there to help his mom, who hasn’t stopped crying since Noah died, two months ago. But since when have prayers actually been answered? And since when has Jesus been so...irreverent? As astounding as Jesus’ sudden appearance is, it’s going to take more than divine intervention for Walker to come to terms with his brother’s death. Why would God take seventeen-year-old Noah when half of the residents in his mom’s nursing home are waiting to die? And why would he send Jesus to Coaltown, Illinois, to pick up the pieces? If he really wanted to help, why couldn’t he have kept Noah from dying? In a spare, weighty, and often humorous text, renowned poet Ron Koertge tackles some of life’s biggest questions—and humanizes the savior in a way that highlights the divinity in all of us. Review: Funny, sad, hopeful - What a brilliant novel in verse. Jesus is wise and funny, and sarcastic in the most endearing and good way. This novel, about sibling death, drug abuse, family love is the perfect read for those wondering how we work through loss and grief. It’s a prayer as you read. Please go read it! Review: Healing At It's Best - Ever feel like you're handing things when you arent? Well,, so does Walker, that is until Jesus enters. I live the humanizing of Jesus and being able to see him as loving and fun, not damming anyone who doesn't follow to hell. I loved this book the first time I read it, and still love it now.
| Best Sellers Rank | #161 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Drugs & Alcohol Abuse #767 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Death & Dying #922 in Teen & Young Adult Christian Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 23 Reviews |
A**L
Funny, sad, hopeful
What a brilliant novel in verse. Jesus is wise and funny, and sarcastic in the most endearing and good way. This novel, about sibling death, drug abuse, family love is the perfect read for those wondering how we work through loss and grief. It’s a prayer as you read. Please go read it!
J**E
Healing At It's Best
Ever feel like you're handing things when you arent? Well,, so does Walker, that is until Jesus enters. I live the humanizing of Jesus and being able to see him as loving and fun, not damming anyone who doesn't follow to hell. I loved this book the first time I read it, and still love it now.
M**H
I think reading what others think Jesus would be like; how he would talk
Kind of a prose novel and interesting. Jesus visits a modern teen ager dealing with personal tragedy. I think reading what others think Jesus would be like; how he would talk, the advice he would give, today is interesting.
S**.
Five Stars
Arrived on time and as advertised!
B**N
Jesus’ time in Coaltown helps both Walker and his mother understand that life isn’t always easy or clean but love and understand
Told in verse, Coaltown Jesus shares the story of a young teen who has just lost his brother to a drug overdose. Praying every night for help because his mother cries so much, Walker is surprised when Jesus appears to him in his bedroom. When he asks Jesus to help his mother, Jesus disagrees and tells him he’s there to help Walker instead. Though Jesus’ methods seem indifferent at times, Walker slowly realizes that he isn’t handling the death of his brother quite as well as he seems to think. Whether Jesus is a real figure in his life or just an imagining of his mind is never clearly stated but either way, Jesus’ time in Coaltown helps both Walker and his mother understand that life isn’t always easy or clean but love and understanding will heal us all.
J**S
Five Stars
Good book, and a quick read.
P**R
One Star
Totally inappropriate for my women's reading group.
N**E
Five Stars
Thank You
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