A Fine White Dust

by Cynthia Rylant

Book Overview

How much do you have to give up to find yourself? When Pete first sets eyes the Man, he's convinced he's an ax murderer. But at the revival meeting, Pete discovers that the Man is actually a savior of souls, and Pete has been waiting all his life to be saved. It's not something Pete's parents can understand. Certainly his best friend, Rufus, an avowed athiest, doesn't understand. But Pete knows he can't imagine life without the Man. So when the Man...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416927697
• ISBN13: 9781416927693
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.2" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

A Fine White Dust

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.

I loved it, but not everybody will

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.

don't let it pass you by

unjustly overlooked, this book (really comprised of three novellas, all together a trilogy) deserves to be mentioned in the same breath with other modernist works, such as "Dubliners" or "Sons and Lovers." at its time, the books were important, both politically and socially, because they present scottish language and scottish history as things separate from - though no less equal to - the larger "English" culture. beyond this, gibbon's lyricism is a wonder to behold; he can manipulate language in ways that may bring a tear to your eye (and the story, mournful as it is, just may add to it)."Scottish Quaire" is a work that many have never heard of, and that is unfortunate. it offers a unique voice to the human condition, and, perhaps more importantly, the scottish condition. i tell you to buy it, or at least check it out of your library (lord knows there'll be copies available).

Wonderful. Timeless. A marvelous read, esp. for Scots.

For Americans of Scottish descent, "A Scots Quair" (a trilogy) will teach you how Scots in Kindardineshire spoke, what life was like, how the air might have felt against your cheek. It's like looking into the hearts and minds of our ancestors and finding that life's basics have not changed at all.

TIMELY, GRIPPING, AND HONEST TO THE BONE!

Cynthia Rylant has once again distinguished herself as one of the world's premier writers for children. In her classic, A FINE WHITE DUST, Rylant skillfully delves into the soul of the misunderstood Pete. Rylant's use of the name "Preacher Man" allows the reader to identify with the wandering evangelist without being consumed by his charisma. And then there's Rufus! Who else but Rylant would be so bold to write about a youngster who claims to be a CONFIRMED ATHEIST? Pete's relationship with his parents, Rufus, and Preacher Man are beautifully crafted into a wonderful but heartbreaking story. Pete learns the hard way a basic fundamental truth that we all must learn sooner or later:People are not always what they seem. We read about a preacher who has flaws and feelings just like the rest of us. We learn that religion or lack thereof doesn't have to define our friendships. Every child should have the opportunity to read this touching story! Bravo to Rylant for daring to write about one of our so-called "taboos!"