Rats Saw God Paperback – March 5, 2013

Thomas' voice is already evident in his YA novel. Some elements from Rats Saw God will later appear in his cult-favorite and critically-acclaimed television series, Veronica Mars. The structure of the novel is faintly reminiscent of John Green's Looking for Alaska - there is a clear "before" and "after" in this novel, too, although Thomas tells his story in flashback, rather than in a linear narrative.Surprisingly (or maybe not, given Thomas's ongoing interest in parent/child and sibling dynamics) it's the narrator's relationship with his parents and sister that is really at the center of this novel. The ostensible love interest turns out to be little more than a catalyst for the narrator's eventual growth and coming to terms with what happened to his family. I like that family is front and center in this novel - too often YA books ignore families or mention them only as necessary plot devices. But I was disappointed that the love interested ended as it did. Thomas revisits a similar plot-line in Veronica Mars, and handles it with greater sensitivity and maturity.I won't say more because I don't want to spoil the book. It's a worthwhile read for adults who enjoy YA fiction, and I think teens would find a lot to like - and a lot to connect with - in its pages.

It’s tough to discern the intended audience for this perfectly harmless and rather mundane Young Adult novel. The story, as told by protagonist Steve York in alternating timelines that differ by a couple of years (a gap that, as we all know, can feel life an absolute lifetime to a teenager), focuses on the melancholy aftereffects of the inexplicable dissolution of his first adolescent romance. Is this a teen romance novel for guys?We’ve seen this story before—but this time from the guy’s perspective (how original, right?). Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl are benignly counterculture and authenticate their quirkiness by joining a high school club that promotes Dadaist art. Boy and girl lose their respective virginities with each other. Girl, for some reason the boy never understands, ditches boy as boy grapples with his father issues and comes to terms with the real reason for his parents’ divorce. Boy goes off to college.The novel is quaint in its absolute avoidance of any of the prevalent themes of contemporary YA literature—there is no acknowledgment of multiculturalism, violence and bullying do not exist in this novel’s fictional universe, nothing about the wonders and dangers of technology…heck, Steve even writes letters—old-fashioned snail-mail letters—to his sister, the Internet apparently doesn’t exist, and no one owns a cell phone. What is this? 1988? (Actually, 1996, a mere 20 years ago, thus demonstrating how rapidly mediocre YA literature ages.)So—not awful, not impressive. Not anything really, except startlingly mediocre.

I've read this book twice now and it is probably one of my favorite books, and trust me, that's saying something when you look at the lists of books I've read over my short life time. Rats Saw God takes place between two sort of realties -current time in San Francisco where Steve York is writing novel-length essay for his guidance councilor who in turn will waive an english credit he is missing for Graduation. Steve is told to write what he knows, so he does. The second reality, is a year or so earlier when he was living with his father "the astronaut", in Austin Texas. He meets a lot of people, in particular his best friend Doug, and his girlfriend, Dub (Wanda), who in turn breaks his heart and sends him packing to 'Frisco to live with his mother and younger sister where he gets mixed up in drugs, and cutting class, scraping by with passing grades.Like I said, I've read the book twice, and have also read a few others by Dave Thomas, but neither are as good as Rats Saw God. Check it out, and I'm sure it will at least strike your interest in some way.

This book is everything all the excellent reviews say it is and more! As a teacher, I read a lot of YA fiction and recognize those books that stand out in the crowd. Not only does this book stand out - it has elbowed its way to near the top of the heap!

I read this book shortly after it came out and I was in high school; my best friend suggested it. It changed my entire world view, in a similar way "Catcher In The Rye" has for others. Steve became my literary hero and I followed in his writing footsteps when my own situation deemed it necessary to graduate. It may seem over the top, I know, but RSG changed me deeply and may have saved the course of my life. It's amazing the power that lies in 224 pages of fiction.

What did Rob Thomas do before Veronica Mars? He wrote this book. I like VM a lot, so it makes sense that I'd like a novel by its creator. (Bonus: a character name from "Rats Saw God" appears in the show.)This read like a real high school experience. Nothing too flashy or crazy, just a story about a high school kid trying to figure things out. Wouldn't exactly call it a bildungsroman, but the narrator certainly does some growing up. And GOD (dada-ists, not a deity) made me laugh out loud.

Great book for young readers. I read it years ago and now my daughter is reading it and she loves it. Thomas writes with a quick wit and a unique charm that makes you wish he was still writing young adult novels.

This is a really well written and interesting story but it includes descriptions of sex that may not be appropriate for younger readers. It also includes the very real heart ache of lost love. Veronica Mars fans will recognize character names from this book (Wanda Varner and Remy DeMouy). This book highlights the early genius of Rob Thomas that is later realized in his excellent TV shows.