Rating: 
Summary: Rats Saw God, I saw Rats
Review: Rats Saw God is a great book which compares a teenage life before and after a divorce. Steve York is the main character and is failing all of his classes. His counseler tells him that if he writes a paper on anything he wants to then he might just be able to pass high school. Steve couldn't decided just what to write about, until he was sitting at the computer one night and just started to write about his life. It's a trying tale on how his father (who is a famous astronaut) puts tremendous pressure on his young son to be more like him. He also goes into detail on how his father cheated on his mother and the triumph that him and his sister had to overcome when they got divorced. His sister went to live with his mother, and he was forced to live with his father. I haven't gotten that far in the book, but so far it keeps you interested in how a straight A perfect son goes to a straight D stoner drop out and how he is going to provoke graduating high school. I recommend it to everybody, especially if you're a teenager, it really does show how we think.
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Summary: Rats Saw God is relatable but not real
Review: In order for senior Steve York to pass English and graduate he has to write a 100 page essay about anything, he chooses to write about his own life. Rats Saw God tells his story from being a Texas freshman to a California senior. Rob Thomas does an accurate job of depicting high school life through the eyes of his characters. Thomas uses humor to create a more interesting and faster-paced story about the high school trials Steve and his friends are put through. From Steve's first love, dates, buying condoms, stumbling through first sex ("I resisted the urge to cover the titanium love barometer between my legs. Was it the right size? The right shape? The right color?"), the events surrounding the Dadaist club, and Steve's relationship with his father-the astronaut. Rats Saw God is a humorous book for high school students to read. It's easy to relate to certain aspects of the book such as the first time relationship experiences, and parental relationship problems. Plus the way that Thomas relates humor into the certain situations helps make the book more enjoyable. Dub adds a lot to the plot line, she's the sensible part of Steve much of the time in Texas. Plus with characters such as Sarah and Doug the story is true to teenage life. Thomas weaves several themes throughout Rats Saw God, such as getting along with parents and setting your mind to getting something accomplished. By the end of the book Steve has transformed, and adds for a bit of variety for the reader. All in all, Rats Saw God is a good book depicting high school life and the way one students, Steve York, handles his problems.
Rating:
Summary: Wiever Dog Was Star
Review: Rob Thomas took many risks, daring to go where most teachers wouldn't dare think of going. In his new book "Rats saw God" he explores the depths, of a teenager's soul, mind, and heart. And he strides bravely into this somewhat frightening world. The novel is about a teenage boy's hectic life. The main character, Steven York, sees the world through a brown and gray stain glassed window. One of my biggest disappointments was that with the exception of Steven and one or two other main characters, Rat Saw God has bucket fulls of shallow and stereotypical characters: an egotistical Dad, a quick-witted girlfriend, and a punk skateboarder/rock band star friend. The lesser characters are worse yet: the environmentalist, the follower, the gearhead and more. Though everyone always has something interesting and fun to say, the reader will know the next page, especially the last page, well before their eyes can guide them there. Steven's life is filled with drugs, alcohol, and the book goes through pains to mention his every sexual experience as well. A potential reader should think twice before exposing him/herself to this literature. But author Rob Thomas does a fine job in many aspects of the book. For instance, there are countless parts that will bring a smile if not a good belly laugh to the reader, and he has the unique ability to relate the thoughts of the reader. Though the reader may have an entirely opposite personality to the book's characters, s/he will find his/herself in a constant state of being able to relate to Steven's thoughts. It was fun for me to be able to say many times throughout the book "Wow, do I ever know that feeling," - though it may be an entirely obscure feeling that I'd never think of otherwise. All in all, it's easy reading with lots of fun vocabulary and interesting situations, but the overall plot is obvious and lacks depth. Higher levels of high school is my recommended reading level. I'm interested to see how far into the depths of youth culture Rob will journey in his next novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Rob Thomas is a genius
Review: This is possibly, the best book I will ever read. The main character in the story represents the normal teenager and how a teenager thinks. Rob Thomas writes this story using highly descriptive words in each page. The story is about a boy, Steven York, who is bummed out in his senior year. The only way for him to graduate is to write a 100-page paper on anything. He decides to write about how he came to be the way he is. And the journey the character takes you through is so inspiring. I may be a 15-year old guy, but I did cry while reading this book. It is so powerfully written that i recommend it to everyone even if they do not enjoy to read, they will be hooked when they read this story.
Rating:
Summary: Big Deal.
Review: Nothing to worship here. Nice writing, nice idea. Groundbreaking? No. The finest YA novel ever written? Definitely not. The way that high school life is portrayed is not even realistic. This is coming from a high schooler, so if you don't agree, shoot me.Perhaps I've always been a little queer...I don't know. But you can bet your boxers that I don't get drunk and have sex as often as our friend in "Rats Saw God" does. Don't get me wrong. I don't think this book should be banned. Frankly, I don't care about the material very much. In the end, there was very little tension. I feel all-out bad that I bought this book. Still, the clever little hints & cynicism of the writing kept it a little readable. Otherwise, B-O-R-I-N-G.
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Summary: Awesome Teen Novel That pulls you into character
Review: I ran acrossthe Rats Saw God by Thomas for a report in my literature class while browsing the library. The bright, modern artwork on the cover first caught my eye. I started to read the book and quickly became accustomed with the chracters and their personalities. The main character Steve York is your ordinary angst filled teen ager that came from a broken home, battling one day at a time. In this book, you experience Steve's first taste of harship, love and self exploration and begin to feel as if you've known Steve York all your life. A definte good read, couldn't put it down at times! Kudos Mr. T.
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Summary: If I could, I'd give it 10 stars...
Review: This is one of the best YA books I've ever read. Up til now, I've been very disappointed by the way most writers speak to teens as if they're half-wits. Thomas doesn't bother to condescend... he just gives us a great story that's all at once funny and heartwarming.
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Summary: A new classic- READ THIS ITS GREAT
Review: In this latest novel, Rob Thomas presents an authentic portrait of high school life in America. Essentially structured as an autobiographical account of the life of one young self-proclaimed iconoclast, this book deals with typical episodes in the life of a high schooler in modern times; homecoming floats, semiformal dances, Pearl Jam concerts. But more importantly- it delves into the psyche of teenagers and the varying approaches to these events. From the stereotypical rite of passage types who go to football games on Friday nights and drink at parties afterwards to the self-proclaimed nonconformists whose dogmatic insistence on "standing out" borders on hypocrisy, the author employs poignant characters that the reader identifies with closely and a vivid first person narrator to paint realistic portrait of the social infrastructure of the American high school. Thomas has a powerful contemporary voice that today's youth will relate to and which other teen authors often lack; his obvious familiarity with the modern American teenager (stemming from five years as a high school journalism teacher) manifests itself in authentic depictions of the ubiquitous social intricacies found in high schools across the country. From the "low-maintenance Marcia Brady trend girls" and their "long, straight, center-parted hair, poufy, midriff-baring tops, bell-bottom jeans with ragged hems and cork-soled clogs" to the reaction over the death of demigod Kurt Cobain and his "It's better to burn out than fade away philosophy," this book captures the essence of a generation. Also of note, Thomas' protagonist, Steve, a young man with potential but harboring the anarchistic slacker mentality of modern youth, strikes a chord with readers through candid narration of clashes with his famous astronaut father, the anxieties of relationships and the irritating nature of many facets of high school. Definitely one of the best young adult books to come out in years- realistic, captivating and complete- this is an exceptional read.
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Summary: A great, compelling teenage angst story! A GREAT BOOK!
Review: I bought this book one day knowing nothing about it. I read it in about two days and feel in love. This is one of my favorite books ever. The humor used and it's real life appeal makes the story believeable. The characters (teenagers on their quest for love, music, and the recreational high)are just like you and me, trying to make it through high school while having some fun along the way. A great story of love. The ending is spectacular.
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Summary: Very funny, then suddenly sad...you'll feel a rollercoaster
Review: I really liked this book. The author was so good at making the reading get into a certain mood and then just when your getting used to it... WHAK! A new feeling comes your way. It will keep you on your toes and never let you down until it's over. Books usually don't take me as far as to have me laughing out loud, but this one did.
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