Godless

Godless is a young adult novel by Pete Hautman about a teenager who decides to start his own religion. Jason Bock is tired of the faith his parents expect him to follow, and as an agnostic edging toward atheism, he comes up with an alternative: he will worship the town's water tower. He soon gathers a small band of followers, including his best friend Shin, who raises snails, a girl named Magda Price and an unpredictable tough kid named Henry Stagg. At first the new faith is half a joke, but it quickly grows beyond Jason's control. Shin throws himself into writing its scripture, while Henry pushes for something more thrilling, and a secret late-night gathering on top of the tower puts the group in real danger. Funny and thoughtful, the novel explores belief, doubt, friendship and the urge to find meaning. It won the 2004 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.