A Fine White Dust by Cynthia Rylant

First published: 1986

Type of work: Psychological realism

Themes: Coming-of-age, religion, and friendship

Time of work: The late twentieth century

Recommended Ages: 10-13

Locale: A small North Carolina town

Principal Characters:

• Peter Cassidy, a sensitive, religious thirteen-year-old boy
• James W. Carson, also known as
• Preacher Man, a young,lonely, charismatic revival preacher with intense blue eyes
• Rufus, Peter’s practical and dependable best friend since kindergarten
• Mother, and
• Pop, Peter’s loving and patient parents
• Darlene Cook, a clerk at the soda fountain, who runs away with Preacher Man

The Story

Fourteen-year-old Peter Cassidy tells the story of his prior year in an effort to make his peace with the events and emotions. The pivotal events of the story take place in a short period of several weeks during his thirteenth summer, but the groundwork was years in the making. As Peter says, “I guess I was getting ready for him all those years, those years I was loving the church.” The effects of the events of the summer are reflected in his life the rest of the year and will continue to have an impact.

Although Peter loves his parents and his friend, Rufus, he feels alone in his intense love for God. He harbors nagging worries that his parents, who do not attend church regularly, and his friend, Rufus, a self-proclaimed “confirmed atheist,” will go to hell. Then James Carson arrives in town. Peter is affected by Carson’s intense eyes even before he knows that Carson is a revival preacher. After an upsetting confrontation with his parents about their religious life, Peter acts on his father’s suggestion and attends the revival services. He discovers the stranger with the intense gaze is the revival preacher and, to himself, calls James Carson, Preacher Man. Peter is immediately engrossed with Preacher Man’s sermon and is saved on the first night of the revival. He is transported by joy and wants nothing else but to be with Preacher Man. He thinks of nothing but Carson and the religious experience. He abandons his usual activities and neglects his friend, Rufus. Peter comes to realize that, although Carson loves his preaching and the power it gives him, he is a lonely man. In an intimate emotional scene, Carson convinces Peter that he has the gift to save souls and almost pleads with Peter to go with him when he leaves town. Peter agonizes over hurting his parents and leaving Rufus and all the things that are dear to him, but decides that he is called by God and must go. Peter leaves a letter for his parents to find in the morning and slips away to meet the Preacher Man after the last revival service. He waits at the local service station long after the appointed time, but Preacher Man does not come. Devastated, Peter starts for home. Rufus appears from where he has been worriedly keeping watch and helps Peter home. When Rufus tells Peter that Preacher Man has reportedly left town with Darlene Cook, Peter lashes out at Rufus and sends him away. For a week Peter stays in his room and barely communicates with anyone. His parents offer help but do not interfere. After a time Peter begins to carry on his regular activities in a detached manner. Rufus makes an overture to resume their friendship, and Peter begins to return to normal. He realizes that daily life is not the same as a few evenings in a revival meeting. He develops a heightened appreciation for his parents and Rufus and worries less that they will burn in hell. He is still deeply religious, with many questions unanswered, but realizes that life will always have uncertainties.

Context

Several features make this work unique and important. One of these is the use of religion as a theme. Religion is often used in adult novels, but few young people’s authors have given it a major role in their books. Cynthia Rylant shows how important religion can be to a young person. While many coming-of-age novels use family or peer relationships, physical changes, or a crisis in the environment to precipitate the main character’s growth, few have included a religious experience. The author not only makes religion a part of this boy’s life but also makes the experience vivid and real. Through identification with the main character, the reader is able to experience the emotional peaks and valleys of a devout believer.

A second important feature is the writing style. Complex issues are dealt with in deceptively simple language. Although the book is short and the reading is easy, the ideas presented are universal and important to people of any age. The religious theme is not oversimplified. For example, the difference between false piety and religiousness is illustrated. Additionally, no easy answers are given. The reader is left with the feeling that although the main character has solved some problems and gained new insights, he has no final answer to his life’s problems. The open-ended treatment of complex themes make this easy-to-read book one that provides readers with important questions to consider.

Other stylistic features, such as poetic language and terse, provocative chapter titles, add to the book’s originality. For example, there is rhythm in the language to echo the cadence of the revival meeting.

The author features ordinary people in this novel, as she did in prior works, which include A Blue-Eyed Daisy (1985) and Every Living Thing (1985). Her characters are not wealthy, famous, or exceptionally talented, but their worthiness as human beings is made clear. Though they may only dream of being heroic, as Peter’s father did when he wished to be a medical missionary, they acquire an aura of importance to the reader. In this work, the author validates the worth of everyday people and gives dignity and importance to the feelings and emotions of young people.