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How much do you have to give up to find yourself?When Pete first sets eyes on 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 atheist, doesn't und...more
It's not something Pete's parents can understand. Certainly his best friend, Rufus, an avowed atheist, doesn't und...more
Published June 1st 2007 by Aladdin Paperbacks (first published 1986)
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Newbery Medal Honor Books 318 books — 424 voters
Newbery Winners and honor books 108 books — 4 voters
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Jan 04, 2010Shelly rated it it was ok · review of another edition
I went to the library today, and the book I wanted to pick up was already checked out. I had two young children with me, so I didn't want to wander the stacks aimlessly looking for a book to read. Instead I just headed down to the children's area. It was story time. I looked around the Newberry Award section halfheartedly and grabbed this one. I've been reading a lot of nonfiction lately, so I thought a good bit of juvenile lit would be good for me. This one was especially appealing because it w...more
Feb 05, 2008Kirsten rated it it was amazing Shelves: fiction, read-pre-12-07, children-or-ya, work-related, from-library
This is an extremely brief book that sort of expands in your head once you've read it. It's a deceptively simple story: Pete, a thirteen-year-old boy who is discovering his Christianity, meets and itinerant revival preacher, who sweeps him off his feet with his religious fervor. Pete decides to leave town secretly with the preacher, feeling called by God to carry out His work. While making this decision, Pete is forced to deal with his less religious parents, as well as with his openly atheist b...more
Feb 01, 2018Katie Fitzgerald rated it really liked it · review of another edition Shelves: level-middle-grade, blogged, 2018, genre-realistic-fiction, newbery-honor
This review compares two short, religious-themed middle grade novels from the 1980s: The Glory Girl by Betsy Byars and A Fine White Dust by Cynthia Rylant.
Plot
The Glory Girl is about a family of gospel singers, all of whom can carry a tune except for the main character, Anna. Poor Anna has a terrible voice and no rhythm, so whenever her family performs, she is relegated to the back of the room where she is expected to sell as many tape recordings of her family's music as she can. This arrangem...more
Aug 10, 2015Sara Williams rated it liked itPlot
The Glory Girl is about a family of gospel singers, all of whom can carry a tune except for the main character, Anna. Poor Anna has a terrible voice and no rhythm, so whenever her family performs, she is relegated to the back of the room where she is expected to sell as many tape recordings of her family's music as she can. This arrangem...more
Shelves: lost-interest, read-in-english, summer-2015, read-in-2015, read-online
A Fine White Dust follows our main character Pete who has devoted himself to God and to church since a very early age even though he doesn't necessarily come from a religious family. One day his whole life insight change when a man he calls 'Preacher Man' arrives in his town.
The story is very brief and certainly never gets to the core.
Personally, I had no clue what the story would hold when I got to it but it seemed to me as it was mostly, very flat.
The execution was supposed to contain some hi...more
The story is very brief and certainly never gets to the core.
Personally, I had no clue what the story would hold when I got to it but it seemed to me as it was mostly, very flat.
The execution was supposed to contain some hi...more
Nov 08, 2018Michael Fitzgerald rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Nov 08, 2012Sharon rated it really liked it · review of another edition
This book served as a wonderful distraction during several of my recent exercise sessions on the treadmill (and I needed the distraction, believe me). I picked up this audiobook on a whim at the Green Valley Book Fair (http://www.gvbookfair.com) several years ago. It is a well-deserved Newbery Honor Book. The protagonist in the book is an 11-year-old boy named Pete who becomes totally enamored with a traveling evangelist who comes through their town one summer. The Man ends up inviting Pete to l...more
Ryland does a great job telling a compelling story in little over 100 pages. The subject of religion and revivals (and how our faith is sometimes affected by the people we meet) would certainly make for good discussion. I have to admit, though, that I was creeped out by the main character's obsession with the evangelical preacher. It was like he, at 13, was in love with Preacher Man. Somehow, fire and brimstone mixed with the hint of homosexuality hit a little too close to home here in the South...more
Jan 21, 2018Larissa Langsather rated it liked it · review of another edition
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Jul 16, 2017Melinda rated it really liked it
This book packs a lot in a few pages. Peter's search for faith, truth and religion takes him on a most interesting journey as he meets and interacts with a traveling preacher. I appreciated the process of how easily Peter rationalized leaving all that was familiar behind to accompany the traveling preacher; this is precisely the justification young teens employ when facing such a dilemma. I equally liked the unconditional relationship between Peter and his best friend, Rufus; many valuable lesso...more
Jul 01, 2017Christine rated it it was amazing Shelves: fiction, newberry-honor, young-adult, bildungsroman
A touching, powerful book. In a mere 106 pages, Peter makes the journey from naive 'believer' to a more mature spiritual place.
Sep 13, 2017Queeshon rated it really liked it · review of another edition
I like this book because it was funny but true cause it was talking about hell and heaven and diffrent features in the book how it was being explained.
'A Fine White Dust', by Cynthia Rylant, is a book about a boy who's extremely passionate about Christianity. He meets a traveling preacher and looks up to him immensely, and the two decide to leave town together to continue spreading the religion. But the preacher ends up leaving without him, and Pete learns to set aside his passion once in a while and appreciate his family and friends. To me, this book was okay. The plot was alright, but I felt it to be a little bit boring. Just not engaging or...more
“Self Sacrifice for Personal Growth”
Thirteen-year-old Pete relates the poignant summer events which helped him come of age. Seems like all his life he has been fascinated with the Church—just waiting to be dramatically Saved. But why are his parents just superficial Christians; how can he justify to himself or a serious adult being best friends with a cocky atheist? And why can’t he bring himself to throw out of the dusty shards of a ceramic cross which he has hidden in his bureau drawer—in fr...more
Nov 22, 2011Linda Lipko rated it liked itThirteen-year-old Pete relates the poignant summer events which helped him come of age. Seems like all his life he has been fascinated with the Church—just waiting to be dramatically Saved. But why are his parents just superficial Christians; how can he justify to himself or a serious adult being best friends with a cocky atheist? And why can’t he bring himself to throw out of the dusty shards of a ceramic cross which he has hidden in his bureau drawer—in fr...more
Shelves: newbery-winner, acquired-in-2010, young-adult, i-own, newbery-honor-book
No stranger to writing award-winning books, Rylant hails from the Appalachian mountains and many of her books have a small-town, back woods feel to them. Fundamental religion is part and parcel of Appalachia and while the setting of A Fine White Dust is a tiny town in North Carolina, threads of Rylant's history appear to be woven throughout.
Dealing with teen aged obsessiveness and the need to worship and honor a hero, Rylant creates the character of 13 year old Peter Cassidy who longs for a heav...more
Dealing with teen aged obsessiveness and the need to worship and honor a hero, Rylant creates the character of 13 year old Peter Cassidy who longs for a heav...more
'Never again would he look at me like he knew me inside out, blood and bones and cells and soul. Never again would anybody look at me and know how I felt...'
—Pete Cassidy, 'A Fine White Dust', P. 47
'I had been living my life trying my best to do right, to please God, so I wouldn't be sent into the fire. And never knowing that all it takes is one person, one earthly person, to put you there.'
—Pete, PP. 96-97
This book was very different from what I expected it to be. Cynthia Rylant writes abo...more
—Pete Cassidy, 'A Fine White Dust', P. 47
'I had been living my life trying my best to do right, to please God, so I wouldn't be sent into the fire. And never knowing that all it takes is one person, one earthly person, to put you there.'
—Pete, PP. 96-97
This book was very different from what I expected it to be. Cynthia Rylant writes abo...more
This book presents a young 13 year old boy from North Carolina, and the hard lessons he learns about trusting a stranger - even a “Preacher Man”. The characters are rich, and the setting is very quaint, but I take a different lesson from the book than it tries to push on the reader.
I saw the “Preacher Man” as a young zealous man who was totally committed to God, but was still like other men and succumbed to temptation. We don't know what eventually happens to the young preacher, since the boo...more
Mar 19, 2013Melanie rated it really liked itI saw the “Preacher Man” as a young zealous man who was totally committed to God, but was still like other men and succumbed to temptation. We don't know what eventually happens to the young preacher, since the boo...more
Shelves: 4th-grade, 5th-grade, newbery-honor-author, children-s-literature, families, newbery-author, friends, newbery-honor-book, religion, summer
Pete has always felt comfortable with religion and is worried that his parents aren't more concerned about their souls. Pete attends church regularly and spends his free time during the summer with Rufus, his atheist best friend.
When a traveling preacher arrives in town for the town revival, Pete finds himself entranced by the man with the piercing blue eyes. The revival is set to last 5 nights and Pete attends every night. Each night Pete finds himself more and more emotionally attached the tra...more
When a traveling preacher arrives in town for the town revival, Pete finds himself entranced by the man with the piercing blue eyes. The revival is set to last 5 nights and Pete attends every night. Each night Pete finds himself more and more emotionally attached the tra...more
Jan 15, 2014Christopher McQuain rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
This book broke my heart and opened my eyes to several things (myself, the World, 'life') when I read it as a youngster. Surprisingly, what I thought would be a sentimental or even bemused revisit (part of a little detour into my reading past) shows it to retain that power.... It's a book meant for children, and would be highly recommended by me to any kid old enough to handle it. But it works no matter when you read it. I did happen to read it as a child, though, as I mentioned, and it may have...more
Spoiler alert!!!
13 yr old Pete gets 'brainwashed' by a traveling revival preacher in the south. A boy who was already smitten with religion, Pete was an easy target because of his yearning to find something deeper in his faith. I think it's funny how Pete's first impression seemed to be dead on about the preacher, that the man was strange and a little creepy. I also find it interesting that his best friend, as well as his parents are not religious at all; his parents only attend Xmas & Easte...more
13 yr old Pete gets 'brainwashed' by a traveling revival preacher in the south. A boy who was already smitten with religion, Pete was an easy target because of his yearning to find something deeper in his faith. I think it's funny how Pete's first impression seemed to be dead on about the preacher, that the man was strange and a little creepy. I also find it interesting that his best friend, as well as his parents are not religious at all; his parents only attend Xmas & Easte...more
Nov 03, 2007Mary Pellecchia rated it did not like it
I read this as part of my quest to read as many Newbery winners as possible. Why this one won is a mystery to me. I found it a very ordinary and unsatisfying manuscript. An impressionable, very religious boy feels alienated from his unworshipping parents. He attends church religiously, and when a new itinerant preacher comes to town, he is immediately attracted and plans to run away from home to travel around with this guy. The guy is a charlatan and the boy realizes that closeness to God can be...more
Jun 21, 2010Bobby Parker rated it it was ok
This is a story about a young man named Pete. He's naturally very spiritual even though his parents aren't nor is his best friend Rufus. Just when he feels like he couldn't feel anymore alone, a stranger hitch hikes into town. This stranger turns out to be a preacher who gives Pete a confidence and feeling he's never felt before: saved. Pete becomes obsessed with the Preacher and when the preacher asks him to leave town with him to help him preach, Pete agrees to leave his family and friends beh...more
Jun 21, 2010Rachel Parker rated it liked it
This book is about a 13 year old boy named Peter. He lives in North Carolina with his parents. He is very religious even though he is still pretty young. His parents on the other hand could do without church in general. Ironically his best friend Rufus is an atheist, but they still get along great. Peter's life is really great and going well until one day his mother says he should go to a revival meeting. This is where his life changes because he meets Preacher Man.
I really enjoyed this book. It...more
I really enjoyed this book. It...more
Jan 25, 2017Friend of Pixie (F.O.P.) rated it liked it
Logan liked this book okay, but it didn't engage him the way some other books (such as Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry and Treasure Island) did. We aren't religious in any way and this book is about religious fervor. I had to pause and explain a lot of things, which made for slow going. Also, he didn't relate at all to the young boy who is taken in by a charismatic preacher who rolls into a small town and uses night time tent revivals to beget a lot of tearful conversions and short-lived devotion. H...more
Mar 20, 2015Joy rated it it was ok · review of another edition Shelves: newbery, ebook-scribd, fiction-realistic
1987 Newbery Honor Book
Pete goes to church even though his parents don't and his best friend is a confirmed atheist. One day, he goes to a revival and is entranced by the traveling preacher there.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book until I read the discussion questions at the end. They helped to put the book in perspective. The authors says she wrote about the themes of friendship, betrayal and heroes. I can see that in the book. I'm not sure I like where she left Pete at the end. On one ha...more
Pete goes to church even though his parents don't and his best friend is a confirmed atheist. One day, he goes to a revival and is entranced by the traveling preacher there.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book until I read the discussion questions at the end. They helped to put the book in perspective. The authors says she wrote about the themes of friendship, betrayal and heroes. I can see that in the book. I'm not sure I like where she left Pete at the end. On one ha...more
a fine white dust was a great book which is coming from a person who doesnt like to read books at all. at first i had the feeling that it was going to be a cheesy book but then i got farther into the book and the story opened up more and more. it was very religious. carried the aspects of who you should really love and stand by which is family, friends, and god! it opens your eyes and makes you realize whats important in life and what you should charish in life as well. they were distinctive in...more
Dec 27, 2016Diane rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Peter Cassidy is a 13-year-old boy who is looking to connect with someone in his life. He goes to church every Sunday even though his parents have no interest in going and his best friend, Rufus, is an atheist. Then, the church has a revival and Reverend James W. Carson, the Preacher Man, comes to town. When Peter first sees him in the drugstore, he thinks he's a murderer. When he goes to the revival that night and sees the Preacher Man, he is shocked. But he is caught up in the religious fervor...more
Pete is a 13-year old concerned with the nature of God. He has a spiritual side that is earnestly searching for more, even though his parents seem to not be interested in religion. Plus, his best friend Rufus is a declared atheist. A traveling minister comes to town and it begins a whirlwind summer where Pete experiences friendship and betrayal.
This would be a good discussion book, especially with a teenager. But, Pete is a different type of kid, and it left me having a hard time relating to hi...more
This would be a good discussion book, especially with a teenager. But, Pete is a different type of kid, and it left me having a hard time relating to hi...more
Oct 20, 2010Austen to Zafón rated it liked it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
May 31, 2010Alicia Stevens rated it did not like it
13 year old Peter Cassidy has found God. The only problem is that his parents and best friend Rufus couldn't be more uninterested and couldn't care less. Needless to say, Peter is more than ecstatic-pretty much hypnotized, when a 'Preacherman' comes into town and rials a lot of folks up. But when the Preacherman offers Peter an apprentice position by his side, Peter must decide between his love for God or his love for his parents.
This book is recommended for anyone who, is not trying to find God...more
This book is recommended for anyone who, is not trying to find God...more
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An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she...more
“But I know now that you can't expect anything from anybody. If somebody loves you, it's because he wants to. And it's never because it's what he's supposed to do.'
—Pete Cassidy” — 10 likes
—Pete Cassidy”
“And, finally, I know, too. That throwing away this mess doesn't mean I'm giving something up. Or losing something I can't get back. It's just that there are too many pieces and too much dust. I'm just ready for something whole.'
—Pete Cassidy” — 9 likes
More quotes…—Pete Cassidy”
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As propane and other gases burn, incomplete combustion causes pesky black soot to form a fine film on the surroundings, including the glass doors of your fireplace. This undesirable phenomena can occur in both vented and unvented propane fireplaces, leaving nasty black streaks and scorches, but you're not fighting a losing battle -- the key to keeping your glass soot-free lies in prevention and regular fireplace maintenance.
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Insufficient oxygen is a key cause of soot production, so ventilate the area by opening windows or turning on built-in vent fans before you fire up your propane appliance. On the same note, do not aim any external fans toward the fireplace as it burns. If your propane fireplace features artificial logs, keep them from impinging directly on the flame, as hot fire burning on cool surfaces produces sooty residue. Oftentimes, artificial log sets feature snap-on systems to indicate proper placement, so be sure to follow your set's recommended arrangement.
Maintain Your Fireplace
Simple fireplace maintenance also helps keep your glass free from soot. Regularly clean the burners on your propane fireplace and use a soft bristle brush or shop vac to keep the firebox and artificial logs free of ash to cut back on soot. As you clean, inspect any openings on your fireplace's burners and the pilot light's gas orifice for packed-in debris, and thoroughly clear any blockage. Likewise, keep vents on vented propane fireplaces as clean as possible. Request a check-in from your gas company if black soot continues to appear after cleaning; if your residential propane pressure is too high or too low, or if your gas is of a low quality, excess soot will be deposited on glass and fixtures.
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When soot does appear, start the cleaning process by removing the glass from your fireplace's doors. Apply about two tablespoons of gas appliance glass cleaner to one side of the glass, rubbing it on with a paper towel or soft cloth in circular motions, as you would car wax. Allow the cleaner to dry, then buff it away and repeat the process on all sides of the glass before replacing the panes. While cleaning your fireplace's doors, inspect them for chips or scratches; if the glass is chipped or scratched, replace the doors, as these imperfections increase the chances of glass blow outs. To prevent dirty doors, always give your propane fireplace and its ventilation system a thorough cleaning before firing it up if you haven't used it in a few months.
Consider Going Vented
Vented systems generally offer a cleaner option, when safely and properly installed. Improper installation may lead to poisonous gas emission and increased soot production. If possible, avoid using unvented propane gas heating appliances in the home, as they typically produce more soot -- and more toxic carbon monoxide -- than vented fireplaces. Iowa State University's Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering recommends using unvented heating appliances only in emergency situations. As of 2014, California completely bans the use of unvented heating appliances, while other states, including North Carolina and Massachusetts, and municipalities, such as Washington, D.C., restrict their use. Check with you local housing agency before placing a ventless appliance in your home.
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About the Author
Dan Ketchum has been a professional writer since 2003, with work appearing online and offline in Word Riot, Bazooka Magazine, Anemone Sidecar, Trails and more. Dan's diverse professional background spans from costume design and screenwriting to mixology, manual labor and video game industry publicity.
Photo Credits
- Karl Weatherly/Photodisc/Getty Images
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Ketchum, Dan. 'How to Keep Glass From Sooting Up on a Propane Fireplace.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-glass-sooting-up-propane-fireplace-102157.html. Accessed 25 June 2019.
Ketchum, Dan. (n.d.). How to Keep Glass From Sooting Up on a Propane Fireplace. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-glass-sooting-up-propane-fireplace-102157.html
Ketchum, Dan. 'How to Keep Glass From Sooting Up on a Propane Fireplace' accessed June 25, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-glass-sooting-up-propane-fireplace-102157.html
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