Rats Saw God    by Rob Thomas Order:  USA  Can Pulse, 2007 (1996) Paperback      Reviewed by Lyn Seippel Steve York resents the divorce that takes his mother and sister to San Diego and leaves him to live with his dad in Houston. He's sure the macho former astronaut would like to turn Steve into his clone. He and his dad spend Steve's first three years of high school living in an upscale house with unpacked boxes and empty rooms. Steve makes friends, falls in love, and joins the Grace Order of Dadaists (GOD), all the while keeping his dad in the dark about his life. When everything blows up in his face he doesn't share that either, just gets in his truck and drives cross country to San Diego. Set in the late 80s and early 90s, Steve's story begins during his senior year in a San Diego high school. His earlier high school years are told in an essay that he writes for his guidance counselor. Rats Saw God was originally released in 1996. Full of humor, pain and humility, it still impresses. Steve is a product of his assumptions and his relationship with others often results from family needs that aren't being met. Veronica Mars fans will be interested to know that author Rob Thomas also wrote and produced the popular TV series. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews