Plot Summary
Rylant's book of poems is a contemporary take on what God would do if he decided to do the things that humans do. He created the world right? So why not experience the things he created. God gets to go to beauty school, gets a dog, cooks spaghetti, gets arrested, and even finds himself in a poem titled, "God Found God." In the end as with humans, God dies...well, sort of.
Critical Evaluation
Rylant's poems are witty, funny, and written in a cool tone that teens will enjoy. Her book will definitely push the buttons of anyone who is religious. Who would ever write a poem about God going to a bar and getting into a fight and getting arrested!? Rylant would. Readers of the book need to look beyond the surface and question what Rylant is trying to capture. She wants the reader to take the poems and question the human experience. Of course God would never buy a couch from Pottery Barn with a credit card. In "God Bought a Couch" he gets questioned by the store when his billing address doesn't match the delivery address which is "Hell." That's just his "quirky sense of humor." The poem is just a funny take on consumerism. God Went to Beauty School is sure to raise questions about faith and may even offend a lot of people. That is exactly why it should be included in a teen collection.
Reader's Annotation
What would God do if he was inspired to have the human experience?
About the Author
Cynthia Rylant was awarded a Newbery Medal for Missing May and received a Newbery Honor for A Fine White Dust. She is the author of the popular Henry and Mudge books.
Rylant lives with her family in Oregon.
Genre
Poetry, Religion
Curriculum Ties
Religion, Sociology
Booktalking Ideas
1) Do you find the poems in the book funny, offensive, or in-between?
2) Discuss what you think God would really feel if he came to earth today.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 13+
Challenge Issues
Religion
Challenge defense ideas
-Become familiar with the book and its content.
-Refer to the collection development policy of the library, see http://sfpl.org/pdf/about/policies/collection-development-plan.pdf
-Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Went-Beauty-School-Cynthia-Rylant/dp/0060094354/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292465180&sr=1-1
-Try to get reviews of the book from teens who have read itWhy Included in Titles Selected
I saw this book while shelving and was hooked after the first poem.
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