Coaltown Jesus, by Ronald Koertge

In Coaltown Jesus, Ronald Koertge imagines Jesus paying a personal visit to Coaltown, Illinois. When 14 year old Walker prays for God to help his mother, who is still grieving over the death of Walker's older brother, he doesn't expect Jesus himself to show up in his bedroom.  But there he stands, next to Walker's bed, and Walker takes it all in stride.  Over the next several days, Jesus spends time with Walker, getting to know him and offering wit and wisdom for the young man.

Koertge's vision of Jesus may jolt some of his readers.  Walker's a mouthy, sometimes cynical American teenager, and this Jesus relates to him on that level.  So we get some strange Jesus humor, like when they pass a display of nails at the hardware store.  "Jesus stared at his hands. 'I mean nails are a miracle and God is in them, but they still give me the shivers.'"

Off-beat as his Jesus may be, Koertge does have some good insights.  My favorite has to do with prayer.  After listening to an elderly widow in Walker's mother's nursing home reminisce, Jesus comments on how much he loves listening to people's stories.  "But what do I get? 'Send me a pony.'" Walker asks whether it's OK for kids to want a pony.  "Little kids I don't mind," Jesus replies. "every kid wants a pony. Stop with the begging, okay? Adore me for a change. Or give thanks. I like gratitude. Or ask for guidance. But on, no. It's always the pony."

Coaltown Jesus is a fun, quick read.  Followers of Jesus might be uncomfortable with some of Koertge's characterization of Jesus, but I do love that he presents Jesus as a having a sense of humor and who we can all relate to.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!