"Coaltown Jesus" by Ron Koertge follows the story of a teenager named Justin who grapples with the complexities of faith, identity, and his place in the world. Set in a small town plagued by the aftermath of coal mining, Justin's life takes a turn when he discovers the thematic relevance of a local Jesus statue. As he navigates his feelings for a classmate and the challenges posed by his father's expectations, Justin embarks on a journey of self-discovery, questioning the meaning of belief and how it intersects with his aspirations and relationships. The narrative blends humor and profound insight into adolescent life. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book is aimed at children at US 9th grade+.

This book has been graded for interest at 14 years.

This book is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed. This book was published in 2013 by Candlewick Press (MA) .

RON KOERTGE has written many highly acclaimed books for young readers, including Stoner & Spaz, Margaux with an X, The Brimstone Journals, Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, and Where the Kissing Never Stops. He lives in South Pasadena, California.