Jesus Boy

“A consummate tragicomedy of African American family secrets and sorrows, and of faith under duress . . . a shout-hallelujah tale of transgression and grace.” —Booklist

Sixteen-year-old Elwyn Parker is a member of the austere community of Christian believers at the Church of Our Blessed Redeemer Who Walked Upon the Waters, a devout and sincere piano prodigy who learns too late that the saintly girl he has had a crush on all his life is inexplicably pregnant and soon to be wed. Then the beautiful forty-two-year-old widow, Sister Morrisohn, in the midst of the confused emotions of her grieving, ends up in Elwyn's arms.

Despite the problems posed by their age difference and the strict prohibitions of their strong religious beliefs, Elwyn and Sister Morrisohn's love is true, and as it grows among the ascetics, abstainers, and holy ghost rollers of their church, it exposes with wit, poignancy, and insight the dark secrets and ancient crimes of the pious. In Jesus Boy, “by turns solemn and funny” (The New York Times), Elwyn learns through tragedy and epiphany that the holy are no different from the rest of us.

“Heartfelt and occasionally hilarious, Jesus Boy is a tender masterpiece.” —Dennis Lehane, New York Times–bestselling author of Mystic River and Since We Fell