I discovered this gem of a book on the New Books shelf at the library and decided to take a chance. Then, lo and behold, it got nominated for the Cybil Award for Middle Grade Fiction, an award for which I just happen to be on the nominating committee. I don’t know if Leap of Faith will make the finalist list for the Cybil Award or not, but it is one of the best books for children about faith and Christianity and religion that I’ve read —ever.

You can probably name several children’s and young adult books that mention God and faith and Christianity. And, of course, if you’re a Christian kid there are several preaching-to-the-choir choices available at the Christian bookstore, fiction that attempts to convert or to encourage the already converted. But how many children’s books can you name that are actually about the process of coming to faith, without being preachy or proselytizing? There’s The Bronze Bow, Newbery Award winning historical fiction by Elizabeth Speare from fifty years ago. What else?

Leap of Faith is about Abigail, a sixth grade girl from a non-religious family who’s forced to attend a Catholic school. She’s “forced” because she’s been expeled from the local public school —for attacking a boy with a knife in the school cafeteria. It doesn’t help matters that the boy Abigail knifed was the son of the public school’s principal. Nor does Abigail’s anger dissipate easily when her parents refuse to discuss the reason that she used a knife and act as if they don’t really believe that she was defending herself. (The book is a bit like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, although not quite as dark or as mature in theme.)

As the story progresses, Abigail decides to get her parents’ attention by doing something completely outrageous, becoming a Catholic. She doesn’t really believe any of that God stuff, but she’s not sure why her lack of faith should be an obstacle to her saying the words and doing what’s necessary to shock her parents into seeing her and listening to what she says. Abigail’s just tired of being invisible in her home.

She also becomes involved in drama class at her new school, and despite her intentions to remain invisible at school, she makes friends, especially one friend Chris, who’s really Catholic and good at drama and just easy to be around. As Abigail grows and learns to deal with her anger, she unexpected discovers that she has a gift for acting. And she discovers some other unexpected things about herself, too.

Again, this is a great book about a hard subject to get right. God, especially Christianity and God, is almost a taboo subject in children’s literature. It’s OK to mention prayer or going to church or questions about God and the Bible. But to write an entire book about a girl who pretends to become a Christian and then surprises herself by actually believing . . . well, that’s ground-breaking, as far as I’m concerned. And I commend Ms. Bradley for her guts and her excellent writing.

By the way, I’m not Catholic, but I am Christian. I think non-Catholics and non-Christians and Catholics and anyone with an open mind would enjoy reading Leap of Faith.

Other bloggers:

Miss Erin: “One of my favorite things about Cybils is the opportunity to read a book that I probably wouldn’t have picked up otherwise; particularly when I end up really liking it. Leap of Faith was one of those, and I’m happy I had the chance to discover it.”