Days of Little Texas

Ronald Earl Pettway's father was a dope dealer and his mother a drug-addled whore. His religious Aunt Wanda Joy reluctantly takes him in and he becomes a healing Evangelist at 10, "Little Texas," named for where his first miracle took place. But at 16, his hormones kick in, as does his desire to be a man. When he saves Lucy Palmer, something shoots through him that is part sexual desire, part religious epiphany. But it is only when Aunt Wanda Joy takes him to Vanderloo, "the crossroads" for his spiritual leadership of their church, that everything comes together in Little Texas' transformation into manhood. I wish that some things had not been spelled out in advance on the back cover of this book, and if you haven't read reviews or the blurb, don't do it now. I won't give any spoilers away. But the world that Nelson, the author, creates, is peopled with fantastically drawn and interesting characters: the pragmatic yet messianic Wanda Joy, former child evangelist and now elderly Sugar Tom, and especially Certain Certain, whose conversion from lady's man to man of the Lord comes by way of a disfiguring gun shot. Power and energy, whether manifested from a coven drawing down the moon or a fundamentalist Christian speaking in tongues after getting the spirit, is a universal source. This book comes down on the side that "Love is Stronger Than Death"--and not limiting one's understanding of either love or death. I am convinced that some of the best writing today is found in the Young Adult genre. Little Texas is living proof of that particular phenomenon. I expect to be thinking about this book and its characters for a very long time.

I started reading this book with some skepticism. I get very tired of books that are sappy and "over-Christianized" so as to deviate from reality and the world as we know it. I also get very tired of books that make Christians out to be idiots and hypocrites simply because they're Christians. So as I said, I started into this story as a skeptic because the main character is a child evangelist--words that make me want to hurl. The first page caught me off guard, though, as it starts with a quasi wet dream as experienced by our child evangelist. There was no detail, thankfully, but it made me read further than I would have otherwise. I'm glad I did, because what this book does is tell a coming of age story about a young man who is experiencing normal teenage feelings and trying to put them into the perspective of his faith. Little Texas lost his parents at a young age because of alcoholism and a host of other dysfunctions. He went to live with his aunt, Miss Wanda Joy, who is no joy to anyone living or dead. His "gift" is discovered and he goes on the road, preaching and healing, along with Miss Wanda Joy and two elderly black men who befriend and mentor the young boy. As his preoccupation with sexual urgings and thoughts grows, Little Texas questions his faith and his worthiness to be used by God. What we find out about Little Texas is that he's the real deal. He really is used by God to bring a message and healing to the people who come to his tent meetings. One night, he is unable to heal a little girl and that's when the story begins to take off. Little Texas finds himself involved in something bigger and so far outside of his understanding that he must rely on his heart and a ghost, or spirit, whichever you prefer, to guide him. The climax is emotional and life changing, not only to the main character, but to the reader as well. The elements of slavery and enslavement (2 different things in this story) are woven throughout. Through the spirit guide and the spiritual warfare that he has to face, Little Texas learns that truth is actually bigger than his Christian training had allowed him to believe before. Just as black slaves were in bondage to their masters, and just as the masters were in bondage to their sin, Little Texas was in bondage to his limited view of God and the definition of truth he had been taught to embrace. At the end of the story, his character is changed and his faith is intact. Throughout the story, the author never criticizes Little Texas' world view or makes his faith appear to be his biggest problem. Even at the end of the story, his faith remains, even though his understanding of God and truth grows significantly. I have to say, I have never read a story quite like this one and I respect the author for telling it without making political or religious commentary about the Christian faith. Finally, I recommend this story for middle schooler, teenagers and young adults. There is no profanity

He was christened Little Texas when he was 10 years old because of his involvement in a miraculous healing. From then on he was thrust into the role of child prodigy preacher and faith healer for the Church of the Hand, a tent revival operation run by his great aunt, Miss Wanda Joy. Like a rock star he travels from town to town with his entourage, including his manager Miss Wanda Joy, his spiritual coach Sugar Tom, and his personal assistant Certain Certain. His frail human side is a young man named Ronald Earl. Now, as an almost 16-year old, the two personalities converge in a colossal test of will power. One night in Verbena, Alabama, Little Texas lays his hands on a critically ill young girl named Lucy. She responds enough so that everyone believes she is healed but Ronald Earl senses something is wrong. Tormented by doubt and questions of faith, he is haunted by her image. Because he has never had any friends his own age, an unearthly bond forms between them. His love for her lures him into the murky spiritual realm and a supernatural secret involving the Church of the Hand. In a tent revival to end all tent revivals his two worlds collide in a holy war. "Days of Little Texas" blends the occult and religion to expose long-buried roots of the deep South. Like an old-timey preacher at a tent revival, Nelson pulls readers into this steamy mystery that is part coming of age, part Gothic romance and utterly intriguing. This is an enticing story for all ages.

Days of Little Texas is an original, engaging story with great entertainment value for both adults and teens. I found it riveting, from the opening description of the boy preacher's shame when he dreams about a naked girl, to the final resolution (no spoilers but expect to find lots of supernatural creatures and a big showdown). This author knows suspense; all three of his books are impossible to put down. Using fresh phrases and strong, sure voice, R. A. Nelson builds a fascinating world of rural revivals and haunted landscapes, peopled with wonderful oddball characters. His quirky Southern protagonist speaks in charming backwoods cadence of the girls who follow him with "eyes big as barn owls, hungry, wet," the domineering matriarch, as "straight as a loblolly pine," and the Alabama countryside where"a red-tailed hawk lights on a sycamore at the edge of the woods . . .cleaning its feathers" and "water splashes like a song spilling over this place." Beautifully crafted with rich, original language, the story takes unexpected turns and leaves you breathless. I'm not at all surprised it earned a Starred Review from Publisher's Weekly. This unusual book will generate a great deal of discussion.