Rob Thomas writes novels that blur the distinction between young adult and adult fiction. His novels have a high degree of literary realism and formal sophistication. The writing techniques students may study in an American literature class parallel the ones Thomas employs in his novels. In fact, Thomas did not write Rats Saw God, his debut novel, with a teenage audience in mind. Rather, he wanted a book about a teenage boy that his peers (he was twenty-eight at the time) would find appealing. His novels have scenes rendered in precise details readers can easily visualize. Especially adept at writing dialogue, Thomas's ear for the way teenagers talk adds to each book's authenticity. As a former high school journalism teacher who now writes full time, Thomas has a sure understanding of the teen world. His books are socially aware, treating broad themes such as drugs, sex, divorce, and...