Rats Saw God tells the story of Steve York, a gifted young American boy who comes of age during a difficult time of change. His parents divorce and he moves with his father from Florida to Texas where he tries to pick up the pieces of his life. In Texas, he meets Dub and falls in love with her. Steve and Dub forge a relationship but eventually Dub finds another love interest. Steve is devastated and within just a few months turns to drugs and the dropout culture to ease his emotional pain. Under the guidance of a dedicated school counselor, Steve finally realizes that the way to success is not through self-destruction and the novel ends with Steve entering college and looking forward to the future with a confident optimism.

Steve York, son of the famous astronaut Alan York, excels at academia and lives a...