On its more basic level, Rats Saw God is a classic coming of age story of a young man on the edge of adulthood who is appalled by the "phonyness" he sees around him. It is yet another contender for the Catcher in the Rye of its generation title as the big themes of Rats matches up with those of J. D. Salinger's masterpiece in capturing the turmoil of becoming an adult. Other recent contenders for that crown such as Stephen Chbosky's Perks of Being a Wallflower and E.R. Frank's Life is Funny are related to Rats Saw God in many ways. In particular, both titles capture the intensity and the humor of the coming of age story. Humor is foremost in Tangerine by Edward Bloor, at times almost a middle school version of Rats Saw God. Told with an authentic voice, sharing similar themes...