Cheesus Was Here

Cheesus Was Here

Sixteen-year-old Delaney Delgado knows miracles aren’t real—if they were, her kid sister wouldn’t be dead. So when the image of baby Jesus appears on a Babybel cheese wheel, she’s not buying the idea that God’s got a dairy obsession. Soon, religious signs begin turning up all over Del’s hometown, tiny Clemency, Texas. Overnight, news vans fill the streets and religious pilgrims start searching for God in the discount aisle of the grocery store. Hell-bent on proving the so-called miracles are fake, Del convinces her best friend, Gabe, to help her find the truth. While Gabe’s willing to play detective, as a preacher’s son he’s more interested in finding evidence that supports the miracles. But when the whole town becomes caught up in religious fervor and even the late-night talk show hosts have stopped laughing and started to believe, finding the truth might cause more trouble than Del can handle. This novel is neither pro nor anti-religion, and will appeal to fans of contemporary YA novels that explore deep themes with an element of humor. The voice and characters are funny, strong, and full of heart. This is a book for anyone who loved Saved! Gr 8 Up—Since her younger sister Claire's death from cancer the previous year, Del has had no use for God or religion of any kind. Her home life is a nightmare: her father has fled, her mother has retreated into an almost zombielike state, her often absent brother barely speaks, and Del feels guilty about Claire. When Del's coworker Andy discovers an image of a swaddled infant imprinted in a Babybel cheese, Del scoffs at the hysteria it provokes in her tiny Texas town. Suddenly people start seeing religious signs everywhere, and pilgrims come from far and wide to bear witness. Enlisting the help of her best friend Gabe, the protagonist sets out to prove the whole thing a hoax. When she learns that the latest "miracles" were created by Gabe's preacher father in a desperate attempt to save his dwindling congregation and church finances, she fears she has gone too far. Nevertheless, the reverend's insistence on admitting his guilt helps Del to confront her own demons. Neither pro- nor anti-religious, Davis's debut novel is a humor-filled look at serious issues: integrity, self-acceptance, and the importance of facing the truth. While some secondary figures are complete stereotypes, Del and Gabe are strong, well-developed, determined characters, true to themselves and to each other, even as their worlds are breaking apart. The fast-paced plot, though based on a bizarre premise, moves to a logical if not picture-perfect conclusion that will attract teen readers. VERDICT Purchase for collections looking for funny YA and works featuring teens struggling with faith.—Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence J. C. Davis checks all her food for funny pictures, but so far she’s only found an Eiffel Tower shaped Cheeto. It was delicious. In addition to writing, J. C. is an amateur photographer, runs a Harry Potter meet-up group and embraces all things nerdy. You can find her online at jcdavis-author.com. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, two kids, a pair of rowdy dogs, an incontinent cat, a hamster with a ridiculously long name, and two adorable hedgehogs who want to take over the world.