Themes in this book include friendship, formulating spiritual beliefs, and dealing with misplaced faith. Pete's parents, "Christmas and Easter Christians," realize that their son is engrossed in revival frenzy. His mother is supportive; she places ceramic crosses that Pete made in Bible school all around her kitchen walls even though she is not religious. Although the parents worry, they try to stay out of Pete's religious decisions. The father says that there is a reason for their feeling the way they do about organized religion, but Pete does not want to hear it.

Pete's personality is developed through his first-person telling of events that happened a year ago. Feeling a need for spirituality, he attends church regularly and his conviction that he is following God's will is so strong that he is willing to run away from his parents and follow the Preacher Man wherever he...