A Highly Placed Source

by Michelle Dally

Fiction. It's a normal day at Rory Middle School until twelve-year-old Peter Banks finds himself caught between his raging hormones, a voyeuristic bully, and God. This smart and always-funny novel explores what happens when a young boy's earnest prayer turns a nation upside down. When Peter relays God's message that in just seven days miracles will occur to prove His existence, not one institution can resist jumping on the bandwagon. The orbiting worlds of media, religion, and politics collide, leaving everyone to question what faith really means. Biting social satire and characters to love are just part of Dally's whirlwind adventure. "In a world of read-alike books, Michelle Dally manages to find an original subject in her page-turning book. A little boy asks God for advice about the most common of secrets, setting off a series of competing agendas and explosive events. From the office of a school principal to the newsroom, from church pulpits to the halls of government, Dally tips all our sacred cows, while thoughtfully exploring the nature of miracles in the modern world. This is an author to read now, and watch in the future"--Sparkle Hayter.

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2007

Reviews

[Jackie Zortman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing tapestry of words woven beautifully into a complicated story covering numerous (I counted 10) diverse subjects. It will make you laugh and make you cry as well as give you insight into the world of politics, the media, religion and other normal, though complex subjects that so many struggle with. Beginning with an adolescent's mental wrestling with his normal desires as hormones change, it evolves into a media-wide frenzy over the same boy's urgent prayer about that subject and demonstrates how things so easily get misconstrued and blown out of proportion. It will change the way you think miracles occur and the theme will keep you reading frantically to reach the end and find out exactly how that happens. With numerous fascinating characters involved in this book, the part I loved most was reporter, Gail's, relationship with a dog named Gus.

Jackie Taylor Zortman

[Paula Bodah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike Leah (below)I was engaged from the first moment in A Highly Placed Source. The idea that an innocent young boy would be the conduit through which God would talk to us intrigued me, and I thought he was a nicely developed character throughout. I have to love a book that reminds me that all those people we look at as authorities are often as weak as they are power hungry and as amoral as they are vocal about morality. Michelle Dally wrote a terrific first novel, and I'm looking forward to her next one!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific read and an entertaining look at the intersection of media and politics.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with this one all the way through, but at the end it all came together for me. Not what I had expected when picking it up... I am glad I took the time to read it.

[Tamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book, and for those living in Denver Michelle is a local author extraordinaire.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the characters and dialogue. Great story!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great idea; characters were too stereotypical.