Shoe on the Roof, The

Thomas’ girl friend dumps him over their differing views on religion and science, and he sets out to win her back by curing her mentally ill brother and two other men, all who claim to be Jesus. His father, who used Thomas as a psychology experiment when he was young, shows up and takes over as Thomas still can’t stand up to him, and although Thomas loses again, he changes from being shallow and rigid to kinder and more open-minded. Examines issues of mental illness, identity, parent and child relationships, reality, the nature of the mind, and the role of power. Suitable for literature circles and independent reading, with teacher guidance, rather than a class novel due to content and social considerations.