T
Tom Perrotta
Tom Perrotta is the author of "Lit Riffs." He offers sharp, insightful takes on literature and culture. Readers enjoy his direct style and keen observations.
The abstinence teacher
Stonewood Heights is the perfect place to raise children: it's got good schools, solid values and a healthy real estate market. Parents in the town are involved in their children's lives, and often in other children's lives, too―coaching sports, driving carpool, focusing on enriching experiences. Ruth Ramsey is the high school human sexuality teacher whose openness is not appreciated by all her students―or their parents. Her daughter's soccer coach is Tim Mason, a former stoner and rocker whose response to hitting rock bottom was to reach out and be saved. Tim's introduction of Christianity on the playing field horrifies Ruth, while his evangelical church sees a useful target in the loose-lipped sex ed teacher. But when these two adversaries in a small-town culture war actually talk to each other, a surprising friendship begins to develop.
A high school human sexuality teacher whose open approach to the subject is not appreciated by all, leading to conflict with some parents and the community.
A former stoner and rocker who found Christianity after hitting rock bottom, now a soccer coach whose evangelical views clash with Ruth's.