In this very funny novel, Christopher Moore reconstructs the "missing" years in Jesus of Nazareth's life. Here, through the eyes of his good friend Levi known as Biff, we see Joshua (Jesus) at age six, entertaining his younger brother by killing a lizard and bringing it back to life, and we follow him as he learns what it will take to be the Messiah. We see the well-known miracles from a new angle, and we see the apostles in a wholly different light.

Moore is very respectful of the core values that underlie Christianity, but he isn't afraid to make Jesus human, and he certainly isn't afraid to give the rest of the cast of characters some big — and funny — flaws.

I'm sure this book would offend lots of people, but if you long for a Christianity that doesn't take itself so seriously, you might enjoy it. I did.