Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet (2008)

Small-town Michigan kid Luke Hunter discovers he can foresee deaths — starting with his buddy Stan's. But Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet is more emo coming-of-age tale than teen Medium, and that's a good thing. Joanne Proulx doesn't rely on mystery to carry her plot — the deaths are mundane car-crash and tractor-accident affairs. Instead, she weaves a compelling narrative about seeking faith and deftly channels the voice of a disaffected stoner. Though she lays Luke's teen verbal tics on distractingly thick at times, they never ring false — and neither does his search for redemption. B+