Book Review of the Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Set in the time of Jesus in Palestine, this is a wonderful story of hope, revenge, forgiveness, and love. Daniel bar Jamin's father and uncle had been killed by the Romans. His mother had died of sorrow and his sister Leah was so scared that many thought she was possessed by demons. After his parents death his grandmother sells him to a cruel blacksmith, but he escapes and joins a band of fighters in the mountain, struggling for freedom from the Romans. Freedom from the Romans! That was all Daniel cared about, all he lived for. The Romans had killed his family and he would revenge them. He thought of nothing else.

But one day that changed. He met on the mountain Joel, the studious and quiet, but patriotic son of a rich Pharisee, and his sister, graceful, beautiful Malthace. They brought the thoughts of his village back into his mind. They even convinced him to go see his grandmother and sister Leah. But he did not stay there for long. He went back to the band of freedom fighters on the mountain. Once he went to the house of Joel's father, to see if Joel would help them in their fight for freedom. But he always went back to the mountain.

Except for once. His grandmother died and he moved back to the village to take care of Leah. He even got full use of the blacksmith shop belonging to his friend Simon. Simon had left the shop in his care, for he was following this rabbi Jesus. Daniel had heard Jesus preach once. At first he though that maybe He would be the one to lead them against the Romans. But he gave up on that idea, this new Rabbi said nothing about fighting the Romans. And yet.....

This is an amazing book. I've read it three times and every time I seem to like it more. Elizabeth George Speare was a wonderful writer. There is nothing really inappropriate in The Bronze Bow. It has a little fighting and Daniel mentions how his parents died but it isn't in great detail. I'd recommend this book for ages 12 and up.