The Bronze Bow: A Newbery Award Winner – A Novel About Hate, Revenge, and Jesus's Message of Love for Kids (Ages 10-12)

I remember reading this as a kid in grade school. Rereading now at 64, I think it is a great read at any age. The character mix is great as each one is developed and the interactions between them is complex. As an adult, maybe some subtleties of the characters wouldn’t be as obvious when I was a child. The book is timeless as the main theme of the story is the “greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends” (Jn 15:13) and "Love your enemies." (Mt 6:27) these concepts are still problems today that show how little we have changed as we have become more “civilized.” Unbelievers do not comprehend that followers of Christ actually love their enemies and do not hate them. The story is something that can appeal to young readers but also adult readers making it a timeless story.

This is a wonder filled book with an intelligence into human nature. Our mortal hates, our hopes, our desires to change, our need to be in tune with deity are shown clearly in this book. I loved that our Savior changed the heart of Daniel in this book.

This is a superlative fiction book. Just great. Set in Galilee in the time of Jesus, this is the story of a young Jewish rebel who is won over to the gentle teachings of Jesus. It is not a preachy religious book, however. Daniel, the main character in this story, is picture of what happens when hate takes over your life. He is so full of hatred about the Roman occupation and the oppression of his people that he is blinded to the injustice that his original leader, Rosh, participates in, and the consequences of his absence from his family. He must learn what the responsibilities are and the nature of true leadership while he comes of age. I would recommend this primarily to young men, but young women will enjoy the strong female characters as well. Daniel and Joel will be identified with by young men who read this book. Their spirit and passion are attractive. Every man wants to have a cause so big they can die for it. Though some aspects of the story are a bit predictable they are not melodramatic, but rather heartfelt. Speare does not dip deep into pathos. Quotes: "Daniel bristled. He could not make this girl out. Was she for him or against him?" (79). "He had taken for granted that Leah had lost her wits on the terrible night of her childhood. Was he any better, he thought now with shame, than the neighbors who would have tied her with ropes?" (129) "Strong arms and muscles were easy to find. A fiery spirit was not so common" (137). "With irritation he saw that the water jar was empty and that he would have to stand in line at the well with the snickering women. He bent and picked up the jar, and the bars of his cage slid into place around him" (158).

We included this title for our 6th grade son's home school reading for the ancient history time period. You can read from other reviews what the book is about. My review is targeted for those using the book for education vs. entertainment. The book is an entertaining read. It held my attention and I have read so many books that a novel must be well-written for me to enjoy it. The flavor of the book reminded me a bit of Louis L'Amour's "The Walking Drum" - which was one of my favorite easy-read's for a long time. The book does a good job showing the character development of it's principle character. He goes from being selfish to being responsible for others. We see him change as he really opens his eyes to the world & people around him. One aspect I like about the book is that the author lets you "live" in the character's shoes. Kids will relate to the idealism, daring & comradery. As the main character grows emotionally & spiritually, we begin to see that life is much more dangerous, complex & frightening than a youth might appreciate. Your friends are not always your true friends and those who irritate you might be your salvation. The book has a strong element of Christianity which will appeal to those who are of that faith. Christ plays a somewhat significant role in the book. While I didn't nec. agree with the description of "the piercing eyes" and all that jazz..the book was able to portray that "God's ways are not our ways" and "God's thoughts are not our thoughts." In the end, the young man is able to let go of his hatred & live for the first time in his life at peace with God & man. I do recommend the book for it's readability & lessons, however I have it a 4 instead of a 5 because it is not heavy on history, not even as much as a Louis L'Amour novel is...or GA Henty. Hope this helps

"He was waiting for two figures to reappear among the boulders that tumbled on ether side of the path just above him. He was puzzled and uneasy, at odds with himself. Who were these two who had been so foolhardy as to climb the mountain?" That excerpt from page 1 reflects how the award winning storytelling immediately engages the reader into the historical fiction so appealing to readers from age 12 and through adult. Set in ancient Jerusalem. The feelings, struggles, and concerns of the characters are clearly described and relatable. The settings are described in vivid detail that transports the reader to a beautiful theater of the imagination. The author, Elizabeth George Speare is a multiple Newbery Award winner and author of "The Sign of the Beaver" and "The Witch of Blackbird Pond."

Summary: This is the story of Daniel, a young Jewish runaway who's taken up with a band of Zealots and bandits in hopes of driving the hated Romans out of his homeland. When the death of his grandmother forces him to go back home and care for his unhinged sister, he slowly begins to realize how little his carefully honed hatred has done for him, and how little use it is in achieving his ends. As his animosity brings disaster to his friends and destruction to his home, he turns in desperation to the prophet Jesus of Nazareth. My thoughts: Speare's book is well-written, accessible, and full of vitality. The theme of the book - the powerlessness of hatred - is as beautifully depicted here as anywhere, and is portrayed on an excellent level for younger readers (older ones will find that this book dovetails on a thematic level with C.S. Lewis's novel Till We Have Faces ). Although this is certainly a Christian work, Jesus is not the main character, and the Christian themes arise organically from the characters themselves. Less satisfying are the statements and actions of Jesus himself. While Speare doesn't quite portray Jesus as an ordinary man, she apparently goes out of her way to avoid phrases like "Son of God" and it's a little unclear whether his miracles are actually miraculous or just the power of personality and suggestion. While this is disappointing and potentially troublesome to an adult reader, it's very unlikely that a reader at the younger end of the spectrum would even notice the inconsistencies. Those passages could even serve as excellent discussion starters.

Although it would never win the Newbery these days due to its specifically religious content, this story is quite timely in terms of the ongoing struggles in Israel/Palestine (although the tables are turned at this point). The setting is first-century Israel, and we see Jewish society excited about the arrival of a teacher and preacher, Jesus, who, despite his background as a carpenter, teaches with authority and is reputed to heal people. Eighteen-year-old Daniel, a Jewish boy, hates the Romans because of his personal history with them. He joins up with a group of bandit rebels, led by the charismatic Rosh, who live in caves up in the hills. Daniel meets Joel and his sister Malthace (Thacia), siblings from a religious, educated Jewish family, when they explore the hills one day on their holiday. He also befriends Samson, a huge slave, possibly mute, that the rebels "freed" and who latched onto Daniel. Daniel left his family behind when he escaped a cruel apprentice-master to join the rebels: his sister, Leah, traumatized by earlier events, and his elderly grandmother. A major part of the plot revolves around Daniel's inner conflict between his love of the exciting but relatively carefree life with the rebels and his sense of obligation toward his family. Eventually, Joel and Thacia become involved in his family's struggle for survival, as well as in the struggle against the Romans. Throughout, Daniel keeps encountering Jesus, mostly through his friend Simon, the Zealot (also an ironsmith), and his inner conflict widens to include his deep hatred of the Romans and desire for revenge with Jesus' message of forgiveness and peace. This book gave me a different and more human perspective on Jesus; some of the best parts describe a weary Jesus who, nevertheless, takes time for people, especially for a confused Daniel. Speare was masterful in portraying the culture of the time, and the contrast between Daniel (a poor, orphaned ironsmith) and Joel (his friend, son of an influential and wealthy rabbi), as well as their encounters with the impoverished and ignorant "rabble," shows the stratification of that society in a concrete and interesting way. We used this book for a church reading group, and everyone who read it had favorable feedback, although Daniel's truculent, scowling personality grated on at least one reader.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare is one of my favorite books, and I recommend it for children of all ages, from 8 to 80 years old. The story is set in Jesus’ day and is seen through the eyes of a young Jewish boy named Daniel who has lost his father to the cruel Romans. This book can be a real eye opener for anyone who lacks understanding of the harsh treatment the Jews experienced under the Romans. The tale helps us understand more personally why the Israelites wanted a deliver from the government so badly. Elizabeth Speare did an excellent job of bringing Daniel’s story to light. Although this is a work of fiction, it is accurately based on the history of the Jewish nation and the struggles and persecutions they experienced. The story also helps us see Christ as He walked among the people and His heart of compassion. Again, I recommend this book for readers of all ages.