Rating: 
Summary: The Bronze Bow
Review: After witnessing your father's death what would you do? This is the story of a boy who wants to avenge his father's death. He lives in Israel under roman rule and hates every single roman solider. He joins a band of Zealots that live on the mountain with their fearless leader Rosh. On the other side Jesus is teaching people another lesson of peace and love. Which path will Daniel choose the road of peace or to live by the sword? In this book you will go through the cities of ancient Israel and the high mountains of Ketzah. You can feel the mountain breeze, taste the stolen food, and see the village down far below. You will be in the heart of every skirmish that Daniel encounters with the Romans. This book expresses the true hatred that one boy has toward the whole roman empire. I loved this book when I read it I really enjoyed the style and setting. If you like a biblical setting than you will really enjoy this book. Even if you don't enjoy a biblical like me I still thought that it was a great book. I would recommend this book to anywhere from 11 to 16. On a 1 to 5 I would give this book a 5 out of 5. I thought that this book was great and if you read it I hope you do too. -Alex Robinette
Rating:
Summary: The Bronze Bow
Review: After witnessing your father's death what would you do? This is the story of a boy who wants to avenge his father's death. He lives in Israel under roman rule and hates every single roman solider. He joins a band of Zealots that live on the mountain with their fearless leader Rosh. On the other side Jesus is teaching people another lesson of peace and love. Which path will Daniel choose the road of peace or to live by the sword? In this book you will go through the cities of ancient Israel and the high mountains of Ketzah. You can feel the mountain breeze, taste the stolen food, and see the village down far below. You will be in the heart of every skirmish that Daniel encounters with the Romans. This book expresses the true hatred that one boy has toward the whole roman empire. I loved this book when I read it I really enjoyed the style and setting. If you like a biblical setting than you will really enjoy this book. Even if you don't enjoy a biblical like me I still thought that it was a great book. I would recommend this book to anywhere from 11 to 16. On a 1 to 5 I would give this book a 5 out of 5. I thought that this book was great and if you read it I hope you do too. -Alex Robinette
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Summary: Elizabeth George Speare Amazing as Usual!
Review: Elizabeth George Speare only wrote four books that I'm aware of, and all but one were awarded a Newbery Award. (And the one that did not win an award, "Calico Captive," is one of my favorite books of all time!) Ms. Speare was quite simply a fantastic writer of historical fiction. Her books are written in a style suitable for young readers, but anybody who loves historical fiction will love her work regardless of age! It's such a shame that she did not write more books. I admit that I had my reservations about "The Bronze Bow," since its setting in 1st century Judea seemed incongrous with Ms. Speare's other books which are all set in colonial New England. Also, although I'm a practicing Catholic, I was not keen on reading a fictional book with Jesus as a character fearing some very dry, preachy version of the most famous man in history would ruin the believability of the story. But my reservations were completly unfounded. Ms. Speare describes life in Roman occupied Judea with the same wonderful detail as she did colonial America. She ably describes the political/historical situation with great skill while weaving it into her fictional story of a young man deciding which path he will choose in life. Daniel, the protagonist, is as three dimensional and believable as Kit Tyler in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond." In fact, all the characters are memorably brought to life especially Daniel's emotionally devastated, younger sister, Leah. However, the major surprise is Ms. Speare's portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth- what a wonderful depiction of that itinerate preacher. Jesus is a supporting but crucial character in the narrative, but Ms. Speare does not use him to preach to the reader. Instead, the reader, like Daniel, is left to decide who Jesus is- just a kind-hearted teacher? A miracle worker? Someone unwilling to take sides? The messiah? Daniel is puzzled by these questions because the Jesus he sees is just a human being and not a resurrected savior in glowing robes. "The Bronze Bow" is arguably Ms. Speare's strongest novel, and that says alot considering her other work. It's historical fiction at its finest, and anyone who passes on it because of fears of it being "too religious" or "too preachy" are doing themselves a disservice. A great work of fiction is a great work fiction regardless if one of the characters happens to be Jesus of Nazareth.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Classic
Review: I read this book as a pre-teen and have thought of it often throughout my life (I'm now 40). It's message of forgiveness has never left me even though my faith waivers from time to time. It is a treasured part of my childhood and I can't wait to share this with my nieces.
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Summary: a young adult novel for all ages
Review: I teach Junior High School English and am constantly on the lookout for good YA novels. The Bronze Bow is everything a YA novel should be, and MORE! Daniel is a confused young man entering into manhood in the troubling times of the Roman Empire. He has been taught to hate Romans and to fight them whenever he can. When a friend invites him to hear a young preacher that people are beginning to follow, Daniel is troubled and confused by the message of love your enemy that Jesus preaches. Daniel also is burdened with a frail, dying grandmother and sister who is "possessed by demons." As the man of the family, he knows that he must leave his carefree life in the wilderness and return hom to care for them. When Daniel meets Joel and Thacia, his life begins to change as his friendship with them grows. The Bronze Bow makes the reader feel that he is a part of those times as it broadens the historical picture of the period. The book presents a wider view of Biblical times and the Jewish people and customs. Daniel's interaction with Joel and Thacia, his ill sister, the Roman soldiers, and even with the new preacher, Jesus, causes him to grow in ways that a young Jewish man of those times might actually have changed. The Bronze Bow is great reading not only for students, but also for anyone who is interested in a broader perspective of this period in history.
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Summary: I liked this book alot
Review: I was assigned to read this is in 6th grade and was assigned again this year. I was immediately sucked into the story of headstrong Daniel, scholarly Joel, kind Thacia and fearful Leah. Daniel's thoughts and personality are described so convincingly and desriptively that even in his most foolish moments you find yourself pitying and understanding him. The story takes place around 31 A.D., while Jesus is preaching. A boy sworn to war and vengence finds himself drawn to the gentle teacher and soon reluctantly becomes the lone provider for his sister, Leah. She hasn't left the house in the last ten years and screams and cowers at the sight of neighbors. This story is excellent, it has adventure, action, betrayal, friendship,and even some faint hints of romance. If you haven't read this book, read it!
Rating:
Summary: Still powerful
Review: I was first introduced to this book in my 8th grade English class. I enjoyed it so much then, I went out and read the author's other books. I recently picked this one up again and was amazed at how powerful it still was to me. The story concerns Daniel, a young Jew at the time of Christ. He has an intense hatred of the Romans and lives with in an outlaw band in the hills. When his grandmother dies, he must move to the village to take care of his sister while trying to continue his life's mission of driving the Romans back to Rome. He is drawn to the miracle worker, but just doesn't know what he truly thinks about him. Is he the Messiah sent to free them from the Romans? And will his sister ever recover? Ms. Speare was able to create a complex plot that is simple enough for her target age to understand, but still captivating to adults. I got so caught up in the events when I was rereading that I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this children's novel to readers of all ages.
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Summary: Way better than The Witch of Blackbird Pond!
Review: The author of this book, Elizabeth George Speare, also wrote The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Both of them won a Newberry Medal. This book is so much better than "Blackbird Pond". It kept my attention and I couldn't put it down! The book taught lessons of leadership, patience, care, and love. It wasn't a romantic book but it was more about loving the people that matter to you and also loving your enemies. I have recently been reading Tom Clancy novels that teach nothing of the sort but I found this book at a bookstore warehouse that was going out of business and I decided to give it a chance even though I didn't like my previous experience with the author. Everyone deserves a second chance, right? I am very glad that I chose to read this book and I think that you are missing out if you don't read it.
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Summary: I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!
Review: The Bronze Bow was one of the best books I've ever read! I love this kind of historical fiction, including others like Johnny Tremain, Dragonwings, etc. This book was so gripping, I just could not put it down! I loved it! The characters were very interesting and the author's perspectives gave me a new view of Jesus and what life was like during the 1st century AD. It helped me understand Jesus more. Daniel's character changed for the better, and Leah really opened up and wanted to know more about Jesus. I also like the sub-plot about Joel and his sister Malthace, although I still wonder about Rosh and his band of thieves. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an open and mature mind. It's not just for kids, but for adults, too.
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Summary: Why Don't You Get It?
Review: This was Jesus' gentle challenge to Daniel's outburst, "I will fight for you to the end!" By these words, Daniel realized that Jesus was not at all the person Daniel wanted Him to be. He was, as Daniel discovered later, Someone better than he ever hoped for. In a very real sense, the Preacher turned Daniel's world upside down. Brimming with anger and burdened by responsibility, Daniel was looking for a messiah who would rid Israel of the Romans by whatever means and whatever cost. But, as he and his friends slowly learn, there's more to freedom than defeating your conquerors. Freedom also entailed letting go of the chains of hate, anger and pride that would devour you and leave you hollow if you let them. I love The Bronze Bow for many, many reasons. I like the fact that Daniel's change of heart didn't happen overnight. It was like Daniel was beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel, but it was such an unexpected light that he felt he would rather stay in the tunnel. And this is true for a lot of us today. In a world of uncertainty, we would rather be scoffers than believers. We would rather dwell in despair than hold on to hope. Because belief is too risky, and hope all too easily dashed. And this, I think, is what I love most about The Bronze Bow. It shows that following Jesus is an act of courage. Being His disciple would mean leaving the security of the world behind; it would mean turning your back on what you thought you knew and believing what you don't understand very well; it would mean taking up your own cross without knowing if you could carry it to the end. Not a lot of people are this brave. Daniel was. And in the end, as he learned to let go of his anger and hate, love started to take root in his heart that was once stone. And he realized that his world was still beautiful, and life still worth living.
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