From BookJive
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| Edition: | Sandpiper (Paperback) |
| Author: | Elizabeth George Speare |
| Published: | September 1997 |
| Pages: | 256 |
| ISBN 10: | 0395137195 |
| New: | $3.81 (59) |
| Used: | $0.01 (234) |
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This book is set in first century Judaea. The lead character, a young man named Daniel Bar Jamin, grows up at the same time as Jesus of Nazareth.
Daniel's father was crucified in front of him by the Roman occupiers (as his uncle did not have money to pay the tax) so even at the age of eight, he immediately hates and distrusts the Romans and vows that he will avenge his father. His mother dies of grief after her husband's death. Daniel's younger sister Leah is emotionally traumatized by these events and never leaves the house. The children are both taken in by their grandmother, but as she becomes ill and more poor over the years, she sells Daniel to Amalek the blacksmith. Daniel escapes his cruel master, running away to the mountains where he meets Rosh, the leader of an outlaw band of rebels.
Several years after these events, he meets two old childhood friends: Joel bar Hezron and his twin sister Malthace. Joel wants to join Daniel, but must obey his father.
One of Rosh's missions has Daniel capturing a slave. The crew names him Samson (a character in the Bible ) for his brute strength. Samson sees Daniel as his leader and follows him. Daniel leaves and returns to the camp a few times. One day, Simon (a blacksmith) comes to tell Daniel his grandmother is dying. He returns to his village of Ketzah and sees his grandmother. She passes on and Daniel is left in charge of Leah. Later, Simon tells Daniel he is going to follow Jesus and leaves Daniel in charge of his shop. Daniel and Leah move. One day in the shop a Roman soldier who is younger than Daniel comes and sees Leah. Daniel gets mad about this. The story ends with Jesus healing Leah from her demons.
