The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow was written in the scene of Jerusalem during the time of Christ. Alot of this book was in the perspective of a boy by the name of Daniel bar Jamin, in the third person.

Characters:

Joel

Daniel

Rosh

Sampson (stolen, then freed slave)

Leah

Malthace

Jesus

Simon

Summary: Daniel is living on a mountainside above the town of Galilee in Israel, because he has run away from his abusive teacher, who was teaching him blacksmithing. He suddenly spots two people, a brother and sister, when the girl speaks he recognizes the voice from the town he used to live in. Eventually the three sit down together and eat a picnic the girl had prepared, he soon learned that their names were Malthace and Joel. He also learned that his grandmother and sister Leah were not doing very well and that Leah wouldn’t even leave the house. When visiting his grandmother and sister he went to hear a man by the name of Jesus speak, it was weird to Daniel the calmness, peace, and persuasiveness of this man but it angered him because he didn’t understand how this man did not have an intense hatred for the Romans. While he was on that mountain he joined a band of men, that stole only from the rich, led by a man named Rosh. These men were extremely against the Romans who were ruling at this time and when Daniel chose to join them he chose to “live by the sword.” Soon, within a few years, he discovered the meaning of the phrase if “you live by the sword, you die by the sword.” When he began to lose and harm everyone that he was close to, he had lost Rosh, Joel, Thacia (Malthace), Simon, a leader in his hometown, Jesus, and was starting to lose Leah, who was sick (possessed by demons) when Jesus came, he healed Leah and got Daniel to accept and follow him.

Quotes: “He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” (247)

“Leah, like Samson, had perished by the sword he meant for Rome.” (248)

“Unable to endure that smile, Daniel bent his head. Suddenly, with a longing that was more than he could bear, he wanted to stop fighting against this man. He knew that he would give everything he possessed  in life to follow Jesus” (252)

Author & Sources: Elizabeth George Speare, was an American writer of children's books, best known for historical novels including two Newbery Medal winners. She has been called one of America's 100 most popular writers for children and some of her work has become mandatory reading in many schools throughout the nation. Indeed, because her books have sold so well she is also cited as one of the Educational Paperback Association's top 100 authors.

Critique: the historical aspect of the story was very accurate from the hot headed nature of the Galileans to the attitude of the Zealots and Roman soldiers.