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The Bronze Bow

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 7,993 ratings · 887 reviews

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. –from the Song of David (2 Samuel 22:35)
The Bronze Bow, written by Elizabeth George Speare (author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond) won the Newbery Medal in 1962. This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his f...more

Paperback, 254 pages

Published September 1st 1997 by Sandpiper (first published 1961)

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Sep 20, 2007 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 13 And Up

Shelves: historicalfiction

After witnessing his father's crucifixion by Roman soldiers, Daniel bar Jamin is fired by a single passion: to avenge his father's death by driving the Roman legions form the land of Israel. Consumed by hatred, Daniel joins the brutal raids of an outlaw band living in the hills outside his village. Though his grandmother's death slows his plans by forcing him to move home to care for his sister, he continues his dangerous life by leading a group of boy guerrillas in spying and plotting, impatien...more

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Aug 11, 2008 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Angela by: Joleene Mills, Springtown Book Club

Shelves: historical-fiction, religion, wishlist

What a beautiful book! I am so thrilled that it won a Newbery medal. Daniel (the main character) is aloof, sullen, and passionate - almost enough to become frustrating to the reader... except that he has a tenderness and a deep sense of responsibility that he gives reign to just often enough that you can't help but admire and cheer for him. His character progression is gradual, sincere, and believable.

Also, I was fascinated to read a story with such a unique perspective on the life of Jesus Chri...more

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Nov 30, 2007 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone AND anyone :)

The story of a young Jewish boy, living with a group of Jewish outlaws, awaiting the coming of the Savior (whom they believe will save them from political opression). But when the boy actually meets Jesus Christ, and listens to his teachings, he battles with his faith. He's torn between the kind of salvation Christ is offering, versus the political freedom he thought the Savior would offer.

This story is captivating in the sense that everyone thinks that if they lived in the time of Christ, and...more

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Apr 24, 2009 Josiah rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW. WOW. WOW. And WOW again.
I have high expectations (almost unrealistically so) whenever I read a book by Elizabeth George Speare, but each of her books that I have read has met and exceeded these high hopes.
The magnitude of "The Bronze Bow" is staggering. I can only compare the feel of sheer importance of the story to "Johnny Tremain", but I would contend that this one even surpasses that classic in terms of importance of the plot.
There is a pulsating electricity beneath the words of Eliz...more

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Nov 20, 2008 Meridth Gimbel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, classics

Absolutely inspiring! This is the perfect book to get prepped for the Christmas season. Not only did I love the uplifting story about a young Jewish rebel during the time of Jesus...but I also was really delighted in all the historically accurate details that the author included. Totally delightful book.

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Apr 20, 2009 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book because of the portrayal of the subjection of the Jewish nation to Rome. They hated it and The Bronze Bow makes it easy enough for a child to understand their contempt. Add to this the expectation of a deliverer or a Messiah, and the reader gets a better notion of the great demands the Jewish people made of Jesus Christ. I was left with a better understanding of their disappointment when he didn't turn out to be the great "king" they were hoping for, and why it took such grea...more

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Aug 21, 2007 Natasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

another one of my favs... oh I love this book!

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Sep 10, 2008 Annalisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Annalisa by: book club

Shelves: religion-philosophy, young-adult, book-club

This book was so not what I expected. In fact, this is the second book in a row I've expected to be an American Indian tale from the title. That's the fun of not checking out the blurbs on a book: you get to be surprised.

This story is actually set in the time of Christ. The main character, Daniel, is a Jewish rebel (zealot) living in the mountains waiting for the opportune time, or person, to banish the Romans from Jerusalem. It was interesting to see the expectancy for a Messiah who would be a...more This book was so not what I expected. In fact, this is the second book in a row I've expected to be an American Indian tale from the title. That's the fun of not checking out the blurbs on a book: you get to be surprised.

This story is actually set in the time of Christ. The main character, Daniel, is a Jewish rebel (zealot) living in the mountains waiting for the opportune time, or person, to banish the Romans from Jerusalem. It was interesting to see the expectancy for a Messiah who would be a warrior to overthrow the Roman Empire, a concept we often forget. As well as the good of the Pharises, a word we take to be synonymous with hypocrite. The assumptions we have about Christ today with 2000 years of hindsight are easily taken for granted, particularly the completion of the highly honored law of Moses with the new gospel he spread and the understanding of two Messianic visits: one as a spiritual salvation and the other a physical one. Speare did an excellent job showcasing Jewish tradition and law and how the unexpected messages of love and acceptance would have been strange and contrary to what the Jews were waiting for. I really enjoyed the well-researched picture she presented of Jewish life at the time of Christ and that despite the religious undertones of the book, it is not a preachy sermon but a fictional tale.

Daniel has found a reason to live in his plans for revenge on the Romans by whom he has felt wronged. During his work to rile the people against the Romans he happens across some of Jesus' sermons. It was interesting to see the sermons of Christ from a third-party almost uninterested party as he happens upon glimpses of healings and messages received in this ingrained Jewish tradition mindset instead of the Christian ingrained tradition with which we read his passages. We as readers also get a feel for how hard it was to see Jesus for the throngs of followers. In the scriptures we only see the stories of those who push their way to the front of the crowd, not those in the back left wanting a glimpse of the prophet.

Faced with the options of giving up on everything that has made his existence important to find healing in peace or continuing on the path his life has lead him, Daniel struggles to accept the message that the Romans deserve love and that maybe hate isn't a savior. He must compare Jesus' soft-spoken inactive message with Rosh, the robber he has grown up believing is the physical Messiah foretold in scripture.

But hate however worthy of a cause it may start off with is never a strong enough motive to keep one altruistic. Rosh has turned from idealist out to save his people to embittered thief who preys on his own people for sustenance because he resents the Jews paying taxes to the Romans as much as the Romans themselves. Hate is all consuming and if left to fest, it will consume. Daniel's justifications for hating the Romans starts off as understandable (although I sympathized with the Romans too) and progresses to a blind fury where he is blaming the Romans for incidents in which he was more to blame than them. I was often exasperated at Daniel for holding onto his hate, but I don't think it's unrealistic to give up something you have blindly followed for so long.

Sometimes the messages we least expect are the hardest ones to accept. To change everything we have taken as given takes a large mental u-turn and a lot of humility. Like the rich man who could not give up all he owns to follow Christ, Daniel does not know if he can give up all his righteous indignation, particularly for someone so prideful. The realization that Christ may be the chosen Messiah and maybe his message of love is the salvation for which he has been waiting comes gradually to Daniel. He must weigh his personal salvation against the vow his has made to save his people from bondage. And he must give up on everything he has fought his entire life for in order to accept the message. Even though it is not as big of a shock or as large of a leap for us today, the message still remains the same: love heals all. Can we give up our own odious grips to allow forgiveness to give us peace?(less)

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Nov 25, 2007 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars

The only thing I knew about this book when I started it was that it had won the Newberry medal; my copy had no synopsis. A chapter or two in, it sounded like it was set around the time of Jesus, then it turns out that's when it is actually set.
This helped me understand the perspective of the zealots occasionally mentioned in the New Testament. For some reason, I was completely unclear on the concept of what the Jewish zealots were as a group of people at the time of Christ. I especially was im...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Gale rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "FOR GOD'S VICTORY!"

This is a suprisingly serious story for YOung Adults, with a gripping plot about brutality in ancient Palestine. I feel this book is really more for adults that for children because the protagonist is already 18 at the outset, doing a man's job (blacksmith/bandit). The themes of hatred and revenge are adult as well. We read of the espionage adventures of four Hebrew teens, struggling to maintain their Jewish heritage and national identity in the face of ruthless Roman occupa...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare has to be among the finest examples of historical fiction I have read. This book, which takes place in Galilee around 33 AD, chronicles the experience of Daniel a Jewish boy living under the Roman Empire. Daniel bar Jamin is eighteen years old when the story opens, living outside of the village of Ketzah in the Galilean Desert he has joined a band of Zealots fighting the Roman Empire. At 18, Daniel is the youngest member of the band. He is an outlaw hims...more The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare has to be among the finest examples of historical fiction I have read. This book, which takes place in Galilee around 33 AD, chronicles the experience of Daniel a Jewish boy living under the Roman Empire. Daniel bar Jamin is eighteen years old when the story opens, living outside of the village of Ketzah in the Galilean Desert he has joined a band of Zealots fighting the Roman Empire. At 18, Daniel is the youngest member of the band. He is an outlaw himself when the story begins as he has escaped the abusive and contentious apprenticeship he had been forced into. Because Daniel did not complete his apprenticeship according to the terms of the indenture agreement, beat his master, and escaped he was an outcast. When Daniel escaped his apprenticeship, he exchanged one master for another, the leader of the band of zealots, Rosh. Himself more of a thug then a leader. He had been living in the mountains outside of Ketzah for five years leaving behind a sister and a grandmother. Daniel’s sister’s name is Leah. Because he is not in the village to provide for his grandmother and sister with the benefits of the apprenticeship, his family is living in abject poverty. Daniel’s grandmother is a gleaner, meaning she follows behind those who harvest grain, gathering what falls out of baskets or arms for her own use. According to Jewish Law, when grain or any produce fall it is to be left on the ground for the poor and elderly to gather for their own purpose.
Daniel’s parents died before the story opens, his father from trying to rescue his brother and Daniel’s favorite uncle; his mother from the broken heart she suffered as a result of her husbands death. Daniel’s sister Leah has her own emotional issues. A deep-seated fear from having witnessed her father’s death and mother’s decline. She is affected by these, crippling her emotionally and psychologically regarding relating to all those except those most familiar to her. The resulting anger Daniel experiences as a result of his being orphaned fuels his passion, decision making, and relationships through out the book.
Daniel meets Joel and his sister Malthace early in the story. They are the children of a leading Pharisee, one of the priestly classes in Jewish society. These men studied, interpreted and enforced the law with the help of temple and synagogue police. Their word was final. They were students of the Law, preached the Law, and held Jewish society accountable to the Law as they interpreted it. Joel and his sister are among the privileged and therefore would have no reason to associate with Daniel. The caste lines in Ancient Jewish society were clearly drawn and seldom crossed. The unlikely friendship that develops between Daniel and Joel is the substance of this work. When Daniel’s grandmother dies, he is forced from a sense of duty to abandon the band of zealots and care for his sister and take over the blacksmith shop of the village smith, Simon. Later to be called Simon the Zealot. Simon has abandoned his work to follow a carpenter and rabbi from Nazareth who has been preaching and teaching by the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The carpenter’s name – Jesus. The image of the bronze bow, a reference to Scripture, becomes the symbol of strength and courage. The question develops, where does the strength necessary to bend the bronze bow come from; is it physical, spiritual, or emotional?
As Daniel grows into his new role and village smith and caretaker for his sister he begins to change his thinking and attitude towards the village, its citizens, the band of zealots and Rosh. The friendship that develops between Joel and Daniel, his sister and Joel’s sister challenges Daniel’s thinking and behavior. Through out the book Daniel’s temper continually puts him and his family at risk for harm. His blind hatred for the Romans causes Daniel to make rash decisions, harsh statements, and foolish behaviors placing himself, his sister, and his village at risk for harm. Daniel is constantly challenged to change his thinking, develop understanding, and acquire compassion. As Daniel walks the lines between responsible caregiver, loyal zealot, business man, and friend; the men following the carpenter from Galilee also challenge Daniel to think beyond his short sightedness, forgive the Romans and embrace a different way of thinking and living.
Daniel’s comes to recognize the person of Jesus as the One who was promised to lead the Jews from captivity. His disappointment in Jesus’s message of peace challenges Daniel’s thinking. When Joel finds himself in trouble with the Romans, Daniel needs to decide which course of action is better, self-preservation or self sacrifice. His ultimate decision will affect his life but the life of those around and closest to him.
Elizabeth George Speare received the Newbery Award for excellence in Children’s Literature in 1962 for her portrayal of Daniel bar Jamin, his sister Leah, Joel, Malthace, the disciples and Apostles of Jesus Christ and the experience of the Jews under Roman rule. Her writing accurately depicts the situation of the Jewish People during the time of Christ. The overwhelming desire that the Jews had for a Savior, a Messiah who would lead them out from under Roman rule as a leader, a general leading an army of Jews to conquer the conquerors. And the disappointment when their savior was a carpenter who taught peace and forgiveness. Daniel represents the conflicted nature of the Early Christians who, at first, resisted the message of Jesus but then accepted it. One of the over riding themes in this book is that of slow change being the best change. The zealots could have won the battle of Roman domination but would they have won lasting peace? Through out early Judeo-Christian history there are accounts of small uprisings of bands of Jewish zealots attacking the Romans; these are depicted in the story. Speare introduces her readers to people and places who make real the facts of history woven into a story that is a coming of age story, and story of loyalty and friendship, of loss and acceptance as Daniel grows into a young man.
Elizabeth George Speare is best known for The Witch of Blackbird Pond another work of historical fiction depicting the struggles of 17th century Connecticut settlers. Most of her work connects readers to the struggles of pioneers and settlers in North America. The Bronze Bow departs from her usual theme in a dramatic and most effective manner. Speare was awarded the Newbery Medal for The Witch of Blackbird Pond first in 1959 and established herself as one of the pre-eminent writers of historical fiction of the time. The body of Newbery Medal books from 1950 – 1959 set the standard for historical fiction in children’s and middle grade literature. As a two time Newbery Medal winner and Newbery Honor winner for The Sign of The Beaver, Speare became the writer by which the works of Avi, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Christopher Collier are measured. Speare was from Melrose, Massachusetts and in 1984 was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for Lifetime achievement. She died in 1994.
This is an incredible story especially for boys. The challenges experienced by Daniel and his friends, the need for acceptance, the resistance to growing up and becoming adults are the same struggles experienced by most teen boys. The fact that the American Library Association took an incredible risk in awarding the medal to a work so squarely Christian based speaks to the level of accomplishment the book maintain. Although this book may not work in most public schools, it would be most appropriate for parochial schools as both an example of Christian teaching, historical situations, and the themes of growing up and self-sacrifice. Teachers should be able to use this text as a representative text for early Judeo- Christian history as well as using literature to determine a theme in a story, how characters relate, comparing and contrasting characters, how the elements of the story and the chapters fit together, and describing the narrators point of view. Speare’s language, tone, and descriptive text make this story one that students can easily visualize and describe the plot and theme as well as the historical significance of the text. (CCSS 5.RL.1 – 10).
This is an exemplar text for historical fiction outside the realm of US history. This text exposes readers to the situations, times, and struggles of a period of ancient near east history often over looked.
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Dec 23, 2012 Ann Carpenter rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery, historical

I approached this book, winner of the 1962 Newbery Award, with equal parts anticipation and trepidation. On the one hand, this was the author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, one of my all-time favorite Newbery books. On the other hand, it was going to be a historical novel where one of the characters was Jesus.

In the end, I thought the book was interesting, but nowhere near as good as its sister book. The characters are well drawn, with clear personality traits, multiple and complex goals. The...more I approached this book, winner of the 1962 Newbery Award, with equal parts anticipation and trepidation. On the one hand, this was the author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, one of my all-time favorite Newbery books. On the other hand, it was going to be a historical novel where one of the characters was Jesus.

In the end, I thought the book was interesting, but nowhere near as good as its sister book. The characters are well drawn, with clear personality traits, multiple and complex goals. The setting was clearly delineated, with various characters portraying what appeared to me (with very little Biblical knowledge) to be period attitudes and understandings of what was going on. Jesus is a major character in terms of his influence on others, but he himself only has a few pages of screentime, and much of that is involved in Daniel's disappointment that Jesus is not ready to begin the fight to overthrow the Romans through violence.

I was intrigued by the conversation about how "many people don't want to be well" and that that is partially why not everyone is healed by Jesus. It is certainly true that there are occasionally hysterics for whom there is no physical reason for their sickness or lameness or blindness. But such cases are fairly rare. I wondered how a child reading the book who has a serious illness or was born with a physical disability might react to the idea that it's all just in their heads and they don't really want to be well.

The sister, Leah, did not ring completely true for me. She is "possessed by demons" after a traumatic experience at the age of five. Granted she was young and no one did anything to help her through the trauma, but she seems far more scarred by the experience than one would expect. I also did not believe that she would shrink back from every single person, yet have no problem speaking to Marcus over the wall.

Daniel is an unrelentingly angry young man. I can understand why he feels that way (although at the same time, I also think the Romans were at least somewhat justified in their actions. His uncle broke the law, his father broke the law, people were hurt. Punishment was inevitable, and, while harsh in the extreme, was also within the bounds of the cultural expectations.) His hatred and refusal to see any other perspective was grating after awhile, his entire life consumed by hate. It was interesting to read this book, set in Palestine, about a Jewish boy enraged by the occupation of his homeland by enemies when there is so much unrest in that part of the world now with the Jews being the occupiers. (less)

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Dec 13, 2012 Evan Graff added it

Bronze Bow

Elizabeth George Speare

The story is about a boy named Daniel that lived on a hill for about 5 years and joins a band to fight the romans and Daniel joins to avenge his parents. Daniel seemed very credible when they said that he wants to avenge his parents. Daniel tries to go off and fight for israel’s freedom and kill the ones that murdered his parents. Daniel ran into a problem where one of the people in his group was kidnapped by the romans and he was named the new leader of the ban...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Esther rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 13-25

In the ancient time of Jesus Christ's ministry, a young boy named Daniel is trying to find his place in the world. After quitting his apprenticeship with an abusive blacksmith, Daniel runs away to the mountains where the bandits live. He believes in the cause which they say they are fighting toward, which is ridding Jerusalem of the Romans. When he encounters two friends from his past life, his sureness in the way the bandits are fighting begins to waver, especially when he hears of the new teac...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Tamsen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I stumbled upon this book and what a treasure. I loved it! It is a Historical fiction on how hate can affect you and those around you and how love can soften hearts. I felt like it was very well written.
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. –from the Song of David (2 Samuel 22:35) This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Bekah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Set in 1st century Judea in the little Jew village of Ketzah, Elizabeth George Speare author of The Bronze Bow skillfully leads her readers through the story of Daniel bar Jamin. Daniel struggles between his hate for the oppressing Romans and love for his challenged sister Leah. Readers clearly see his transformation as they read this fantastic piece of historic fiction.
The theme throughout this book is obviously loving your enemies. At one point in the book Daniel is talking to Jesus, and Jesu...more Set in 1st century Judea in the little Jew village of Ketzah, Elizabeth George Speare author of The Bronze Bow skillfully leads her readers through the story of Daniel bar Jamin. Daniel struggles between his hate for the oppressing Romans and love for his challenged sister Leah. Readers clearly see his transformation as they read this fantastic piece of historic fiction.
The theme throughout this book is obviously loving your enemies. At one point in the book Daniel is talking to Jesus, and Jesus says “Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy?...Hate does not die with killing…The only thing stronger than hate is love.” He then asks if Daniel is willing to give up his hate. Speare weaves this theme into all the different parts of the book; whether it’s to Daniel or his friends.
I have loved this book ever since I first read it. Speare lets you grow with the characters as you read. She doesn’t tell the readers right out how a certain character acts; they get to find out for themselves. That’s part of why I liked it, it’s more of an adventure that way. Another reason I love this book is because of the characters. She has so many different people thrown together; a girl who loves being outdoors, a girl who is scared of everything, a boy versed in the scriptures, and a boy who couldn’t care less. With that cast makes the entire book more enjoyable and easier to connect to. The only thing that could’ve improved the book is the reading level. It’s not difficult to read.
Though it’s a fairly easy read (probably 5th grade and up), it holds interest to anyone who enjoys history. It is fiction, but it’s set in the time when Jesus was ministering to the Jews and Gentiles, so it has familiar stories from the New Testament. I loved reading what Daniel thought of the miracles Jesus performed and how he explained those to Leah. One of her favorites was the story of Jesus raising a girl from the dead, “Tell it again Daniel!”.
And that’s exactly how I feel after I finish The Bronze Bow. “Tell it again!” As soon as I finish the tale I want to read it again. There is never a dull moment, and entrances me until the end. It really does touch my heart and I would suggest it to everyone.
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Aug 14, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, tween-books

I would recommend this book to children because of how it makes the New Testament come to life. Although the story is not very engaging at the beginning and this book does not get really interesting until about the middle, it does a very good job of putting the reader in the shoes of someone who lived during the time of Jesus. It is easy for children to understand what it would have been like for the people back then because they are presented with so many different personal perspectives. This b...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Hillary Muller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-literature-13-25, ya-literature-class

The Bronze Bow is about young Daniel bar Jamin, a Jewish boy sworn to rid Israel of the hated Romans. After his parents die because of the Roman occupation, Daniel runs away from his grandmother and incapacitated sister, to live with the bandit and Zealot Rosh in the mountains. He is quite happy there nursing his hatred against the Romans and doing everything he can to fight against them. Then his grandmother dies and he is forced to come back to the village to care for his incapacitated sister....more

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Mar 16, 2012 Tiina rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is such a good book, especially to read aloud with your kids near Easter time.

The Bronze Bow is a historical fiction set during Christ's ministry. The focus of the story is a teen aged boy whose parents were killed by the hated Roman occupiers. Daniel is bent on avenging his parent's deaths by joining a revolt against Rome. But his young sister needs his help, so he is torn between a perceived duty to his country's freedom and duty to his family's needs. Brushes with Jesus make Daniel wond...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Lissa Chandler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery, historical-fiction

I have really mixed feelings about stories that fictionalize Jesus since religion is interpreted so differently on an individual basis, but I love how Speare wove this story. Daniel can be a little hard to understand at times, but I love that he's trying to do the best that he can do, even though he has one of the hottest tempers I've ever read about or seen in real life. Also, I loved the women in this book, especially Leah. Her character development absolutely fascinated me. Not gonna lie, tho...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Kathy Cowley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, religious, ya-mg

This book reminds me of Ben-Hur. Except without the chariot racing (which is one of the most spectacular scenes in film history). Published in 1961, two years after Ben-Hur's cinematic debut, The Bronze Bow tells the story of a Jew, Daniel bar Jamin, who is filled with anger at what the Romans have done to his family. Also like in Ben Hur, the main character's life intersects at several key points with the life of Christ, and is made better for it.

I'd call this historical religious fiction, a g...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Monica! rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: manly-man-man-man, the-nothingness-shows-through, a-damn-dim-candle, winning-is-for-winners, reasonably-realistic, meh, read-in-2011

I sort of hate to give this book two stars, because it’s a Newbery Award Winner, but at the same time... it’s a Newbery Award Winner?! 1962, what were you thinking?! I mean, this is the same year Gregory Peck won an Oscar for his epic portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and we couldn’t do any better that year for the Newbery than The Bronze Bow? Eh.

My feelings for this man are absolutely out of control.

My biggest problem is with the protagonist himself. Daniel is so whiny, and s...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Emily Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This novel is extraordinary. I first read it in high school and I've read it a million times since then, and this piece of fiction for young people has changed for the better the way I understand and view my faith. How many YA books can you say that about?

The book, written by the author of the also-fabulous Witch of Blackbird Pond, is set in first-century Galilee and follows the story of a boy named Daniel who, after a family tragedy, swears to rid the land of its Roman conquerors or die trying....more This novel is extraordinary. I first read it in high school and I've read it a million times since then, and this piece of fiction for young people has changed for the better the way I understand and view my faith. How many YA books can you say that about?

The book, written by the author of the also-fabulous Witch of Blackbird Pond, is set in first-century Galilee and follows the story of a boy named Daniel who, after a family tragedy, swears to rid the land of its Roman conquerors or die trying. Befriending two siblings who move to Capernaum, however, brings him into contact with the much-talked-of teacher from Nazareth who preaches love and forgiveness. Daniel has to decide which he wants more: the peace that Jesus offers or revenge against the Romans.

As a piece of historical fiction the book is excellent, giving extensive detail about life in Roman-occupied Galilee without ever feeling like an encyclopedia entry (or worse, feeling like the author wanted to prove how clever she was and how much research she'd done). The characters are believable and likable--even when you want to shake Daniel for being so obstinate, you're still cheering for him to find his way--and the writing style is clear and forthright.

And the story is quite wonderful, in its small, slice-of-life, understated way. Seeing the mindset of the Jews at the time, the way they interpreted the existing scripture, helped me understand why so many people did not accept Christ when he came. The portrayal of the day-to-day life of the Savior and of the people who followed him gives an interesting new perspective to familiar New Testament stories. And Daniel's road to conversion is so beautiful; it gets to me every time I read it. On one level it's about a boy finding a new way to live and love and forgive through Jesus, but on another level it's about any of us stumbling through life, trying to come to the Savior and discovering that we're going to have to give away all our sins and anger and hatred to know Him.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in what life was like at the time of Jesus and anyone who wants a work of well-written religious fiction that is inspiring without being sappy.(less)

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Mar 03, 2011 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teens-as-protagonist, top-10-favorite-novels, ideas

The climax to this book doesn't really hit until the very last line of the very last page. However if you read the last page like I did before you finish the book you won't see it. The author builds up the characters with painstaking attention to detail. The plot surrounds the bitterness the main character holds towards the occupying Roman forces in Israel. His determination to fight to the death affects everyone around him. In the book he learns that love is stronger than hate. While that lesso...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Cassy Hulse rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-with-reviews

Daniel lives in the dangerous mountains surrounding the village of Metzah, right outside of the city of Capernoum. Making his way through life for the past five years with a gang of bandits, committed to the cause of freeing the jews from the Roman empire, Daniel has had to build up some thick scars, his hands just as calloused as his heart. However, things seem to change when he meets a young man and his sister who are from the village that he ran away from over five years ago.

He ventures back...more Daniel lives in the dangerous mountains surrounding the village of Metzah, right outside of the city of Capernoum. Making his way through life for the past five years with a gang of bandits, committed to the cause of freeing the jews from the Roman empire, Daniel has had to build up some thick scars, his hands just as calloused as his heart. However, things seem to change when he meets a young man and his sister who are from the village that he ran away from over five years ago.

He ventures back home, and visits his young, troubled, sickly sister and his aging, fragile grandmother who are living in poverty. It's then that he hears of a traveling Rabi, Jesus, and wonders if this could possibly be the man who will finally lead them to war against the Romans. As Daniel tries to provide for his sister, keep his friends safe, and figure out a way to seek revenge on the Romans, Daniel may have to learn that love is a much stronger force than hatred could ever be.

A book is only as good as its characters, and I must say that I do like all of the characters in this book . . . except for the main one. I spent nearly five hours of my life following Daniel through his adventures and tribulations, and I will never get them back. If I hadn't been reading this book for an assignment, I wouldn't have finished it (which is very unlike me). I seriously wanted to slam the book shut, curse the stupid guy and go on living my life is peace and bliss, where the "Daniels" of the world are all fiction (at least, in my life).

The first 3/4 of the book were pretty good, and I actually really enjoyed it. It was the last few chapters that I couldn't get through. Let me explain: In stories, the main character has a "character arch." Usually they start really low, and through obstacles and sacrifices and such, they finish at the end, a changed person. The character we started with isn't the same one we end up with. When you're reading the book, just as you can see him changing and evolving into the person you want to see and he's starting to see the things that you've been telling him the whole story, he does something completely opposite of where he's headed, turning back into the character that we started with. It's not until the very last two pages, that we finally see the person we've been waiting for him to be, and it's not even of his own accord. Every good writer knows that the protagonist needs to decide their fate. Whether it's a sad or happy one, the character makes the choice. This is not the case. Someone else had to do all the action for his sorry whiny stubborn butt to be grateful and a happy, changed person.
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Apr 03, 2013 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-to-reread-again

Daniel is Jew right around 30 A.D. and he was sold to the blacksmith to be his apprentice, but eventually he just had to run away. He finds himself on the nearby mountain, fostered by Rosh, who is a thief and zealot willing to fight against the Roman Empire. He’s a hero in Daniel’s eyes and Daniel starts his life as the outlaw and feeds the flames of hatred against the Romans what they’ve done to him. Then years later, siblings Joel and Malthace wander to the mountain bringing friendship and new...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Rozey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: eng-356-books-13-25

Newbery Award

Daniel ben Jarmin has one mission in life: to avenge the death of his father at the hands of the Romans. Daniel has spent the last five years hiding in a cave on a mountain near the village he grew up in. A visit from an old friend takes him home to visit his grandmother and younger sister but he cannot adjust to life in the village and soon returns to his mountain and the man who promises to free Galilea from its Roman opressors. When word reaches Daniel of his grandmother's death,...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Shawn Thrasher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Elizabeth George Speare, if anything, is a meticulous writer. After all, she only wrote four books - two of which won the prestigious Newbery Award. I enjoyed The Bronze Bow in spite of myself - Christian historical fiction would not usually have been my first choice of subject matter, but I had read somewhere it was a good book (it was indeed) and came away pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed and how moving I found the book. I thought Speare did a great job of capturing what it meant to...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Kurt rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think I read this for a class in junior high, before I was a Christian, and I didn't really catch that it was about Jesus. When I found it for almost nothing in a used book store almost twenty years later, I bought it for nostalgia, and I have been pleasantly surprised. This is not exactly classic literature. The book, a story of a young man desperate for Israel's freedom at the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, is aimed at a young adult audience, and the dialogue is awkward and direct as a res...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-lit

Summary: Daniel's family has been torn apart by the Roman soldiers who invaded his village in Jerusalem. He loses his father to the soldiers and his mother to her grief. Even his little sister was forever changed by this tragedy. Now Daniel is consumed by his hatred for the invaders and will stop at nothing to avenge his parents death and his sister's insanity. He begins to follow a well-known bandit named Rosh. Others see his as a tyrant, but Daniel see's him as their captain of war. He makes f...more Summary: Daniel's family has been torn apart by the Roman soldiers who invaded his village in Jerusalem. He loses his father to the soldiers and his mother to her grief. Even his little sister was forever changed by this tragedy. Now Daniel is consumed by his hatred for the invaders and will stop at nothing to avenge his parents death and his sister's insanity. He begins to follow a well-known bandit named Rosh. Others see his as a tyrant, but Daniel see's him as their captain of war. He makes friends with the wealthy children of a Jewish family. They start to change his plans when he grows closer to them and see's that there is more to live for than vengeance. Jesus Christ, known to many at that time as the Messiah, has also planted a seed of doubt about his vow so full of hatred. Daniel struggles throughout the book with a devotion to those he loves versus a devotion to the bloody cause he insists on fighting for.
Insights: After reading this book I now have a new favorite to be added to my list. I have never been so intrigued by a main character. Every action Daniel takes for and against the cause of his vow has so much more behind it than vengeance. I could tell that this character was held back by the love for those around him from the very beginning. This is a classic case of "a cuddly, big bear," and a "bark worse than his bite." I found myself filled with hate, love, then hate again, and then filled with understanding for Daniel as he struggled with the responsibility he gave himself that no one should have to bear. I thought this book was intriguing but also very touching. I almost cried many times, both in happiness and in sadness. All of the scenes with Jesus Christ were inspiring and left a warm feeling in my heart. This book is definitely for the religious at heart. The ending was possibly the best part of the book. I have never read a better ending than the one given in this book.
Bad Stuff: There is none. If I missed a couple swear words, I apologize. The only thing I would warn about is that Atheists should not read this book. If you don't think that a belief in God can bring miracles, than this book will go right over your head. (less)

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About Elizabeth George Speare

I was born in Melrose, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1908. I have lived all my life in New England, and though I love to travel I can't imagine ever calling any other place on earth home. Since I can't remember a time when I didn't intend to write, it is hard to explain why I took so long getting around to it in earnest. But the years seemed to go by very quickly. In 1936 I married Alden Speare a...more

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Quotes from The Bronze Bow

“Daniel, he said. I would have you follow me.

Master!....I will fight for you to the end!.

My loyal friend, he said, I would ask something much harder than that. Would you love for me to the end?

...I don't understand, he said again, You tell people about the kingdom. Are we not to fight for it?

The kingdom is only bought at a great price, Jesus said. There was one who came just yesterday and wanted to follow me. He was very rich, and when I asked him to give up his wealth, he went away.

I will give you everything I have!

....Riches are not keeping you from the kingdom, he said. You must give up your hate.” — 8 people liked it

“The impression of strength came from an extraordinary vitality that seemed to pulse in the very air around him” — 5 people liked it

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