32nd out of 90 books
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1,582 voters
The Bronze Bow
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
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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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
Aug 11, 2008
Angela
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Angela by:
Joleene Mills, Springtown Book Club
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
Also, I was fascinated to read a story with such a unique perspective on the life of Jesus Chri...more
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
This story is captivating in the sense that everyone thinks that if they lived in the time of Christ, and...more
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
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
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.
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
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 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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The theme throughout this book is obviously loving your enemies. At one point in the book Daniel is talking to Jesus, and Jesu...more
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
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
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
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
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
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
I'd call this historical religious fiction, a g...more
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

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
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
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
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
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
He ventures back...more
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
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
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
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
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
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
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is this a good book? | 26 | 54 | May 03, 2013 11:47am | |
| Rosh | 4 | 20 | Sep 01, 2011 12:36pm |
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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“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
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.”
“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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Sep 08, 2008 12:33pm
Apr 07, 2013 07:16am