Recent Reads - Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer

This post contains affiliate links.

Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer by Peggy Miracle Consolver - I received this historical novel about a young Canaanite boy during the time of the Hebrew conquest of the Promised Land for review through the Homeschool Review Crew. The following is an excerpt of my full review, which appeared on my Homeschool Coffee Break blog. Read it here: Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer (A Homeschool Coffee Break Book Review)

This novel focuses on Biblical history, but from a slightly different point of view. It's about the people of Israel conquering Canaan under Joshua's leadership, but most the story is narrated with the focus on a young Canaanite boy named Keshub, the fifth son of a potter in the villages of Gibeon. At thirteen years old, he is anxious to prove himself in training for battle, and he longs for adventure and travel even as he tends his family's sheep and does other chores. They hear rumors and reports of the Hebrew people on the other side of the Jordan, and many of the Canaanite people are preparing to turn back an invading force. Refugees from the areas the Hebrews have already conquered come through Gibeon and cause the men of the village to keep watch and start preparing . . . just in case.

Eventually Keshub does get his wish to travel, and goes to the great city of Jericho with his uncle to do some trading. While there he also gets his wish for adventure granted when he decides to help his friend escape the wicked King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem. The greatest adventures of all are helping to keep watch on the Hebrews and being part of the Gibeonite delegation hoping to make a treaty with the Hebrews. The Bible tells us that Joshua did make a treaty with the Gibeonites, but what might that mean for young Keshub and for his family? Keshub has been a shepherd, a potter, and a spy; and his baba (father) believes in a Star Namer. Will they find the Star Namer in their adventures? Could the Star Namer be the God of the Hebrews?

This story did a masterful job of imagining who the Gibeonites were and how they arrived at the decision to take the chance that Israel would believe their ruse. The author's in-depth research led her to create the characters, setting, and background for the Gibeonites that is fictional but rooted in the Bible and in archaeological discoveries. Her tale stays true to the Biblical account and doesn't toy with the Scriptures. Overall, this is a very engaging and well-written story, with a likable main character that faces many challenges similar to today's kids. In a way, it's also a coming-of-age type story. Although suitable for middle school and up, the rich detail in story-telling makes it a rather 'dense' reading experience, so I'd recommend it for high school and up.

From Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer (A Homeschool Coffee Break Book Review) on Homeschool Coffee Break.

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/