A tale of the Exodus that brings Israel’s prophet and people to life.
Documentarian Mokin draws on the Book of Exodus in a novel about a man who learns to balance his love for a woman with his love for his adopted nation and their God.
The life of a young scribe—referred to only as the Egyptian—is irrevocably changed the instant he sees a Habiru woman on the banks of the river. Miryam is sister to Aharon and the prophet Mosheh, who will lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt. When Egypt is struck down, the scribe pursues Miryam, throwing in his lot with the budding nation of Israel. As Israel defies God time and time again, the Egyptian’s commitment to wandering with these troubled people wavers; though he does not question his devotion to Miryam, he questions his place among his adopted nation. Through the eyes of this outsider, readers see the young Israel: rebellious, malcontent and constantly challenging their jealous God. That lens allows Mokin to muse on questions modern readers may have about the actions of God in the Book of Exodus and the harsh punishments he doles out to his chosen people. Though Mokin bends historical details to service the narrative, his clear style and beautifully conceived rendition of the characters—particularly Miryam and Aharon—are sure to draw readers into the world. The book shifts between third-person omniscient narration, which delivers insight into the actions of the Israelites and their prophet, and the journal kept by the Egyptian scribe, allowing Mokin to paint a fuller picture of events while giving readers a character in whom they can invest. This is the Egyptian’s tale, but he is not its protagonist; the conceit fits well with this character’s occupation as a scribe. While not all readers will be drawn in, any with an interest in biblical studies or the history of Egypt, the Middle East and the children of Israel will find much to absorb.
A tale of the Exodus that brings Israel’s prophet and people to life.Pub Date: March 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-1463773915
Page Count: 286
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: May 2, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.
A fifth-grade New Orleans girl discovers a mysterious chrysalis containing an unexpected creature in this middle-grade novel.
Jacquelyn Marie Johnson, called Jackie, is a 10-year-old African-American girl, the second oldest and the only girl of six siblings. She’s responsible, smart, and enjoys being in charge; she likes “paper dolls and long division and imagining things she had never seen.” Normally, Jackie has no trouble obeying her strict but loving parents. But when her potted snapdragon acquires a peculiar egg or maybe a chrysalis (she dubs it a chrysalegg), Jackie’s strong desire to protect it runs up against her mother’s rule against plants in the house. Jackie doesn’t exactly mean to lie, but she tells her mother she needs to keep the snapdragon in her room for a science project and gets permission. Jackie draws the chrysalegg daily, waiting for something to happen as it gets larger. When the amazing creature inside breaks free, Jackie is more determined than ever to protect it, but this leads her further into secrets and lies. The results when her parents find out are painful, and resolving the problem will take courage, honesty, and trust. Dumas (Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest: Episode 5, 2017, etc.) presents a very likable character in Jackie. At 10, she’s young enough to enjoy playing with paper dolls but has a maturity that even older kids can lack. She’s resourceful, as when she wants to measure a red spot on the chrysalegg; lacking calipers, she fashions one from her hairpin. Jackie’s inward struggle about what to obey—her dearest wishes or the parents she loves—is one many readers will understand. The book complicates this question by making Jackie’s parents, especially her mother, strict (as one might expect to keep order in a large family) but undeniably loving and protective as well—it’s not just a question of outwitting clueless adults. Jackie’s feelings about the creature (tender and responsible but also more than a little obsessive) are similarly shaded rather than black-and-white. The ending suggests that an intriguing sequel is to come.
In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943169-32-0
Page Count: 212
Publisher: Plum Street Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.
In the ninth book in the Bluford young-adult series, a young Latino man walks away from violence—but at great personal cost.
In a large Southern California city, 16-year-old Martin Luna hangs out on the fringes of gang life. He’s disaffected, fatherless and increasingly drawn into the orbit of the older, rougher Frankie. When a stray bullet kills Martin’s adored 8-year-old brother, Huero, Martin seems to be heading into a life of crime. But Martin’s mother, determined not to lose another son, moves him to another neighborhood—the fictional town of Bluford, where he attends the racially diverse Bluford High. At his new school, the still-grieving Martin quickly makes enemies and gets into trouble. But he also makes friends with a kind English teacher and catches the eye of Vicky, a smart, pretty and outgoing Bluford student. Martin’s first-person narration supplies much of the book’s power. His dialogue is plain, but realistic and believable, and the authors wisely avoid the temptation to lard his speech with dated and potentially embarrassing slang. The author draws a vivid and affecting picture of Martin’s pain and confusion, bringing a tight-lipped teenager to life. In fact, Martin’s character is so well drawn that when he realizes the truth about his friend Frankie, readers won’t feel as if they are watching an after-school special, but as though they are observing the natural progression of Martin’s personal growth. This short novel appears to be aimed at urban teens who don’t often see their neighborhoods portrayed in young-adult fiction, but its sophisticated characters and affecting story will likely have much wider appeal.
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2004
ISBN: 978-1591940173
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Townsend Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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