The Bronze Bow: A Newbery Award Winner

An incredibly good story. A story of the battle, in one young man's heart, between hate and love. To quote David Crowder, "Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal."

Love this book so much, over the past couple of years bought multiples to gift other children!

Although it would never win the Newbery these days due to its specifically religious content, this story is quite timely in terms of the ongoing struggles in Israel/Palestine (although the tables are turned at this point). The setting is first-century Israel, and we see Jewish society excited about the arrival of a teacher and preacher, Jesus, who, despite his background as a carpenter, teaches with authority and is reputed to heal people.Eighteen-year-old Daniel, a Jewish boy, hates the Romans because of his personal history with them. He joins up with a group of bandit rebels, led by the charismatic Rosh, who live in caves up in the hills. Daniel meets Joel and his sister Malthace (Thacia), siblings from a religious, educated Jewish family, when they explore the hills one day on their holiday. He also befriends Samson, a huge slave, possibly mute, that the rebels "freed" and who latched onto Daniel.Daniel left his family behind when he escaped a cruel apprentice-master to join the rebels: his sister, Leah, traumatized by earlier events, and his elderly grandmother. A major part of the plot revolves around Daniel's inner conflict between his love of the exciting but relatively carefree life with the rebels and his sense of obligation toward his family. Eventually, Joel and Thacia become involved in his family's struggle for survival, as well as in the struggle against the Romans.Throughout, Daniel keeps encountering Jesus, mostly through his friend Simon, the Zealot (also an ironsmith), and his inner conflict widens to include his deep hatred of the Romans and desire for revenge with Jesus' message of forgiveness and peace.This book gave me a different and more human perspective on Jesus; some of the best parts describe a weary Jesus who, nevertheless, takes time for people, especially for a confused Daniel.Speare was masterful in portraying the culture of the time, and the contrast between Daniel (a poor, orphaned ironsmith) and Joel (his friend, son of an influential and wealthy rabbi), as well as their encounters with the impoverished and ignorant "rabble," shows the stratification of that society in a concrete and interesting way.We used this book for a church reading group, and everyone who read it had favorable feedback, although Daniel's truculent, scowling personality grated on at least one reader.

My daughter told me her review of this book. She had to read it for school. She said it started off slow so she thought it was going to be boring. Now she is begging me to read it because she said it was really good.

The book arrived quickly, and I like the print. Not too small and dark enough to read without straining. I would recommend this edition ofthe Newberry Medal winner!

This is a superlative fiction book. Just great. Set in Galilee in the time of Jesus, this is the story of a young Jewish rebel who is won over to the gentle teachings of Jesus. It is not a preachy religious book, however. Daniel, the main character in this story, is picture of what happens when hate takes over your life. He is so full of hatred about the Roman occupation and the oppression of his people that he is blinded to the injustice that his original leader, Rosh, participates in, and the consequences of his absence from his family. He must learn what the responsibilities are and the nature of true leadership while he comes of age.I would recommend this primarily to young men, but young women will enjoy the strong female characters as well. Daniel and Joel will be identified with by young men who read this book. Their spirit and passion are attractive. Every man wants to have a cause so big they can die for it. Though some aspects of the story are a bit predictable they are not melodramatic, but rather heartfelt. Speare does not dip deep into pathos.Quotes:"Daniel bristled. He could not make this girl out. Was she for him or against him?" (79)."He had taken for granted that Leah had lost her wits on the terrible night of her childhood. Was he any better, he thought now with shame, than the neighbors who would have tied her with ropes?" (129)"Strong arms and muscles were easy to find. A fiery spirit was not so common" (137)."With irritation he saw that the water jar was empty and that he would have to stand in line at the well with the snickering women. He bent and picked up the jar, and the bars of his cage slid into place around him" (158).

I did not personally read this book. However, it is a classic and the recipient was grateful.

Read and re-read since my childhood I love this book. I bought this as a gift to pass it on to someone else to love. Which they did.

This was an exciting and moving book that I read with my son. Very emotional and very thoughtful on many different levels. Not sure if my 12 year old son could understand at all the levels but it certainly had an impact.

Loved reading the kindle version of this book. Had a few misspellings but maybe that was in the original? Didn’t distract from the story in any way.

I love reading, and when my teacher read this to us in school it right away went on my Wish List. Well I got it, and I never have been sorry. I like how it starts out, how this boy Daniel, (the story is set back in Bible Times) absolutely hates the Romans. Daniel hates them so much that he'll do anything he can to kill every last one of them, so he joins a band up in the mountains that is preparing to kill the Romans one day. While there, Daniel hears about a man named Jesus. Daniel can't figure Jesus out because Jesus teaches to love your enemies, which is the last thing Daniel wants to do. But in the end, something happens that changes Daniel around, and like Jesus teaches, his heart changes, and he can love the Romans after all.

also this is a great book!!! I love how it ties in the life of Christ with the story of this young boy.