Also by this author: The Promise and the Light: A Christmas Retelling, The Friend Who Forgives Family Bible Devotional: 15 Days Exploring the Story of Peter, The Songs of a Warrior, The Friend Who Forgives Family Bible Devotional: 15 Days Exploring the Story of Peter (Devotions on the cross and forgiveness, for Lent and Easter, ... at home.) (Tales That Tell the Truth), Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer Family Bible Devotional: 15 Days Exploring How We Can Talk with God
Published by Good Book Company on February 1, 2023
Genres: Children's, Bible Stories
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Bible stories from 1 and 2 Samuel brought to life in this dramatic chapter book.
This dramatic retelling of the accounts of the first two kings of Israel follows the intertwining stories of Jonathan, Saul, David and Michal documented in 1 and 2 Samuel.
In this imaginative yet biblically faithful book, readers will find themselves immersed in the hearts and minds of the key players as they experience battles, intrigue, plots, betrayal, love, and friendship.
This resource is a great way to help kids aged 8-12 engage with God’s word. They’ll be left thinking about what it means to trust God and realizing that only Jesus can really be the king God’s people need.
Makes a wonderful gift for children aged 8-12. Includes a Bible-reading plan for the life of David and notes that differentiate the known facts from the imaginative parts. A book club discussion guide is also included. Perfect for homeschool co-ops.
This novel retells the biblical narrative of Saul and David. I previously read Katy Morgan’s Nativity retelling, The Promise and the Light, and this one takes a similar approach. Morgan stays true to the biblical record as much as possible, but fleshes out characterization and internal details to make the story come to life for younger readers. The book includes a reading plan for those who are also interested in delving into the source material in 1 and 2 Samuel, and there are notes at the end where Morgan specifies what she got from the Bible, versus made up or made an interpretive decision about
The publisher is marketing this for ages eight to twelve, and I see this age rating as a loose recommendation. Some eight-year-olds will find this book too dense for them, since it’s about 275 pages long with fairly small text, but some teens may greatly enjoy this. The Songs of a Warrior: Saul and David: A Retelling is an engaging read, and although it sometimes includes graphic depictions of violence, this all reflects details from the Bible. Parents of younger, more sensitive readers may prefer to read this book along with their child to discuss some of the violence and Saul’s abusive behaviors, but the content is age-appropriate overall.
The Songs of a Warrior is a great selection for kids who like historical fiction. The author fleshed out the characters in an engaging way, rotating through different viewpoints and exploring the human side of war and political tensions. The book has some pacing challenges, due to the broad time range it covers, and I found some of the transition points too rushed, but I enjoyed it overall. This engaging story will appeal to many kids, and I recommend this for individual use and book clubs.