Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer

Title: Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Stan Namer
Author: Peggy Miracle Consolver
Publisher: Carpenter’s Son Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-942587-09-5

“We trust the Star Namer is watching over us and that good will triumph over evil. We choose to live our lives on the side of good, not evil,” Keshub’s father explains to his son in Peggy Miracle Consolver’s novel,  Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Tamer.

This three hundred and twenty page paperback targets those that enjoy Biblical historical fiction from the Old Testament. Topics of bullying and war may not be appropriate for immature readers. With a dedication, acknowledgments, list of characters and relationships, and prologue, there are forty-six chapters, ending with a letter to the readers and ten discussion questions. The New International Version of the Holy Bible is referenced.

In this historical fiction based on Joshua and the Hebrews entering into the land of Canaan, almost thirteen year old Keshub is not thrilled about being the fifth son of a well-known potter’s family. He would rather use his slingshot to ward off bears and lions as he protects the sheep in Gibeon.

When the ruthless Amorite king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Zedek, announces all young men are to enlist in his army to attack the Hebrews, his son, Bin-Zedek, befriends Keshub when the Gibeonite protects him as well as one of the king’s harem.

From Moses dying on Mount Nebo and the Israelites spying the land of milk and honey, the author includes the Jews’ “what-is-it” manna, Tabernacle, God’s cloud, march on Jericho, crossing the Jordan, making a treaty with the Gibeonites, and having the sun stand still. Interjections are also included from one Jewish teen’s viewpoint throughout the story.

Told mainly from the perspective of a young Gibeon who is picked on by a bully, witnesses a sibling’ marriage, meets the king, becomes a slave to Joshua, and wonders if the Star Namer is the same as Israeli’s God, the book has a plethora of both historical and fictional characters. Although somewhat slow at times and a myriad of characters to remember, it follows Biblical accuracy with some liberties taken.

Sunday school teacher for over thirty-five years, author Consolver was born and raised in Oklahoma. She and her husband have been married for forty-eight years, and they have two children and five grandchildren.

Thanks to the Book Club Network and Carpenter’s Son Publishing for furnishing this complimentary book in exchange for a review based on the reader’s honest opinions.

This review will be posted on the Book Club Network, DeeperShopping, and Amazon with links on Bookfun.org, LinkedIn, Godinterest, Pinterest, and Twitter.

GRAMMARLY was used to check for errors in this review.

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