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{{Infobox Book | name = The Bronze Bow | title_orig = | translator = | image = [[Image:NonFreeImageRemoved.svg] | image_caption = Cover | author = Elizabeth George Speare | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = United States | language = English | series = | genre = Children's, Historical novel | publisher = Mifflin Company | release_date = 1989 | media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback) | pages = 260 pp (first edition, hardback) | isbn = ISBN 0-575-00176-3 (first edition, hardback) | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}

The Bronze Bow is a book by Elizabeth George Speare that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1962.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Set in Judea (Israel) in the first century, the central character is a young Jewish man named Daniel who is growing up under Roman occupation in the time of Jesus. The background of the story is that Daniel's father was crucified in front of him by the Romans and at the age of eight, overwhelmed with anger, he vowed revenge. After his mother died from grief, his younger sister Leah was so emotionally traumatized she became a shut-in. Both orphaned children were taken in by their grandmother, but as she became ill and poor, she sold Daniel to an abusive blacksmith. Eventually Daniel escaped to the mountains and joined Rosh - leader of a violent band of Jewish rebels fighting the Romans (based on the historical Sicarii - the most violent of Jewish zealot groups fighting for independence)

The book begins 5 years later when he befriends a brother and sister his own age, and learns that the blacksmith is dead so he can return home to help his family. At first Daniel vows to continue the work of the rebels by organizing his friends but he soon encounters Jesus and his disciples. This begins a moral "tug of war" within Daniel's conscience between his desire for revenge, and the path of love and compassion that Jesus is preaching. His friends are the children of a wealthy scribe (described here as a "Rabbi") who disdainfully looks down on Daniel because of his poverty, but counsels him to avoid confronting the Romans. This "Rabbi" is the only Jewish adult who offers Daniel guidance other than Rosh, or Jesus and his followers.

Within a historical portrait of occupied Israel, the body of the book mixes several multilayered plot lines - Daniel's rebellious adventures against the Romans, a potential romance between Daniel and Malthace (the Rabbi's daughter), the healing of Leah due to the friendship of Malthace and her relationship with a sympathetic Roman soldier, class divisions within Israeli society and Daniel's continuing interactions with Jesus and his disciples. The latter dramatize numerous incidents from the Gospels and are often drawn in contrast to the book's portrayal of Jewish religious customs and law.

After his anti-Roman activities lead to the death of a young friend, Daniel becomes disaffected by the violence and self-centered behavior of the radicals and hopes instead that Jesus will lead a revolt against the Romans. When he realizes that Jesus doesn't believe in armed struggle Daniel is plunged into an intensifying emotional crisis - continue a life filled with anger and violence, or turn to the message of Jesus. Increasing his confusion, Daniel's continuing intolerance and anger destroy his sister's friendship with the soldier and she falls into dispair and sickness. The climax comes when with his sister on her death bed, Jesus (bathed in light) dramatically appears at his door. Daniel is overwhelmed and yet still torn until the thought "to know Jesus would be enough" enters his mind. At that moment he is suddenly filled with peace and compassion, his conflicts are resolved and Jesus brings his dying sister back from death.

The "Bronze Bow" in the title refers to a recurring quote from the Jewish King David - "he trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze." By the end Daniel has rejected the path of war and come to see that only "love could bend the bow of bronze."


[edit] Controversy

In recent years "The Bronze Bow" has generated controversy over its common use in public middle schools. It was removed from classroom use in Indianapolis (2003) and the Placentia-Yorba Linda school district in Orange County in 1996. In 2008 it was removed from public schools in San Rafael, California after a controversy that was widely reported in local media. The basic argument against the book is that it promotes a Christian message while contrasting it with a biased and inaccurate image of Judaism and as such has no place in public schools.

The author, Elizabeth George Speare, is a highly regarded, multi-award winning writer of children books much of who's work is mandatory reading in public schools. Both supporters and detractors of "The Bronze Bow" agree that in general her work is exceptional and has been a voice for tolerance and multi-cultural understanding.

[edit] Supporters

Supporters of the book fall into 2 groups:

It is widely used in Christian schools as an exciting way to introduce the Jesus as an historical character. Indeed in accepting the Newberry award the author explained that she wrote it for her Sunday School classes to introduce Jesus to middle school children, and that she structured the plot around the final scene.

However the book has also been very popular with teachers, students and parents outside of a religious context. Some nonsectarian teachers argue that the book is above all an exciting and unusually rich coming-of-age story about a young man and his struggle with important ethical and moral issues. They laud its fascinating historical background, its message of compassion and non-violence, and sometimes argue that Jesus is not even a major character. They disagree that the book presents a negative portrait of Judaism and that it specifically promotes Christianity. Some proponents point out that Jesus is clearly depicted as Jewish and referred to as a "Rabbi" and there are no references to Christianity as a religion or to the Crucifixion. Supporters may read Daniel's transformation as the result of personal growth rather than the intervention of Jesus and see critical images of Jewish clergy and laws as legitimate observations of class distinctions at the time. This view has sometimes found support from Jewish parents and students as well.

Proponents also point to its Newberry award status and the fact that in 1993 it was placed on a list of recommended "Literature for History-Social Science..." by the California Department of Education. They note that any quick web search (Amazon.com) will show a wealth of glowing reviews from Christian and non Christian sources as well as a multitude of study guides for the classroom. Efforts to remove it from schools are often seen as censorship and book banning.

[edit] Critics

While conceding that the book is well intentioned and has many admirable qualities, critics argue that it is very seriously compromised by outdated, biased religious attitudes and historical inaccuracy that may not have stood out in 1962. By promoting religion instead of studying about it, and especially in promoting one religion over another, they say using it for classroom study violates State requirements for religious neutrality in schools. They reject they idea that they are "banning" the book, because they don't suggest removing it from school libraries. Likewise they support teaching about religion in the classroom but insist that it needs to be balanced and objective.

TTheir basic argument is that the coming of age narrative (while quite rich) is eventually subordinated to a religious story line built around Daniel's dramatic acceptance of Jesus - indeed this was the author's stated intention). Moreover the portrait of 1st century Jewish clergy and customs are persistently negative, inaccurate, and derived from an antagonistic point of view based in the Gospels, not historical scholarship. (see selected passages) It misses the rich ferment of Jewish practice at the time as well its popularity among the people. Judaism is depicted as legalistic, prejudiced against the poor and offering nothing to Daniel, while Jesus is extremely charismatic, performs miracles, his richer teachings embrace the poor, and most egregiously the book declares that Rabbis want to kill him. While sympathetic to the Jewish people under Roman occupation, critics argue it ignores the religious sources of Jewish rebellion, and that its portrayel of Jesus and his relationship to Judaism reinforce fundamental misconceptions that lie at the source of historical anti-semitism. These latter issues are enormously controversial and go to the heart of modern debates attempting to separate the "historical Jesus" from the portrait offered by the Gospels.

Critics suggest that many people (including some Jews) who are unfamiliar with the religious and historical issues may easily miss these problems and underestimate its negative impact on children. They note reports of Jewish children who've been disturbed by the book but unwilling to say anything in class. Because the issues involved are far too complicated and charged to discuss with middle school children (e.g. critical discussion of the Gospels), they conclude it is not censorship to find it inappropriate for public education. This distinguishes the issue from censorship questions that have followed books like "Huckleberry Finn".

Public school teachers have not been accused of using the book for religious indoctrination. Critics understand they may be unaware of the issues, may legitimately disagree about the book's religious content and/or feel its sufficient to simply not emphasize those aspects of the book.

In San Rafael, efforts for removal received substantial public support from parents, clergy and academic experts. These included clerics from prominent local Christian, Jewish, and even Buddhist congregations as well as Charles Haynes, a national expert in the field of religion and public policy whose publications are widely sited by both the California and the US Departments of Education. Proponents of the book presented no expert support or written public rebuttal to critics.

[edit] Sources

Sources for the critical arguments summarized above come largely from material posted on 2 web sites created by parents involved in the San Rafael controversy. (See Critical Perspective below) Supporters of the book did not submit any written statements, rebuttals or expert support to the school district. As a result many of the "non religious " arguments in favor of the book in this article are based on statements at public meetings and private discussions for which there is no written record.

[edit] More Information

Public Controversy:

Study guides:

Critical perspective:

California State standards

Use in Christian Schools:

Blog Reviews:

Use in Public Schools:


Preceded by
Island of the Blue Dolphins		 Newbery Medal recipient
1962		 Succeeded by
A Wrinkle in Time