Afer wicnesing his father's crucifxion by Roman soldies, Daniel bar Jamin is fired by a single pasion: to avenge bis father's death by driving the Roman legions from the land of Isracl.Consumed by hatred, Daniel joins the brural raids of an outlaw band living in the hills outside his village.Though bis grandmother's death slows his plans by forcing him to move home to care for his sister,he continues his langerous life by leading a group of boy guerrillas in spying and plotting, impa- tiently waiting to take revenge. In nearby Capernaum,a rabbi is teaching a different lesson. Time and again Daniel is drawn to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth,only to turn away,disappointed and confused by Jesus's lack of action in opposing the Romans.Devoid of tender- ness and forgiveness,headstrong Daniel is also heedless of the loyalty of his friend Joel;, the love of Joel's sister,Malthace; and the needs of his own disturbed sister,Leah,dragging them down his destructive path toward disaster. Elizabeth George Speare won the 1962 Newbery Medal for this magnificent novel of Daniel's tormented journey from a blind,confining hatred to his acceptance and understanding of love. Booklist called it "a dramatie,deeply felt narrative whose characters and message will be long remembered.”