Overview

Deborah has a gift; she can see the future As Deborah grows up, so do the date palms that surround her home. Under these trees, people come from far and wide to seek guidance from the great prophetess and judge. In her dreams, Deborah foresees danger to the people of Israel. She summons a general to speak with her beneath the date palms. War is coming and you must prepare, she tells him. For the girl that grew up under the date palms, her moment of destiny has arrived. Based on the story of the biblical heroine Deborah.

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9781728439013

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Reviews

This poetic recounting of the story of the Biblical Deborah's life is stunningly beautiful, in both text and illustrations. The dreamy, lush illustrations by Cosei Kawa have a Chagall in the Middle East feel to them, with their motifs of pomegranate, figs, the scales of justice, circles, and spirals, and, of course, trees and leaves, among others, along with a touch of surrealism. As Deborah grows into womanhood and becomes a judge and then a general, she learns why she has been blessed with the gift of foresight and what her purpose is. Because of the poetic nature of the language, this book may be best suited to readers who are familiar with the story of Deborah. It would be perfect for teachers to use with middle-grade or even middle school students in Jewish day schools or Hebrew schools to explore Deborah's life, her role, and their own gifts and purposes. The book also raises issues about whether war is ever just and whose side G-d is on. After all, as Barak tells Deborah, [a]ll men pray before battle. Even the enemy. This deeply Jewish book can be used as a jumping-off point to discuss issues of Jewish law, morality, history, feminism, and more. It meets the criteria for the Sydney Taylor Book Award. -- Blog (10/13/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Jane Yolen lives in Massachusetts and has written more than 400 books across all genres and age ranges, including the Sydney Taylor Honor book Miriam at the River. In 2022 she was named the The Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Winner. She has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century. Cosei Kawa is an award-winning Japanese artist. His many accolades include the CCBC Choices best-of-the-year list, the Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medal, and the Turry's Picture Book Award.

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