This is the story of Ya’el, a twelve-year-old girl living in Jerusalem at the time of the Babylonian conquest in 586 BCE. When the Babylonian army rounds up survivors of the siege, Ya’el is marked for the long march to exile. At a time when few people are literate and girls are educated only in the domestic skills, she’s a budding scribe and an avid student of the sacred Temple scrolls which will later form the basis for the Bible. The hostility this causes among captives and captors alike will plague her during the long march to exile. She’s determined to survive the bitter trek, but she’ll do it on her terms.
The novel’s focus on a headstrong and passionate young woman engages readers and brings them fully into this traumatic time, a time from which the Bible will later emerge, and with it the religion of Judaism.
With its messages of empowerment and Jewish spirituality, the novel appeals to adults and young adults alike and leaves an indelible impression on all who read it.
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