Set in Judea during the time of Jesus' adulthood, this Newberry Medal Award winner shows Daniel bar Jamin's struggle between the power of virtue and love 'love, for himself and his country. Although a fictional book, this piece reflects great historical accuracy. It also shows what it was like for most Galileans growing up in the time of Roman rule. Showing a strong hatred for all Romans, Daniel is tested for his loyalty to his country to do what is right. Being orphaned at a very young age, Daniel and his sister Leah are taken in by their grandmother. His grandmother, not having enough income to support all their needs, sells Daniel to the town blacksmith, Amalek. Daniel works for Amalek for five years, but suffers frequent abuse, fleeing to the hills of Galilee to join a group of rebels led by a fanatic Rosh. Daniel, having been trained as a blacksmith, is adopted as a rebel blacksmith on the mountain. There he put his dream of getting the Romans out of Galilee into practice. One day Daniele is welcomed by a brother and sister who have decided to visit the mountain, not knowing that a band of rebels lived there. Daniel talks to them and asks them about the village he left five years ago. Then one of the men from Rosh's rebel group, Ebol, came and said that Rosh was tasked with obtaining a very large slave that Rosh wanted. After Daniel tells his brother and sister, Joel and Malthace, to leave immediately, they refuse and Joel hides his sister behind a rock while Joel goes with Daniel. After receiving the signal from Rosh, Daniel and Joel take the ointment and bring it to Rosh. Joel now talks to Rosh, saying that he will move to the city of Capernaum where there are great Roman gifts. Rosh orders Joel to find out everything he can and to send information... in the middle of the paper... friends Daniel and a hidden group of boys from the city rushed to help Joel and saved him, but with many casualties . One of them was Samson who had saved Daniel by sacrificing his own life. Then one evening Daniele returned home and discovered that his sister Lea had let a Roman into their house. He was outraged and angry at Lea. After that Leah ate nothing and was close to death when Thacia finally brought Jesus to their home and healed Leah. The story ends to let the reader decide what happens next, for example, Elizabeth George Speare writes, “She heard Thacia catch her breath, and she turned and looked into her eyes. He knew he wasn't worthy of the gift he saw there, but he knew that in the end he was free to give her everything he had in return. It makes it seem like Daniel and Thacia have a future together, but, again, leaves the decision open to the reader.