Notes from The Radical Reader:

• Noble Characters: Daniel watched them kill his innocent father. He watched his mother die with grief. He watched as his younger sister succumbed to the demons people claimed she was possessed with. Why shouldn’t he hate the Romans? Daniel’s entire life is devoted to the single vow that he made as a child: destroy the Romans and purge them from Israel. But as Daniel begins to hear about this new teacher, Jesus, and begins to listen to some of his words, he finds his firm resolve wavering. Is Jesus the heroic Messiah the zealots have been waiting for… or not?
• Captivating Plots: Daniel is a zealot. It’s a life full of fighting, fearlessness, but also failure. Rome is strong and the zealots are outnumbered, but with a hatred that burns fiercely against the invaders. From midnight meetings at Daniel’s forge, to secret excursions into Herod’s palace, to attacks on Roman caravans, this story is fraught with danger and bravery, heroism and hopelessness, defeat and victory. 
• Elaborate Worlds: This story casts a unique light on a time in ancient history that is often overlooked. The power and glory of Rome are shown as the cruelty and ruthlessness that the Israelite zealots fought and died against. From insignificant towns like Capernaum and Nazareth to the center of Zealot activity, Rosh’s cave, and Herod’s stunning palace, author Elizabeth George Speare has woven plot and characters into a setting of historical significance and of epic repercussions.