Daniel bar Jamin is an unusual hero for a young adult novel. He is bitter, cruel, and angry. Early in the novel, Daniel tells of the events that embittered him and made him flee to the sanctuary of the mountains. His uncle was arrested by the Romans for failure to pay his taxes, and because he resisted arrest, the Romans were unwilling to release him, even after Daniel's father, Jamin, had collected enough money to pay the taxes. In grief and fear, the uncle's wife begged Jamin to help him, and although a peaceful man, Jamin agreed to a foolish scheme to ambush the Romans when they tried to take Daniel's uncle to the city. The ambush was a disaster, and Jamin was captured and then executed by crucifixion.

Daniel's mother watched Jamin die for two days, then died of grief a few weeks later. Only...