A Cry from Egypt

Even when I was young and attending a school, I knew that reading a good story helped to solidify more about that period of time than reading a straight forward textbook description.  There is just something about being able to connect with a character and read how their life was that makes historical fiction so appealing.

A Cry from Egypt is the first book in an anticipated series, The Promised Land.  These novels are not your ordinary historical fiction providing a glimpse of life at a given point in time. Rather, this series will be following God’s Chosen people from Egypt, through the desert and into the Promised Land.

About A Cry from Egypt~

“Girls, get back!” Ezra shouted.

His face was pale, but his eyes kindled with indignation as he stood in front of the girls protectively. Ezra dropped the pitchers in the sand and his hand ashed to a dagger, concealed under his tunic. Jarah’s eyes grew wide. He could be killed for carrying a dagger!

Jarah was a slave in Egypt. It was a dangerous place to be.Her work was exhausting and her family was torn between the gods of the Egyptians and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And her brother… would his Ada be given in marriage to an Egyptian in the palace? Would they ever be free?

Adventure, excitement, love, and faith come together when Jarah and her family find themselves at the culmination of four hundred years of history.

About the Author~

Hope Auer has been writing stories and plays actively since she was very young. Through her schooling years she developed a passion for history and telling stories which eventually culminated in the writing of “The Promised Land Series.” In addition to writing, Hope loves the Lord, life, church, family, and children. She was homeschooled and works and learns alongside her family, who are the first people to read her books. Hope has a heart for children that is evident as she helps in youth theatre, teaches piano, and writes stories. Hope also has a little Shih Tzu named Sophie who often sits on her lap and helps her write.

Our Thoughts ~

I have to admit that I almost did this as a read aloud book with the boys.  Getting them to pick it up and read it was a real challenge.  I’m not even sure why they were hesitant to read the novel.  The front cover is attractive enough, but to them it implied a story they weren’t excited to read.  They tend to get into a rut with fantastical books, which is slowly being addressed through the inclusion of more living books in our curriculum.

R is the only one who was obedient enough to pick up the book and read at least 4 chapters for me without complaint.  I know that if a book is going to grab my attention that it most likely will in those beginning chapters.  Sure enough, R got pulled into the story and was found up on his bunk bed reading the book instead of finishing his history and math assignments in the school room.  Not only was he reading this title without further prompting (and finishing just a day after he started reading it), but R was starting off conversations stating things like “I sure wouldn’t have wanted to be a Hebrew in Egypt!”  In the end, he admits that it was a pretty good story, just not one he might have sought out on his own.

I read the title over the course of a few evenings and found the story to be one that helps to bring more life to the plight of the Hebrews in Egypt.  Reading straight from Scripture, you can imagine how rough life must have been when Moses came before Pharaoh and demand that he let the Israelites go.  But, it is in a novel like this where you can see one person’s vision of that life painted before you through words.   Ms. Auer weaves her tale in such a fashion that you know part of the bigger picture from familiarity with Scripture without he trying to expand upon Scripture.  Rather, she is providing a vantage point through the eyes of a girl.

Another thought that came to my mind when reading is what a great story came from an inspired homeschool student who was studying Ancient Egypt at the time she began writing it.  Maybe by reading works like this one, my own boys will be inspired to write their own stories.  They’ve already started typing adventures on the computer in their spare time.  But, it is through example that we are sometimes compelled to strive for more in our own lives.

A Cry from Egypt retails for $12.50 in paperback format and is published by Great Waters Press, a company owned by Hal & Melanie Young of Raising Real Men.

Disclaimer ~ We were provided with the materials mentioned in this review to facilitate a review as a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. No monetary compensation occurred and all opinions are my own. You can see what other Crewmates had to say about this product and others by visiting the Schoolhouse Review Crew website.