Review: A worthy story that needs work
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 5, 2013
I like stories about "minor" characters from the Bible, and Miriam's is certainly worth telling. I do not know where the author draws this tale from, but the main narrative (which the writer takes far too long to get to) is a compelling story for the age group it is supposed to be written for. The biggest problem here is one of diction. This is supposed to be told from Miriam's point of view and in her voice. But it too often sounds like an adult trying to sound like a child. In other places, the narrator seems to tell the reader what to think instead of trusting the story carry the message or the audience to be smart enough to get it. Near the end, the narrator mentions the Torah, which of course was not written during Miriam's lifetime. The prose needed more revision to provide a smoother reading experience for children.While I could not always tell how the illustrations were connected to the narrative, I really do like them. They are bright and bold and thoughtful, like the character whose story they accompany. I can't say how children would react to them, but I enjoyed looking at them.