Women of the Bible
In this British import, McAllister chooses some of the Bible’s best-known women and lets them tell their own stories. From Noah’s wife to Lydia, follower of Paul, these distinctly voiced women give readers new ways to think about familiar Bible stories. Noah’s wife explains the tedium as well as the joys of being on an ark full of animals; Rachel holds her son Joseph with trepidation as her husband, Jacob, goes to meet his wronged brother, Esau; Martha and Mary fight about who was supposed to do the dishes when Jesus came to their house; and Mary Magdalene admits what her life was like before she came to Jesus and details the shock of his resurrection. Although these stories are obviously told from the perspectives of adult women, McAllister uses easy, engaging language as a bridge to make them understandable and appealing to a middle-grade audience. Massari’s solidly drawn art has an earthy beauty that complements the women’s tales. This is a unique and useful offering for religion shelves. Grades 4-7. --Ilene Cooper