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Young Abijah, an only child, lives with his father and mother in Beersheba. Abijah and his mother enjoy each other’s company and have a close relationship. He loves her dearly and feels, “This woman is more than just my mother. She is my best friend.” Unfortunately, the relationship between father and son is strained. Joab is a hard and sometimes cruel man who shows no affection to Abijah and little to his wife. As Israel is under Roman rule, this Jewish family must follow the decree of Augustus Caesar that all must be counted in the census. The three head to Jericho in compliance with the decree. They join the many others on the road to comply with Caesar’s command. When they begin their journey, Abijah is amazed by the number of people traveling. However, the people are “standing around and pointing to a new star.” Abijah questions his mother, who he calls Eema, about the meaning of the star. She tells him, “I don’t know, I have never seen a new star before, and I have never seen one that shines as brightly as that one.”
As the family travels to Jericho, they hear many theories about the meaning of the star. They meet Zebedee, a rabbi from Hebron, who agrees to travel with them. Abijah’s mother asks Zebedee what he thinks the star means. He replies, “I don’t know if the star is a sign of the Messiah’s coming, but I certainly hope so. The prophets tell us He will be from the tribe of Judah. He will be from the lineage of King David.” The family experiences many hardships along their journey, and Abijah finds his life turned upside down. His childhood is suddenly over, and he struggles to become a man. However, he makes decisions as a young adult that lead him down a path of crime. Eventually, he encounters a holy man called Jesus and joins the crowd who has come to see and hear this mesmerizing man who performs miracles. “I looked at this miracle worker. He was looking over the crowd while talking to the man next to him. Then his eyes stopped at me. It was like he was looking straight inside my innermost being and knew the dark secrets I kept there.”
This captivating novel tells the story of Jesus’ birth and life through the eyes of Abijah. The author creates a fascinating story with a protagonist that is undoubtedly flawed yet still likable and compelling. Abijah makes many mistakes in his life, and many of his decisions and actions are disturbing. However, the character remains intriguing, and one can’t help but hope he gets his life together and turns from his dubious activities. His life of hardship leads him down a destructive path for himself and those he encounters. Hamby manages to create a character about whom readers may feel conflicted, but that is what makes the novel compelling. The story, set during the life of Jesus, is a gripping tale. The novel is engaging from beginning to end, and the author includes quotes from the prophets concerning the Messiah throughout the text. Hamby gives readers a compelling look at the life of the average person during this time in history. He puts the reader right in the middle of the action with descriptive language and a plot that holds one’s attention. The author is a master storyteller who takes this familiar story of Jesus and captures his audience with a work that is innovative and riveting. This novel is a page-turner that evokes an emotional reaction and leaves readers with a tale that they won’t soon forget.