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Set in the third century A.D., a shepherd and his dog go off to fight for the Romans against the Goths. It may be that the young shepherd has some divine intervention as he makes some narrow escapes and has inexplicable luck and timing on the battlefield, ala David and Goliath. This story can be read simply as an adventure story, but it is a spiritual parable as well, at least for more mature readers. All this is in the background of the real fun: the tale of Leon the wonder dog, who is always at young Commander Zug's side.
Amidst the 135 pages of serious battle (perfect length for a third grader), war strategy, a little bit of romance, and a lot of bravado, there is also humor. For example, the main character, Zug, observes his dog, Leon: "Seeing us walk away from our food was all it took for Leon to quickly finish off... then catch up with us while licking his lips. Do dogs have lips?" At the end of the book, Leon, lips or no lips, is a fun dog to read about and cheer on. And as this novel is labeled "Book 1," there will undoubtedly be more adventures to come for fans of Zug and Leon.
This book will be a welcome addition for households with a young, swashbuckling, sword-fighting conquerer. Samsun's tale provides plenty of action and adventure for children not quite ready to tackle the likes of Captain Ahab but who are way beyond Dick and Jane. Much of the beauty of this book is that it can also be enjoyed on different levels. An eight-year-old reader will imagine swinging swords and giving commands. Meanwhile, an older reader will likely take in much more.