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Thirteen-year-old Zim-Ri’s life is changed forever when he is sold into slavery to pay his father’s debts. He begins a journey to the ancient city of Ur through Mesopotamia’s Fertile Crescent when he is forced to abandon his village and follow his new master. He quickly adapts, showcasing a resilient spirit that catches the attention of those around him on the journey. He forms an immediate attachment to an old woman enslaved beside him, an individual who proves to be a helpful and trusted guide as he builds a new life for himself. Zim’s talents and gifts matched with his kind and generous spirit help him to thrive through adventures great and small.
Shaw unfolds the story of Zim with precision and context, and she builds a world rich with historical and cultural detail. Zim’s world is vividly alive with tradition, religion, and community and is peopled with a fascinating cast of characters. The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes transcend the pages and transport the reader to another time and place. Shaw’s prose is fluid, and the dialogue is compelling as it reveals Zim’s willingness to question, wonder, and ultimately learn and adapt to his surroundings. He showcases uncommon situational awareness, brilliant powers of observation, and instincts for survival. His relationship with the old woman, which turns out to be more than just coincidence, is a beautiful representation of teaching and familial connection. They are often referred to as the old one and the boy or the wise one and the young one. Zim’s determination to make a life for himself and forge a family from his new circumstances is inspiring and timeless, and his journey, while set in the deep past, is universal in its appeal. Shaw’s storytelling prowess and historical acuity provide intrigue and authenticity.