About the Book:
Book: The Young Samaritan
Author: J. Schuyler Sprowles
Genre: : Faith Based/ Inspirational
Release Date: January 20, 2024
Is survival enough when faith is tested?
“The Young Samaritan” is a gripping coming-of-age story set in a tumultuous time, where faith, identity, and survival intersect on an extraordinary journey.
Joshua, a young Samaritan boy, is forced to flee his home, thrust into a world that is as dangerous as it is unfamiliar.
Along the way, he encounters a mysterious woman who delivers a haunting vision, a wild dog that stays loyally by his side, and a reclusive uncle whose life is shrouded in secrets. Amidst the chaos of his flight, Joshua discovers uncommon love in a forsaken land.
As Joshua’s journey leads him to a band of sojourners—led by a man called Rabbi—he becomes entwined with a group that many believe to be the Messiah’s followers.
Despite their hesitations, Joshua’s determination to stay with them leads him to a transformative path, one that will ultimately take him to the cross and beyond.
My Thoughts:
I like the idea of this book; it offers a new way to look at Jesus and His ministry. However, I was disappointed with it. The writing style didn’t resonate with me, although it would be fine for a lot of people. My biggest problem with it, however, was the two things I noticed that were not historically accurate. The first thing that jarred me was the mention of a turnip and potato soup. Potatoes were unknown in the Old World until a good while after Columbus discovered America. The other was when Jesus and His disciples ate hare stew. I could understand Joshua and his family eating hare, since they were Samaritans, but a Jew wouldn’t touch it at all, since it is an unclean meat. I did like the way Peter, after initially rejecting Joshua, realized his sin and repented, accepting the Samaritan boy the way Jesus did.
I received a review copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. Links may be affiliate links, which will benefit Esther’s website if purchases are made through them.
About the Author:
A Chicago native, Schuyler as a teenager always dreamed of becoming a radio and TV talent. His aspirations led him to Hollywood where he trained as a broadcaster. He began his career as a country music DJ and news reporter in the Southwest. Ultimately he became a TV news anchor in Dallas. In time, Schuyler moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a television news correspondent. This eventually led to a decades long high-profile career in crisis management, political consulting and speech writing. Most recently, Schuyler turned to publishing, founding a family-oriented magazine in Southern California. A lifelong Christian, Schuyler admits to walking away from his faith in the past, only to discover the light of Jesus piercing the darkness to guide him back where he belongs. Inspired by the Gospels, “The Young Samaritan” is his debut novel. He currently lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Maureen.
More from J. Schuyler:
The Young Samaritan was inspired by two verses from the New Testament in the Gospel of Mark (14:51 – 52). These brief verses describe an unidentified young man who attempts to intervene in the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is quickly seized by the temple guards but manages to escape their grip, leaving his garment in their hands, as he flees naked into the night. Nothing further about him is ever mentioned in the Bible.
The Young Samaritan is my vision of the backstory for this strange and provocative episode in Jesus’ journey to the cross. The Young Samaritan creates a compelling and transformational epic tale where a fictional literary character (Joshua) collides with biblical history.
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Sounds fantastic