The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (1971, Paperback, Reissue)

Do you like old stories, battles, and mysteries? If you do then this is the book for you! This book shows you the real battles – hatred vs. love , vengeance vs. forgiveness , and anger vs. patience.
Daniel bar Jamin lives up in the mountains with Rosh and his gang. The gang is made up of zealots and Roman haters. The gang has vowed to destroy the Romans whatever the cost, even if the cost is their own lives. Will it end up costing Daniel his life? And why does Daniel hate the Romans so much?

Daniel Jamin was an apprentice to Amalek the blacksmith, but ran away from him. His parents died, and his grandmother was left to raise him and his sister Leah. Daniel loves his sister very much, but she had a problem, she refused to go outside and if you tried to make her she screams and howl. Why does his sister refuse to go outside?

Daniel hasn’t ever had a friend before, he was always too busy to even care he didn’t have one. But when he saw Joel and his twin sister Thacia they seemed to care for him and want to be his friend. Joel hates the Romans just like Daniel, and Thacia doesn’t really care about that stuff. Daniel doesn’t want to let his feelings show whenever they are friendly to him, but it touches his heart. Do Joel and Thacia really want to be Daniels friend – or are they just using him?

I loved that the story takes place in Israel about the same time as Jesus was alive and the main character actually meets Him in the story. The Main Character, a boy, Daniel, has struggles with the death of his father and overcomes pride issues and has to take care of his sister. He is a mature 17 year old ---taking on responsibilities unlike most 17 year olds. It is a good story but needs parental guidence on some of the issues shown in the story.