Starred review from March 1, 2021
Smith is the award-winning and best-selling author of a biblical fiction series and other novels focusing on biblical women, most recently Star of Persia: Esther's Story (2020). Here her subject is Miriam, Moses' sister, and the miraculous story of the Exodus, beginning with the birth of Moses. Smith admits that this book was a challenge since Miriam's story in scripture lacks detail. Just the same, Smith does an excellent job of bringing her characters to life, not only Miriam but also Aaron's wife, Elisheba, and Moses' wife, Zipporah, among others. Her research led her to choose the princess Hatshepsut (who may have been only seven years old) as the pharaoh's daughter who adopts Moses after finding him in a specially designed basket on the Nile. Miriam is fully human, a compelling woman who wants to please God and who does not give up the hope of deliverance even though she must wait 80 years before she can leave Egypt. A memorable and noteworthy rendering of the atmosphere and figures of the scriptures.
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