The Heart Changer, by Jarm Del Boccio, Author - A Crew Review

As I sat down to write this review, I was thinking how ironic it was that although we homeschool, and are therefore surrounded by books, I seem to rarely have the opportunity to actually sit down and read something myself, for pleasure anyway. I suppose it's simply a busy season, but whatever the case, I was happy to find a comfy spot on the couch and enjoy this debut from SchoolhouseTeachers.com teacher, Jarm Del Boccio, Author , called The Heart Changer . This historical fiction book is based on the passage from 2 Kings 5. Scripture tells us in the first part of that chapter that Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria. During a raid, his (Naaman's) soldiers had carried off a little girl from Israel, who came to work for Naaman's wife. Naaman had leprosy, and when the young girl heard of this, she told her mistress about the prophet Elisha's ability to heal. Author Del Boccio takes this chapter and creates a story surrounding the details and events of the story.

The back cover offers a teaser, as well as some info about the author.

The book is softcover, with 116 pages divided into 25 chapters, an epilogue, and note from the author. It was written for the middle school audience, but anyone beyond that age would find this an enjoyable read. This fictional account focuses on the young girl turned slave. Miriam (not her real name), is a 12 year old girl who, as we read the first lines in the book, is being urgently ordered by her mother to run and hide, as their town is raided. Unfortunately, Miriam is abducted by a soldier, and carried off. Her fear turns to sadness, which turns to bitterness as she feels abandoned by Jehovah. As it happens, she is specifically chosen to be the personal assistant to the army commander's wife, named Adara. 

I love getting a chance to read for fun!

Miriam discovers that her new mistress is kind, and slowly, she becomes acquainted with her new life. It is a difficult transition of course, and Miriam struggles with anger, confusion, and the fear of what has become of her family. In her worst moments, she remembers her mother's example, as well as her words to never repay evil for evil. She commits herself to trust and follow Jehovah. One day, Naaman is found to have leprosy, and after nothing works to cure it, he tells Adara that there is one more thing to attempt to appeal to their gods. I'll leave you hanging on this one, so as not to spoil that part, but suffice it to say, Miriam is appalled at the idea and tells her mistress of the prophet Elisha, who can heal the afflicted. They decide to find the prophet, and if you are familiar with the account, you know that Naaman is not only physically healed, but he finds life and salvation in the One True God of Israel. 

2 Kings 5

This really was a delightful read. Del Boccio creates a great picture of what could have been the situation for this girl, while staying true to the Biblical account. It is a fantastic option for not only middle schoolers, but teens and adults as well. I read it in its entirety in about an hour and a half. I look forward to future titles from this author. My daughters, ages 13 and 15 years, are now taking their turns reading the book. I knew that my 13 year old would enjoy it, but my 15 year old can be picky. After reading for myself though, I know that there is a great blend of action, suspense, sprinkled with a solid dose of uplifting encouragement. She's going to love it. As a bonus, when you visit The Heart Changer , if you scroll down, you'll find a white square that says The Heart Changer Teacher Guide. This is a pdf that you can use with students and includes discussion questions, a chat with Jarm Del Boccio, and even a few Syrian recipes. It's a great way to enhance the reading experience. Happy reading!



Find Jarm Del Boccio, Author on social media: Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram



Read more Crew reviews by clicking on the banner below!