Review by Wamakima -- Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King

Maríe Wamakima · Post by **Maríe Wamakima** » 11 Apr 2020, 12:51

[Following is a volunteer review of "Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King" by David W. Sutherland and Paul McKellips.]

4 out of 4 stars

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A thief is a thief no matter the reason, and it's said that his/her days are numbered, but for Bedu a shepherd boy from Damascus, his days end with a series of experiences that leave him wealthy, married and a 'king'. When a caravan of one hundred and thirty-two soldiers, a Magi and a princess arrive at Abbas' compound, he feeds them his remaining livestock of seven sheep and four goats. This angers his only son Bedu who steals five gold coins from the visitors. He returns to listen to the king narrate how he met Abbas thirty-two years ago, the special star in the sky and the special message that Abbas received from a strange voice surrounded by supernatural light.

The next day he is sent on a mission to recover the butchered animals with an extra five gold coins. He leaves his sister, mother and father behind and ridden with shame he begins his journey to the Bedouins who breed the best sheep in the region known as Jacob's sheep. His journey is full of adventure that brings him joy and pain leaves him very wise and a great teacher in the end.

Written in third-person perspective, Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King is a very intriguing and illustrative short read that drew me in from the very first page. The book cover is appealing and the characters are well-defined.The plot is quite catchy as David W. Sutherland and Paul McKellips allude to biblical characters and events, for instance the three wise men, the shepherds and the speaker of the beatitudes. As the gospels usually center the story around Jesus, it is interesting to know the names of these characters from the Bible and their personal histories.

The authors clearly describe themes of kindness, bravery and generosity, and as a reader I couldy distinctly see how Bedu benefits from these values. The prose is poetic and heroic, and the simple sentence structure aided in the flow of the story. Scenes are explained in vivid detail, and we are able to clearly feel the characters' emotions. The book is also exceptionally edited, and I enjoyed the authors' background information provided at the end of the book.

I did not find anything negative with Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King. I therefore rate it 4 out 4 stars. If I could rate any higher I would, it's a perfect work of art. Readers of all ages would benefit from this terrific novel. It encourages kindness, generosity and bravery in the face of uncertainty. If you are not a fan of young adult or biblical stories, it would be best to steer away from this book.

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Bedu: Bedouin Boy, Poet King
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