- first of a trilogy, focused on a young shepherd boy destined for great things
- themes include: defending the truth, courage against adversity, and faithfulness (to both friends and God)
- convo: general battle talk (fighting, deaths mentioned, nothing vivid); a boy is briefly bound, gagged and almost killed*
- language: x2 stupid
- a practically perfect read-aloud
Type: chapter book
Ages: 7-12
Author: Jonathan Rogers
Illustrators: Abe Goolsby, Kristi Smith
*The scene softens quickly and becomes positive.
Now that I know how fantastic this book is, my only regret is how long it sat in my To-Be-Read pile! It skillfully combines beautiful nature descriptions with medieval-type adventures while sprinkling in, from time to time, biblical allegory.
About that–I will readily admit many allegorical stories can feel cheesy or forced or predictable. I simply did not get that feeling with The Bark of the Bog Owl. The actual amount of the book that is directly representing a Bible story we all know (staying vague on purpose) is quite small. There’s a great addition to the story both before and after “the main scene.” Even once it was clear what Scripture it was allegorizing, I enjoyed the writing since the build-up had made me so fond of our protagonist.
Young readers are sure to connect with Aidan, the 12-year-old main character. He portrays realistic boyish character traits while also being an example of a respectful son, a God-honoring hard worker, and the ability to step up with great courage when needed. He learns:
“Courage is the will to lay aside fear because your desire to do right outweighs your desire to avoid getting hurt.”
There are plenty of comical moments, a sweet friendship [that morphs into an alliance I bet plays into the next books], and a good portion of age-appropriate suspense. Ever wonder what it’s like to wrestle an alligator? Who’s ready for some massive explosions? 🙂
Older readers, especially with re-reads, might spot more profound nuggets that Rogers inserts from time to time. All sorts of conversations could be had from this one book alone. For example, how easy is it to become complacent in times of tranquility? Is it better to be friends with the world than stand for God’s truth? What happens to followers when a leader doesn’t lead well?
“Live the life that unfolds before you. Love goodness more than evil.”
And happy reading!