Jeez and the Gentile
JEEZ AND THE GENTILE
What do you do when life overwhelms? Tom learns to lean on God and trust his own instincts.
Tom is a bitter twelve-year old whose father is killed in a police drug raid gone bad. During speeches at his father’s funeral, he fails asleep and wakes up in the first century on the road to Sepphoris where he meets a young Jesus who introduces himself as Jeez. Together they witness four soldiers escaping the city on horseback. When they reach the city, they learn that Jeez’s father, Joseph, has been murdered and a young, Mary Magdalene, has been kidnapped.
As witnesses, Tom and Jeez are both drafted by local authorities to pursue the four horsemen and bring them to justice. The pursuit takes them to different villages and towns in Israel (Sepphoris, Nazareth, Megiddo, Jezreel, Sebastian, Shechem, Bethel, Jericho, and Jerusalem). In the process, they brave lions, hyenas, and scorpions, and cope with grief, human trafficking, murder, spiritual warfare, first-century politics, and travel in the ancient world.
In spite of his fish-out-of-water status, Tom learns to lean on God and rely on himself. Jeez learns the boundaries of being fully human within the context of relationship. Tom returns to our time a changed person with an appreciation for forgiveness and a growing faith.
Premise: Gospel of Luke meets the Wizard of Oz
Sharron Giambanco wrote:Stephen Hiemstra delivers a compelling blend of adventure, faith, and personal growth in Jeez and the Gentile. This beautifully crafted narrative follows 12-year-old Tom as he navigates profound grief and embarks on a transformative journey. Transported to the first century, Tom's partnership with a young Jeez reveals a world of danger, spiritual discovery, and human resilience.
Hiemstra skillfully combines historical richness with emotional depth, painting vivid scenes that immerse readers in ancient Israel while tackling timeless themes of loss, forgiveness, and faith. Tom's journey resonates with both young and adult audiences, reminding us all of the power of leaning on God and finding His strength within ourselves.
Sofia Martinez wrote:In Jeez and the Gentile, Tom, a twelve-year-old boy, grieving the loss of his father, cries out for a tangible God. He meets the twelve-year-old Jeez in Judea. In this split-time adventure novel, Stephen Hiemstra transports the reader into Biblical times in such a vivid way, that one can almost hear the roar of the lions and the laugh of the hyenas, as Tom meets the tangible God.
Eunyeon Kwon wrote:Jeez and the Gentile allows a fresh perspective on the lost years (ages 12-30) of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke through a fictional road trip through first century Israel. In this sense, it is like the Gospel of Luke meets the Wizard of Oz. During this trip, main characters Jeez and Tom travel assisting the authorities in tracking down murderers. Their challenges along the way allow the reader a personal connection in dealing with tests to our own faith, such as fear, grief, and personal danger. In such situations, we have no choice but to rely on God and lean on him to help us out.
Video Blogger (https://youtube.com/@sofiaisabellapiano?si=9rPb8kfDci7CulyD)
Claudette Renalds wrote:This book tells the story of a character named Tom who meets Jeez and goes through a process of changing his perspective. Everyone has problems, though they may appear different, such as illness, social injustice, poverty, etc. When faced with personal struggles, even though they may seem overwhelming to the point of wanting to give up. We need faith that God is always there for us. Through our relationship with God, we can find a way to sort out our problems. The book Jeez and the Gentile presents God's unseen presence in tangibles through events Tom faced enjoyably.
Percy M. Burns wrote:During the lengthy eulogy at the funeral for Tom’s father, the grieving Tom falls asleep against his mother’s shoulder. In his sleep he is launched back in time where he meets teenagers, Jeez and Mary Magdalene. Together they travel throughout Roman occupied Palestine on a journey of adventure, friendship, and justice. If you are a student of the Scriptures, you will recognize many of the sites and stories told by the young Jeez. Jeez and the Gentile is a story worth reading.
With 14 grandchildren between the ages of 13 and 23, I have a real place in my heart for young adult readers. For young adults readers and those young at heart, I recommend this book, Jeez and the Gentile.