The Reboot
What happens when we take on someone else’s ambition and forget who we are? Tom’s true identity is revealed when he acts out of his calling and discovers who he was created to be.
Tom discovers in college at age eighteen that he has many talents, even studying medicine that would please his grandparents who support him and his family. But, studying medicine contradicts his desire to follow his father into law enforcement and would mean the end of his relationship with his true love, Micha.
After a long run, Tom lays down for a nap and wakes up in AD 15 on the road to Sepphoris in ancient Israel where he meets an eighteen-year Jeez (AKA Jesus), who has also been tempted to wander away from his calling. Together, as Roman auxiliaries they travel to Caesarea Philippi and to Rome at the request of King Antipas of Galilee while pursued by a ruthlessly ambitious Herodias
Premise: The Gospel of Luke meets the Wizard of Oz
Description: A split-time, young adult (12+) adventure story
Alexis Anderson on Communications strategist, Bible scholar, and mom of 3 teens. wrote:In The Reboot, Stephen Hiemstra masterfully weaves a story that is both imaginative and deeply grounded in timeless truths. With characters that wrestle with faith, identity, and purpose, Hiemstra invites readers into a world where the struggles of youth and the echoes of history collide in surprising ways. This is a compelling read that lingers in the heart long after the last page.
Percy M. Burns on Author of Glorious Freedom wrote:What a thrill to adventure again with the Fearsome Threesome. For those new to Scripture, biblical truths unfold with surprising clarity at the nexus of modern language and ancient context. For more seasoned scripture readers, familiar voices and scenes reemerge, intricately woven into a narrative tapestry of carefully researched practices and places.
Sharron Giambanco wrote:I recommend Stephen’s book most heartily. He is a most learned man who writes with skills that make his books understandable and valuable. He can surprise the reader with the unexpected. Then, he can come to a conclusion that is gratifying to the reader. He is a gifted communicator!
Brien Benson on Fairfax Collegiate wrote:In Stephen Hiemstra's split-time novel, The Reboot, the sword of Tiberius, Poseidon’s storm, Pan's Gates of Hell, and the intrigues of the Judeo-Roman world are interwoven in Jeez and Tom's search for the callings on their lives. Tom discovers his calling as he returns to his time. Jeez answers the call of a broken world.
Claudette Renalds on Author of four novels including Rescuing Grace wrote:The Reboot, a sequel to Jeez and the Gentile, transports college student Tom back to the times of Jesus, where together with Jeez Tom travels along bandit-ravaged trails in Israel and then takes a highly risky sea journey to Rome, all the while embroiled in the dangerous politics of the Roman empire.
This is a multi-dimensional story, revealing both adventurous life in the world of Christ 2000 years ago, and at the same time the character development of Tom and Jesus himself. It’s a great read for any young adult curious about life in the age of Jesus, and how this all relates to life today.
Sofía Martínez Lafarga on Video Blogger wrote:The author again takes Tom on an adventurous journey back in time. The college-aged Tom returns again to Nazareth and collaborates with Jeez and Mary Magdalene. The three travel as Roman auxiliaries from Caesarea to Rome, combating danger along the way and meeting historical characters from Biblical times. Amid their service as Roman guards, both Tom and Jeez face the dilemmas regarding their future callings. If you enjoy time travel, adventure and the history and culture of the first century Roman Empire, this book is for you.
This novella focuses on a theme we struggle with today more than ever—identity, especially our identity in Jesus Christ. In this book we can follow the trials of a young college student, Tom, who—like us—has too easily strayed from his calling, but with Jesus’ help finds his way back. This book is perfect for anyone who has wondered what to do when the path forward is less than obvious.