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The Jericho River: A Magical Novel About the History of Western Civilization
[This 1st edition has been supplanted by a new, 2nd edition. The 2nd edition has a different cover, and the author has dropped the pen-name, "David Carthage," in favor of his actual name: David W. Tollen.]
Imagine you could learn history by reading a magical adventure novel. Imagine you could spice up your favorite Western Civ textbook by throwing in danger, romance, and myth. You can.
The Jericho River is both a young adult fantasy and a history of Western Civilization, including its roots in the ancient Middle East. It's a magical tale: a story of centaurs and angels, pharaohs and scientists, slaves and priestesses. But it’s also an exploration of our past, from the dawn of civilization to the age of computers and skyscrapers.
The Jericho River passes through a magical world shaped by myth and history. Young Jason Gallo sails the river on a dangerous quest to rescue his father. He battles minotaurs and pirates, flees barbarians, stumbles into mummies’ tombs, and outwits fairies, philosophers, and scientists. Along the way, he discovers friendship, love, and betrayal — and faces a hidden foe who threatens all he holds dear.
The river flows like a timeline, carrying Jason through historic lands—Sumer, Babylonia, ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, Napoleon’s empire, and many others—all in chronological order, tracing the history of Western Civilization from its Middle Eastern origins to the modern era. Jason’s father is a historian, and his notes outline the journey, revealing the truth about Cleopatra, King Arthur, and the fall of the Roman Empire. He explains how Snow White began as a promiscuous goddess and why Eve was created from Adam’s rib, as well as the origins of coffee, the cat, chivalry, the Internet, Atlantis — and much more.
Imagine you could learn history by reading a magical adventure novel. Imagine you could spice up your favorite Western Civ textbook by throwing in danger, romance, and myth. You can.
The Jericho River is both a young adult fantasy and a history of Western Civilization, including its roots in the ancient Middle East. It's a magical tale: a story of centaurs and angels, pharaohs and scientists, slaves and priestesses. But it’s also an exploration of our past, from the dawn of civilization to the age of computers and skyscrapers.
The Jericho River passes through a magical world shaped by myth and history. Young Jason Gallo sails the river on a dangerous quest to rescue his father. He battles minotaurs and pirates, flees barbarians, stumbles into mummies’ tombs, and outwits fairies, philosophers, and scientists. Along the way, he discovers friendship, love, and betrayal — and faces a hidden foe who threatens all he holds dear.
The river flows like a timeline, carrying Jason through historic lands—Sumer, Babylonia, ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, Napoleon’s empire, and many others—all in chronological order, tracing the history of Western Civilization from its Middle Eastern origins to the modern era. Jason’s father is a historian, and his notes outline the journey, revealing the truth about Cleopatra, King Arthur, and the fall of the Roman Empire. He explains how Snow White began as a promiscuous goddess and why Eve was created from Adam’s rib, as well as the origins of coffee, the cat, chivalry, the Internet, Atlantis — and much more.
332 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2012
21 people are currently reading
754 people want to read
About the author
David W. Tollen
12 books34 followersDavid Tollen writes young adult fantasy novels that teach history and science -- as well as nonfiction about technology law.
David's first novel, THE JERICHO RIVER, won the London Book Festival for best YA work and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for sci-fi/fantasy. It also won a bronze medal in the Readers' Favorite Book Reviews and Awards Contest, among other honors. THE JERICHO RIVER is an adventure novel that uses fantasy to teach the history of Western Civilization. It's published by Winifred Press. (The book's first edition was released under the pen-name "David Carthage." The current/second edition uses the author's actual name.) In the not-too-distant future, Winifred Press will publish David's next book: SECRETS OF HOMINEA, a YA novel that uses fantasy to teach both history and science.
David is also the author of THE TECH CONTRACTS HANDBOOK: CLOUD COMPUTING AGREEMENTS, SOFTWARE LICENSES, AND OTHER IT CONTRACTS. It's published by the American Bar Association, and it's the number-one bestseller for the Intellectual Property Law Section of the ABA. THE TECH CONTRACTS HANDBOOK is a how-to guide for drafting and negotiating IT agreements, written in simple English.
David earned law degrees from Harvard Laws School and Cambridge University in England, as well as a B.A. in history from U.C. Berkeley. He's the founder of Sycamore Legal P.C., a San Francisco technology and intellectual property law firm.
For more information, please visit www.DavidTollen.com or www.TechContracts.com.
David's first novel, THE JERICHO RIVER, won the London Book Festival for best YA work and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for sci-fi/fantasy. It also won a bronze medal in the Readers' Favorite Book Reviews and Awards Contest, among other honors. THE JERICHO RIVER is an adventure novel that uses fantasy to teach the history of Western Civilization. It's published by Winifred Press. (The book's first edition was released under the pen-name "David Carthage." The current/second edition uses the author's actual name.) In the not-too-distant future, Winifred Press will publish David's next book: SECRETS OF HOMINEA, a YA novel that uses fantasy to teach both history and science.
David is also the author of THE TECH CONTRACTS HANDBOOK: CLOUD COMPUTING AGREEMENTS, SOFTWARE LICENSES, AND OTHER IT CONTRACTS. It's published by the American Bar Association, and it's the number-one bestseller for the Intellectual Property Law Section of the ABA. THE TECH CONTRACTS HANDBOOK is a how-to guide for drafting and negotiating IT agreements, written in simple English.
David earned law degrees from Harvard Laws School and Cambridge University in England, as well as a B.A. in history from U.C. Berkeley. He's the founder of Sycamore Legal P.C., a San Francisco technology and intellectual property law firm.
For more information, please visit www.DavidTollen.com or www.TechContracts.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 29, 2016
David W. Tollen's "The Jericho River: A Novel About the History of Western Civilization" is an interesting concept for a novel. I love books that sneak educational material to the reader as this often encourages them, especially younger readers, to learn more about the topics/civilization/history discussed in the book. I would definitely encourage younger readers to pick up this book.
Tollen's book is well-written and easy to understand for the younger age bracket, especially tweens. The story is interesting and the characters are likable.
I would rate this book about 4.6-4.8. My copy was obtained from the Goodreads website and I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.
Tollen's book is well-written and easy to understand for the younger age bracket, especially tweens. The story is interesting and the characters are likable.
I would rate this book about 4.6-4.8. My copy was obtained from the Goodreads website and I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 15, 2020
Welcome My Fellow Book Dragons, to our first Saturday’s Child in quite some time! Our Gem this evening is a Lodestone. Silvery grey and powerful, it is going to lead us on a fantastic adventure!
This is Gem Maker David W. Tollen’s “The Jericho River”! The tale of young Jason Gallo’s quest to find his Historial Professor father by traveling across the expanse of time and awaken him from his Dream Voyage before the strain kills his physical body. But watch out, here there be Monsters…and creatures of mythical proportions! And that isn’t all! We have Barbarians. Lamassu, Minotaurs, Fairies, Pirates, Mummies, Philosophers, Kings and Soldiers.
This book does not disappoint. We time travel in a way that is not babyish, nor dumbed down. This book is meant to get Nestlings and Nest-Teens interested in World History and Mr. Tollen does it very well. I enjoyed it very, very much. I found myself going through Sumer, Pharaoh’s Egypt, Classical Greece, Medieval Europe, and losing myself in time. Some of it I remember quite well from my own last 556 years, you know.
And how lovely to read of Cleopatra, to see the terrible destruction of the Roman Empire, to watch all the great historical events that I lived through once be reconstructed so carefully. This is wonderful indeed.
There are also detailed maps and discussion questions at the end. This makes a nice bonus.
Mr. Tollen has kept the price of the book extremely reasonable as well, so KUDOS there! I highly recommend this book.
As always I remain, your humble Book Dragon,
Drakon T. Longwitten
I received a copy of this book for review. My opinions are my own.
This is Gem Maker David W. Tollen’s “The Jericho River”! The tale of young Jason Gallo’s quest to find his Historial Professor father by traveling across the expanse of time and awaken him from his Dream Voyage before the strain kills his physical body. But watch out, here there be Monsters…and creatures of mythical proportions! And that isn’t all! We have Barbarians. Lamassu, Minotaurs, Fairies, Pirates, Mummies, Philosophers, Kings and Soldiers.
This book does not disappoint. We time travel in a way that is not babyish, nor dumbed down. This book is meant to get Nestlings and Nest-Teens interested in World History and Mr. Tollen does it very well. I enjoyed it very, very much. I found myself going through Sumer, Pharaoh’s Egypt, Classical Greece, Medieval Europe, and losing myself in time. Some of it I remember quite well from my own last 556 years, you know.
And how lovely to read of Cleopatra, to see the terrible destruction of the Roman Empire, to watch all the great historical events that I lived through once be reconstructed so carefully. This is wonderful indeed.
There are also detailed maps and discussion questions at the end. This makes a nice bonus.
Mr. Tollen has kept the price of the book extremely reasonable as well, so KUDOS there! I highly recommend this book.
As always I remain, your humble Book Dragon,
Drakon T. Longwitten
I received a copy of this book for review. My opinions are my own.
December 14, 2015
Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'The Jericho River, A Novel About the History of Western Civilization' by David W. Tollen.
History is one of those things that people either love or hate. Often dry and boring, it does not have the continued excitement that helps to keep one interested. This is especially true of the young who are looking for constant thrills due to gaming and other entertainment that is now readily available. In The Jericho River by David W. Tollen, he gives us an alternative to the dry and often unexciting past. Utilizing the past and history throughout it’s a wonderful mythical and epic tale of danger and excitement and he finds a way to introduce both myth and history in order to keep the reader fascinated.
Jason Gallo finds himself propelled into time under bizarre circumstances. Before he can figure out how to return to his own time, he finds himself on the trail of his father. A professor in his own right, his father disappeared years before leaving a young Jason on his own. But this tale is more than just an adventure, it is a timeline of history.
As Gallo moves from rumor to rumor of sightings of his father, he finds both danger and intrigue. He makes both powerful friends as well as dangerous enemies. He finds himself in situations and places that you only know from books, both real and imagined. But with all his heartache can he find his father before his presence changes the world as we know it?
This would be a great book for your young historian to add to his library, or even your adventure enthusiast. It is also intriguing for anyone who enjoys a great romp into the past, with myths, history and adventures of worth. Tollen does a great job of making history fun. Tollen has created a group of characters both intriguing and eminently likable. Often the action is unbelievable, but also mythologically and historically correct in most cases. The action is fast paced and keeps you interested in a way that seems surreal. Jason is a fun protagonist, but he also raises both questions and doubt about his experience as he is not always in the know about the history he’s travelling through.
This would be a great book for a reading or discussion group, with plenty of information to spice it up.
History is one of those things that people either love or hate. Often dry and boring, it does not have the continued excitement that helps to keep one interested. This is especially true of the young who are looking for constant thrills due to gaming and other entertainment that is now readily available. In The Jericho River by David W. Tollen, he gives us an alternative to the dry and often unexciting past. Utilizing the past and history throughout it’s a wonderful mythical and epic tale of danger and excitement and he finds a way to introduce both myth and history in order to keep the reader fascinated.
Jason Gallo finds himself propelled into time under bizarre circumstances. Before he can figure out how to return to his own time, he finds himself on the trail of his father. A professor in his own right, his father disappeared years before leaving a young Jason on his own. But this tale is more than just an adventure, it is a timeline of history.
As Gallo moves from rumor to rumor of sightings of his father, he finds both danger and intrigue. He makes both powerful friends as well as dangerous enemies. He finds himself in situations and places that you only know from books, both real and imagined. But with all his heartache can he find his father before his presence changes the world as we know it?
This would be a great book for your young historian to add to his library, or even your adventure enthusiast. It is also intriguing for anyone who enjoys a great romp into the past, with myths, history and adventures of worth. Tollen does a great job of making history fun. Tollen has created a group of characters both intriguing and eminently likable. Often the action is unbelievable, but also mythologically and historically correct in most cases. The action is fast paced and keeps you interested in a way that seems surreal. Jason is a fun protagonist, but he also raises both questions and doubt about his experience as he is not always in the know about the history he’s travelling through.
This would be a great book for a reading or discussion group, with plenty of information to spice it up.
November 25, 2023
Enjoyable and different story than what I have ever read before.
Jason Gallo travels back in time while sleeping to find his father who has done the same. Drawing upon what his father has taught him from his own interests, he must find his father & figure out how to get back to present day where his younger sister Athena is alone.
A lot of historical facts in this novel, and being I am a history fan I found this enjoyable, however I can understand those who are not could potentially not feel the same way.
Jason Gallo travels back in time while sleeping to find his father who has done the same. Drawing upon what his father has taught him from his own interests, he must find his father & figure out how to get back to present day where his younger sister Athena is alone.
A lot of historical facts in this novel, and being I am a history fan I found this enjoyable, however I can understand those who are not could potentially not feel the same way.
September 24, 2014
Our social and political life depends to a great extent on how well ordinary people know history. Those who know it well are not only not condemned to repeat it, but they participate more in civic life, they're more progressive, they live richer lives as individuals, and they're likely to pass on their interest in history to their own offspring as well as model if for others. So the big question becomes: How do we interest young people in history?
David Tollen's YA novel "The Jericho River" is part of one great answer to this question--namely, that we provide them with motivating, age-appropriate books about history.
"The Jericho River" follows dream-voyager Jason Gallo as, like his father before him, he travels in the world of Fore, intimately related to our own. Jason's father, whose body lies in seemingly endless sleep in a hospital bed, is actually lost somewhere in Fore, and Jason has the sometimes-Promethean task of finding him. Tollen's imagined world centers on a river that acts as an historical timeline, along which Jason must travel, winning friends and enemies along the way--and it's sometimes it's hard to tell which. Jason is presented as an actual teenager, which is part of why this book will, in my opinion, appeal to teens and tweens. And his personal transformation is both realistic and earned, another drawing point.
I'm also impressed with Tollen's understanding of YA readers. There are things about "The Jericho River" that don't work for me as an adult. Using the river as a timeline, for example, sets aside the vital role of geography in history, and it made me uneasy. But considering Tollen's goal, I don't see what else he could have done. And I don't believe young readers will have any trouble simply accepting this aspect of the fantasy. The payoff is that they'll be exposed to a beautifully compressed and yet richly detailed overview of centuries worth of history, all embodied in an adventure story that will keep them reading. That includes a number of pleasing plot twists and even some romance.
I'm also delighted with the way Tollen handled the philosophical ideas involved in his story. His understanding of myth makes him deeply sympathetic to it, and he's quite honest about the spiritual self-deprivation of so much of modern humanity, a point I happen to agree with profoundly. Yet he also presents science in a fair and informed way--including his villains--and ends with what I consider a crucial and viable principle for our human future, a mythos that balances science and the spiritual. I salute him for that.
For purposes of full disclosure, David and I--who don't know each other--agreed to do a review swap of our respective new publications. We also committed to honest reviews.
I think any history teacher of tweens or teens should consider using "The River of Jericho," and for a number of reasons, both pedagogical and as a way to motivate students for history.
After all--there's a lot at stake.
Tim J. Myers
David Tollen's YA novel "The Jericho River" is part of one great answer to this question--namely, that we provide them with motivating, age-appropriate books about history.
"The Jericho River" follows dream-voyager Jason Gallo as, like his father before him, he travels in the world of Fore, intimately related to our own. Jason's father, whose body lies in seemingly endless sleep in a hospital bed, is actually lost somewhere in Fore, and Jason has the sometimes-Promethean task of finding him. Tollen's imagined world centers on a river that acts as an historical timeline, along which Jason must travel, winning friends and enemies along the way--and it's sometimes it's hard to tell which. Jason is presented as an actual teenager, which is part of why this book will, in my opinion, appeal to teens and tweens. And his personal transformation is both realistic and earned, another drawing point.
I'm also impressed with Tollen's understanding of YA readers. There are things about "The Jericho River" that don't work for me as an adult. Using the river as a timeline, for example, sets aside the vital role of geography in history, and it made me uneasy. But considering Tollen's goal, I don't see what else he could have done. And I don't believe young readers will have any trouble simply accepting this aspect of the fantasy. The payoff is that they'll be exposed to a beautifully compressed and yet richly detailed overview of centuries worth of history, all embodied in an adventure story that will keep them reading. That includes a number of pleasing plot twists and even some romance.
I'm also delighted with the way Tollen handled the philosophical ideas involved in his story. His understanding of myth makes him deeply sympathetic to it, and he's quite honest about the spiritual self-deprivation of so much of modern humanity, a point I happen to agree with profoundly. Yet he also presents science in a fair and informed way--including his villains--and ends with what I consider a crucial and viable principle for our human future, a mythos that balances science and the spiritual. I salute him for that.
For purposes of full disclosure, David and I--who don't know each other--agreed to do a review swap of our respective new publications. We also committed to honest reviews.
I think any history teacher of tweens or teens should consider using "The River of Jericho," and for a number of reasons, both pedagogical and as a way to motivate students for history.
After all--there's a lot at stake.
Tim J. Myers
December 22, 2015
Reviewed at www.snazzybooks.com
The Jericho River has, at its heart, a really great concept: making history come alive for readers in a fictional story that involves time travel, as a way of taking the reader through many centuries and countries.This really does brings ancient history alive for YA readers, which I am fully behind!
I could tell that it was a book aimed at YA readers though in its language and general storyline, which I didn’t feel was that strong. To be honest I would have preferred the narrative to stick to Jason encountering real life (or realistic, anyway) events in history as opposed to weaving in the myths as well, and characters such as Zibdu the half lion man- but each to their own, I know many people who I know would have loved the mythical element to the story!
I loved the footnotes at the bottom of many of the pages and almost enjoyed them more than the story; they gave interesting facts and information about history and explained how some of today’s inventions, language and general customs came about. The footnotes were written as if taken from William Gallo’s (Jason’s dad) lectures. For example, one explains how the we got the word satyr and how it came from Classical Greek dramas.
I really liked how other religions are included in an unbiased way, and are shown as just as important as Christianity, which I think is important to young readers. Other countries are also highlighted for the importance they’ve played in historical events and discoveries, and I loved reading and learning more about this- it made me realise how little I know about some of these times in history!
I particularly enjoyed reading about ancient Persia, as I am half Iranian, and about the Dark Ages and the Enlightenment in the late 17th century. I did struggle at times to keep engaged with the story and characters- there were a lot of names and people (though really that’s to be expected in a story such as this that spans so many years).
I would recommend this book, particularly to YA readers who want to read a story that will not only teach them about history but present it in an entertaining way.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
* Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
The Jericho River has, at its heart, a really great concept: making history come alive for readers in a fictional story that involves time travel, as a way of taking the reader through many centuries and countries.This really does brings ancient history alive for YA readers, which I am fully behind!
I could tell that it was a book aimed at YA readers though in its language and general storyline, which I didn’t feel was that strong. To be honest I would have preferred the narrative to stick to Jason encountering real life (or realistic, anyway) events in history as opposed to weaving in the myths as well, and characters such as Zibdu the half lion man- but each to their own, I know many people who I know would have loved the mythical element to the story!
I loved the footnotes at the bottom of many of the pages and almost enjoyed them more than the story; they gave interesting facts and information about history and explained how some of today’s inventions, language and general customs came about. The footnotes were written as if taken from William Gallo’s (Jason’s dad) lectures. For example, one explains how the we got the word satyr and how it came from Classical Greek dramas.
I really liked how other religions are included in an unbiased way, and are shown as just as important as Christianity, which I think is important to young readers. Other countries are also highlighted for the importance they’ve played in historical events and discoveries, and I loved reading and learning more about this- it made me realise how little I know about some of these times in history!
I particularly enjoyed reading about ancient Persia, as I am half Iranian, and about the Dark Ages and the Enlightenment in the late 17th century. I did struggle at times to keep engaged with the story and characters- there were a lot of names and people (though really that’s to be expected in a story such as this that spans so many years).
I would recommend this book, particularly to YA readers who want to read a story that will not only teach them about history but present it in an entertaining way.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
* Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this novel in return for an honest review *
August 24, 2017
This book is very "all religions are equal" but "science is better", so if you are a homeschool mom and are teaching in favor of Christianity, I would suggest that it is more of a 15-16 yo and up type of book as it has a lot of discussion that is well beyond the younger reader's theological grasp. It was an interesting read, but I won't be putting it in my recommended books for history for this reason. It was more of a fiction story than anything, even though it did travel through ancient cultures and mention things we know about them in the settings. It had a great deal of science fiction, also - with the main character traveling back in time via trance to save his father who was stuck there while his body was in a coma in the present time. I didn't like some of the fact sections that are scattered through the pages to add "field notes" supposedly written by the dad character in the book because of quotes like "we don't know how much of the bible story is true" p. 118 and the fact that it seemed to me that the "field notes" had a lot of opinion interjected with them and were not just fact. I can understand the author wanting to put a personal twist on the book and it is a fiction story, so I'm just letting you know that this should not be considered an unbiased historical report. Of course, being Texan, my biggest beef was his statement that Texans were somehow similar to Babylon:
"Babylon's King Hammurabi wrote Mesopotamia's great law code. Hammurabi's Code was liberal in a lot of ways, protecting women and children and encouraging mercy. But punishments were harsh. Death penalty offenses included breaking and entering, receiving stolen temple gods, making false accusations, helping a runaway slave, medical malpractice - if the patient died - and looting. Does it sound like Texas?..."
Not sure what about protecting women and children and showing mercy is liberal, but...
And really? Texas death penalty is for the worst, heinous acts of murder, not any little crime. Stuff like these comments on most of the notes struck me as flippant and really not someplace where I would send a history student wanting to learn more.
"Babylon's King Hammurabi wrote Mesopotamia's great law code. Hammurabi's Code was liberal in a lot of ways, protecting women and children and encouraging mercy. But punishments were harsh. Death penalty offenses included breaking and entering, receiving stolen temple gods, making false accusations, helping a runaway slave, medical malpractice - if the patient died - and looting. Does it sound like Texas?..."
Not sure what about protecting women and children and showing mercy is liberal, but...
And really? Texas death penalty is for the worst, heinous acts of murder, not any little crime. Stuff like these comments on most of the notes struck me as flippant and really not someplace where I would send a history student wanting to learn more.
November 30, 2014
This historical fantasy follows Jason Gallo on a quest to find and rescue his father. With the aid of a mysterious woman, Jason finds himself stranded in ancient Sumer. Soon, he must flee down the only path open to him, the Jericho River, along with a catlike creature called a Lumin.
So, first off, not only are the characters interesting, but I really dig the journey through time aspect. Before each new stop along the Jericho River, short history lessons prime the reader for the coming time and place. I thought it was clever to use Jason's father in the story as the speaker for these lessons. And then, after all is said and done, there are the foot notes. I didn't read them when they popped up in the story, but I did after I finished it. So basically, not only is this a fantastic adventure, but also an educational one.
As for the adventure and the quest, they are really well done. Jason is chased by a mysterious organization. He faces danger and struggles with insecurities. He falls for a girl, trusts the wrong people, and the right ones, too. And he comes to appreciate his father's love for history in the best way possible, by experiencing it.
As for things I didn't like, I suppose it was a bit disturbing to see how progress brought destruction, tearing down everything that came before, not just the bad but the good as well. Then again, I think a story like this does have to show that, because it's reflective of real life. I also noticed that the story was a bit jumpy in places, probably because of the drastic shifts in time and location. Some weren't that much of a jump, but they become so the farther down the river the heroes travel. I also had trouble buying the romance, it was a bit too immature, though probably realistic for the age of those involved.
Overall, I'd recommend this story to people who like adventure with a touch of magic and history.
I came across this story when searching for free Kindle books. Looked interesting, so I picked it up.
So, first off, not only are the characters interesting, but I really dig the journey through time aspect. Before each new stop along the Jericho River, short history lessons prime the reader for the coming time and place. I thought it was clever to use Jason's father in the story as the speaker for these lessons. And then, after all is said and done, there are the foot notes. I didn't read them when they popped up in the story, but I did after I finished it. So basically, not only is this a fantastic adventure, but also an educational one.
As for the adventure and the quest, they are really well done. Jason is chased by a mysterious organization. He faces danger and struggles with insecurities. He falls for a girl, trusts the wrong people, and the right ones, too. And he comes to appreciate his father's love for history in the best way possible, by experiencing it.
As for things I didn't like, I suppose it was a bit disturbing to see how progress brought destruction, tearing down everything that came before, not just the bad but the good as well. Then again, I think a story like this does have to show that, because it's reflective of real life. I also noticed that the story was a bit jumpy in places, probably because of the drastic shifts in time and location. Some weren't that much of a jump, but they become so the farther down the river the heroes travel. I also had trouble buying the romance, it was a bit too immature, though probably realistic for the age of those involved.
Overall, I'd recommend this story to people who like adventure with a touch of magic and history.
I came across this story when searching for free Kindle books. Looked interesting, so I picked it up.
November 21, 2015
Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com
The Jericho River: A Novel About The History of Western Civilization has something for everyone. Author David W. Tollen uses his creative prowess to teach history to young adult readers in a most clever way--by turning learning into an adventure story. With a ragtag crew of interesting characters--some modern, others ancient and a few magical -- the group travels throughout time in search of answers. The novel is packed with action, romance, history and fantasy. The Jericho River includes drawings and lots of historical facts and footnotes. The plot moves rapidly, which will keep readers engaged, but unfortunately feels quite rushed towards the book's ending. While the story also leaves several loose ends, The Jericho River is a good tale from a passionate writer and history aficionado.
The Jericho River: A Novel About The History of Western Civilization has something for everyone. Author David W. Tollen uses his creative prowess to teach history to young adult readers in a most clever way--by turning learning into an adventure story. With a ragtag crew of interesting characters--some modern, others ancient and a few magical -- the group travels throughout time in search of answers. The novel is packed with action, romance, history and fantasy. The Jericho River includes drawings and lots of historical facts and footnotes. The plot moves rapidly, which will keep readers engaged, but unfortunately feels quite rushed towards the book's ending. While the story also leaves several loose ends, The Jericho River is a good tale from a passionate writer and history aficionado.
May 25, 2016
Clever concept for a story. Could do with a bit more emotion to offset the feeling the reader is being lectured to. The 'learning about history' concept is just a bit too in-your-face for me. It should just happen along the way while we are engrossed in the drama. Having said that, I did love the lecture notes, that worked well. Just needed a bit more emphasis on the character's reactions to the things that were happening. Maybe that's just a boy/girl thing though, I think I get addicted to the touchy/feely parts of a story. This might be just the way boys like their stories to be.
May 30, 2016
The Jericho River
An enjoyable romp through history weaved into a tale of myth and magic. The book is aimed at young adults and tells the tale of Jason's journey through the dream world of Fore to save his father. He comes face to face with creatures from mythology such as the Minotaur and Faeries and also discovers he is a shaman. I thought the book was original and educational
An enjoyable romp through history weaved into a tale of myth and magic. The book is aimed at young adults and tells the tale of Jason's journey through the dream world of Fore to save his father. He comes face to face with creatures from mythology such as the Minotaur and Faeries and also discovers he is a shaman. I thought the book was original and educational
May 7, 2013
A fun story about a teenage boy who must travel to parallel world called "Fore" in order to find and save his father. I enjoyed the "father hunger" theme and the short historical sketches at the beginning of each chapter. If you can put up with some political correctness and climate change mumbo jumbo than this is a fun and informative read.
December 2, 2014
Imagine a river running through an alternative dream reality. A river that flows through history, where the future lies down stream. This river through time povides the setting for this excellent read. It is well written and thoroughly engaging. An adventure and a history lesson (of a kind) in one highly recommended package.
May 26, 2016
Fun cute story
Great imagination mixed with history. I enjoyed the in between chapters that gave real history today bits as much as I enjoyed the magical world based on folklore. It was creative, well thought out, and well written. I enjoyed it overall even though it was for a younger audience. Would be a good school book.
Great imagination mixed with history. I enjoyed the in between chapters that gave real history today bits as much as I enjoyed the magical world based on folklore. It was creative, well thought out, and well written. I enjoyed it overall even though it was for a younger audience. Would be a good school book.
July 11, 2016
David W. Tollen's novel titled " The Jericho River " is a fantastic and gripping story! When you start reading you get really invested in the plot and the amazing descriptions. This book is perfect for those that want to read a olden days book or just want to know what it feels like to be back in the medieval era! 4 Stars way up!
August 3, 2016
I really wanted to like this book. I love history and historical fiction, but I just couldn't get through it. It reminds me of an educational video game: history lectures at the beginning of chapters, interspersed with content that's just not that compelling on its own. I found the story plodding and repetitive.
July 17, 2013
I wanted to like more than I did.
November 3, 2013
Amazing book! I loved reading it and could not put it down! People who like Greek myths and Egyptians, definitely read this!
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