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The Promise of Zion #5
Freedom Trap
In 1948 while on her way back to England from war-torn Jerusalem, Emily is delayed on Cyprus, where she finds her friend Dov's mother in a Jewish refugee camp and wonders how she can get this news back to him.
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Robert Elmer
90 books68 followersRobert Elmer is the author of more than fifty books, including contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience, nonfiction devotionals like Piercing Heaven and Fount of Heaven (Lexham Press), and seven series for younger readers. Among kids, he is best known for his historicals such as the Young Underground, Adventures Down Under, Life Behind the Wall, and Promise of Zion books. When he's not at the keyboard, he enjoys beachcombing and travel with his wife, and spending time with their three kids and families.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 4, 2023
There are six titles in this Christian YA series and I appreciate the series for the history covered.
Set in 1947 Palestine, readers are taken through the turbulent times leading up to the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel.
The two main characters are Emily Parkinson who lives in Palestine because her father is an English major stationed there by the UN, and Polish/Jewish Dov Zalinski who survived the Nazi death camps and makes his way to the Promised Land where their paths cross. Together they find themselves in various situations, witnessing historic moments and/or relevant scenes of the day.
The characters certainly aren’t the main driving force, and at times are a little annoying, sometimes backtracking from the moral progress they made in a previous book. But all is righted at the very end and both accept Christ as their Savior.
Readers will see history through the eyes of the frustrated British, desperate Jews trying to flee Europe, the Haganah, the Irgun, and a Christian Arab. I appreciate how well balanced Elmer covers this difficult topic and the amount of history and cultural knowledge he includes. The books are pretty informative without being inappropriately detailed for the intended audience.
I was excited to realize that my copy of book #4 (that I recently ordered from Thriftbooks) was signed by Elmer! How cool is that! Especially since I’ve been a big fan of his Young Underground Series since I was a kid (I got them for my twelfth birthday).
Which if you’ve read that series, you’ll be excited to know that Henrik is included in this series! I love that Elmer made that connection so readers could follow up on Henrik after he left the twins.
Ages: 12+
Content Considerations: the death camps are mentioned but no details are provided as to what actually took place there except for being hungry, people dying, being hit and the like. Several side characters die. A character lives through a bombing. A character is kidnapped by the Irgun (tied up but nothing more scary). People smoke. The main male character is hardened by what he lived through but is softening more and more in each book as he encounters Christians and experiences God’s love. A character steals money and feels bad about it later.
Set in 1947 Palestine, readers are taken through the turbulent times leading up to the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel.
The two main characters are Emily Parkinson who lives in Palestine because her father is an English major stationed there by the UN, and Polish/Jewish Dov Zalinski who survived the Nazi death camps and makes his way to the Promised Land where their paths cross. Together they find themselves in various situations, witnessing historic moments and/or relevant scenes of the day.
The characters certainly aren’t the main driving force, and at times are a little annoying, sometimes backtracking from the moral progress they made in a previous book. But all is righted at the very end and both accept Christ as their Savior.
Readers will see history through the eyes of the frustrated British, desperate Jews trying to flee Europe, the Haganah, the Irgun, and a Christian Arab. I appreciate how well balanced Elmer covers this difficult topic and the amount of history and cultural knowledge he includes. The books are pretty informative without being inappropriately detailed for the intended audience.
I was excited to realize that my copy of book #4 (that I recently ordered from Thriftbooks) was signed by Elmer! How cool is that! Especially since I’ve been a big fan of his Young Underground Series since I was a kid (I got them for my twelfth birthday).
Which if you’ve read that series, you’ll be excited to know that Henrik is included in this series! I love that Elmer made that connection so readers could follow up on Henrik after he left the twins.
Ages: 12+
Content Considerations: the death camps are mentioned but no details are provided as to what actually took place there except for being hungry, people dying, being hit and the like. Several side characters die. A character lives through a bombing. A character is kidnapped by the Irgun (tied up but nothing more scary). People smoke. The main male character is hardened by what he lived through but is softening more and more in each book as he encounters Christians and experiences God’s love. A character steals money and feels bad about it later.
February 6, 2018
Enlightening
It is wonderful to read this fictional series based on facts of history. I did not know if the historical events and feel blessed for a deeper understanding. The writing kept me glued to each book and even spent sleepless nights because I couldn't put the book down.
It is wonderful to read this fictional series based on facts of history. I did not know if the historical events and feel blessed for a deeper understanding. The writing kept me glued to each book and even spent sleepless nights because I couldn't put the book down.
July 16, 2008
This is number 5 in a series of 6 which I've been reading with my 10-year-old son. The setting is Israel in 1947-48. It was interesting enough to keep going, especially because my son liked it, but I wished it would move faster.
July 23, 2015
fabulous
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews