Joshua's Family

Joshua #9

by Joseph F. Girzone

Praise for Joseph F. Girzone"Girzone draws on the wisdom of the centuries, writing [with] humanity and spirit." --"Kirkus Reviews""Girzone's empathy for the loneliness and insecurity of being human guides readers toward a more satisfying religious experience." --"Booklist""It's the living presence in our souls that Girzone seeks to foster." --"National Catholic Register""Joseph Girzone focuses on the heart of the matter, the truth of the Gospel, and the revelations of the heart, and people relate to his words, respond to his wisdom, read his books, and beg for more." --"Catholic Times""Regardless of how hard or how easy you find the way to God, Girzone's spirituality, based on good sense, and his confident, friendly writing will ensure that even if you are alone, you will not feel lonely." --"Schenectady Gazette""Girzone is an encourager who seeks to challenge others with the simple but powerful methods of positive thinking, prayer, and love for others." --"Free Press" (Chattanooga)

Genres: Fiction, Christian, Religion, Spirituality, Christian Fiction, Inspirational

192 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

FROM PUBLISHER:
JOSEPH F. GIRZONE retired from the active priesthood in 1981 due to health reasons, and embarked on a second career as a writer and speaker.

In 1995 he established the Joshua Foundation, an organization dedicated to making Jesus better known throughout the world.

His bestselling books include Joshua, A Portrait of Jesus, and Never Alone. He lives in Altamont, New York.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one in a series of books by Fr. Joseph Grizone. The writing is extremely simple. Characters are wooden. There are few descriptions. There is virtually no drama or conflict. Still: I like these books. There is a...kindness, I guess, that infuses the author's stories. The main character--a version of Jesus who lives and works in the modern world--shows those whom he meets how acts of kindness, patience, and generosity can save the world.

When I was a teenager, my friend and I were in a record store (!) with his father. His dad looked around, looked at what were were looking at, and said, "Where is the nice music?" I thought of that story today when I finished up this book. I am at an age now when I, too, like things that are nice. The Joshua books are nice.

And nice is good.

Four stars because the writing is...well, humble.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This "prequel" to the Joshua series tells us what Joshua's life was like as a boy. Joshua's life parallel's that of Jesus, though the book is set in the modern day US. Miriam, Joseph, and Joshua move to a new town, where Joseph fixes up a broken down house for them. Joshua has unusual abilities and a special kind of Charisma, which he uses for good, such as when he helps a local kid out of a drug problem. [return][return]This is a heartwarming story, though some of the way's Girzone interprets Joshua's character (as a retelling of Jesus) may not agree with everyone. Some of the storylines, like the one dealing with the drug problem, were resolved way to simply and didn't seem realistic to me. Still, it makes for a thought-provoking story.

[Jenny Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love his Joshua series. My cousin recommended it and I'm glad she did.

[Darius Murretti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow ! I really liked this one . Joshua , an incarnation of Jesus , is in 4th grade in the year 2005 .dealing with issues such as God being illegal to speak of in the classroom and drug traffic in elementary schools ....I really really Like this author and his opened minded loving approach . I own this book and will listen to it again and again over the years

Note : This is a work of fiction is any one wants to read a non fiction bios of 3 incarnations of Jesus from Child hood to adulthood and death pick up a copy of HEAVEN ON EARTH http://www.scienceofthesoul.org/produ...

Jesus was the Holy Spirit made flesh and the holy spirit is ever popping up here and there in the human from --same holy spirit that is with God and is God --different bodies , places and times

These bios are alway very heart warming , moving and fascinating to read . These individuals , stars of another firmament quietly and ostentatiously go about their missions on our plane !!

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read all or at least all of the Joshua books. With the exception of this one they were excellent. The problem with this one is theological. In the othe Joshua books you can imagine Jesus coming back and having a major impact. The problem with this is that Jesus was born 2000 years ago, was crucified, died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. To interpret this book Joshua(Jesus) would have been born again in the 20th century.

In addition the drug scenarios that are exposed are an over simplification.

The Joshua family is described as being poor, this is consistent with what one would expect. However, they don’t seem to be in want of anything. Other than the fact that they don’t have a phone( pre 1983, landline) and that Miriam makes their clothes, they don’t experience any of the problems associated with poverty in the 20th century


The book does a disservice to the othe Joshua novels

[Joshua Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel to Joseph F. Girzone's Joshua series is incredible. This book follows a younger Joshua; who comes into his own as the messenger of love that the world needs. Throughout the novel, Joshua is confronted with wanting to be just like everyone else around him but is told that everyone has a special assignment from God from his mother, Miriam.

Although this book does focus on Joshua and his relationship with the children of the village Shadybrook, one of the themes that I recognized throughout the story was the notion that young people are sometimes easily influenced by the violence and evil of the world around them to do things that they normally wouldn't do.

Overall, the book was an amazing attempt by the late Joseph F. Girzone to show the young years of his titular character, Joshua and his own struggles with being a messenger for God in a world overrun with evil.

[Jim Skypeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved "Joshua" and many of its sequels so I thought I'd love this prequel as well. I did not. I found the writing very simplistic and the story line a bit juvenile. Maybe the earlier books were equally simple and I just don't remember them as well (I did read them more than 25 years ago!) Perhaps if this book had been classified as young adult, I might have chosen not to read it since it lacked a more adult feel. I also found Girzone's own prejudices creeping into the book (using words like "sissy" seems inappropriate to me).

[Kathy Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple lesson, but much to absorb

This book is written in very simple language, so it could probably be read by an older middle school student. It gives insight into what Jesus might have been like as a human child as he gradually learned he had a special relationship with his Father in heaven.

[Dennis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little slow moving and simplistic and frankly the writing seemed amateurish at times. Overall it was a nice story. Having read Joshua over 30 years ago and really liking it, I was expecting more of the same. This did not measure up. I'm not sure if its my tastes that have changed or his writing.

[Sofia Alessandrini · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elderly neighbor recommended this book and I was not into it at first. I had a very hard time getting into it in the beginning but it picked up at the end. A good Catholic leisure read. Joshua was a lovable character. I think the author is very talented.

[Beverly Bonsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d recommend this book for all 4th graders and older

I feel that it really would help young people understand that it is not important what you have but how you act to others that is important.

[Ktmholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just discovered this prequel to the inspirational series (Joshua) that I'd read years ago. In the series, Jesus (in the person of Joshua, a woodworker and traveler) returns to the world, interacting with people. This prequel presents Joshua as a boy just starting to be aware of his powers and his differences from others. I enjoyed this story, but prefer the rest of the series, with Joshua as an adult, as they are generally more substantive. Still, I would recommend this especially for series fans.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not finished yet, but I'm more than halfway through. I like it, but it's now really bugging me that it seems inconsistent with the first Joshua book. In the first book, Joshua is a grown man and the time setting is the late 1980's. This book is about Joshua's childhood, so in my mind that means it should take place in the 1960's/70's. However, in this book Joshua is introduced to computers and the Internet at school! When he goes home and tells his parents about it, it is apparent they know NOTHING about computers. Joshua's father has to ask him to describe what a computer even IS, which he has a hard time comprehending. As a reader, I find this very inconsistent. I mean we didn't just go from no one knowing what a computer is to full blown Internet access, AND kids did not have computers OR Internet access in schools prior to the 1980's. Even that is a stretch. I graduated high school in 1989, and our school had a computer lab with very basic computers that could do word processing and not much else, never mind Internet access. No one had even heard of the Internet at that time.

I'm still enjoying the message of the story, but I just find it annoying that it isn't in keeping with the correct time period.

[Laura]

This one was the first books by Joseph F. Girzone which I have read and I am making plans to get the others if not in order whatever is available. I loved this book which points to the hardships and struggles people with minimum monies are viewed by many people. In this one they moved to a house from the description was almost falling apart and with a rental price they could afford. Just a handshake completed the deal. Joshua a young school age boy was more perceptive in that he thought once the house was fixed up the landlord would want them to vacate, and it happened when his father fixed up the house and landscaped the area which now wasn’t a eyesore the realty wanted them to move. In court I love the support the community did by being in the court room, where the judge added up all the improvements as value given. I love him as he interacts with his classmates who were not aware of his powers but as a novice I love reading about his internet searches truths as compared to his already known information. He was instrumental in stopping drugs from getting a foothold (this was so cute – I laughed and laughed at his methods. But most important was his interaction with the seniors. Enough said I really enjoyed this book.

[Ann Watkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuk! Another attempt to parody the life and character of Jesus Christ. I didn't even bother to read more than the first chapter.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

JOSHUAS FAMILY WAS A VERY INTRESTING AND INSPIRING BOOK. IT IS A LOOK AT THE HOLY FAMILIES DAILY LIFE. THIS IS A VIEW OF JESUS DICOVERING WHO HE IS AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH hIS HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE IMPORTANT PART THAT jOSEPH and Mary had with him . Set in modern day time with modern day problems this book is Joseph Grizone's most creative book in the joshua series. I would recomend this book to teenagers and their parents.

[Jennifer Schmidt · Rating 2 out of 5]

i loved the Joshua series but struggled to finish this book, forcing myself not to put it down, in hopes of finding the connection with the previous books. sadly, i did not. the book read like the author wrote it, not a book where the author disappears in the characters. it was truly disappointing.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book. The story line sounded good, but the way it was written made it sound more like a Primary talk than a book. It seemed to be aimed at a very young reader, it just about drove me crazy!

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not anyway as good as the first ones. Characters were too perfect as people. All bad things were made "good" so it was too unbelievable.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved finding out about Joshua as a child.

[Jenny Maggard]

My favorite book of Joshua. All my favorite characters.

[Donald Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

You get a new feeling for the person of Joshua. I have read most of Joesph Girzone's books. They are all a great joy, after reading some of the other stuff that is out there.

[Deacon Ted Schreck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book and action in Joshua, Miriam and Joseph's life in the community. I thought at first the story was weaker than "Joshua" until I got to the last page of the book. Wow!

[Sally Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have always enjoyed these books

[Heather Jarrett]

Another Beautiful Book

[Jeannie Mertens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a pleasant, refreshing book!