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Miriam
When Miriam accompanies her baby brother, Moses, to Pharaoh's palace, she begins to dream of becoming important. But when the suffering of the Hebrews grows worse, must she choose between her heritage and her new life?
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Beatrice Gormley
47 books29 followers Born in Glendale, California, Beatrice grew up in Southern California. After graduating from Pomona College, she worked in publishing near San Francisco. There she met and married Robert Gormley, and they moved to Massachusetts. They have two daughters.
Since age 9 Beatrice had wanted to become a writer. But it wasn't until after her children were born that she really focused on her writing. In 1981 her first book, Mail Order Wings,was published. Since then she's written many popular novels and biographies for young people. Her most recent books are Second Lives, a novel of humans and other animals, and the biography Joe Biden: Our 46th President.
Since age 9 Beatrice had wanted to become a writer. But it wasn't until after her children were born that she really focused on her writing. In 1981 her first book, Mail Order Wings,was published. Since then she's written many popular novels and biographies for young people. Her most recent books are Second Lives, a novel of humans and other animals, and the biography Joe Biden: Our 46th President.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 23, 2008
In this imaginative work the author portrays an extra-Biblical account of a portion of the life of Miriam (the sister of Moses). The book is set during the reign of Rameses the Great of Egypt. It is told by two people -- Miriam and Nebet, the chief lady-in-waiting for Pharaoh's daughter. A brief history of the Hebrew people since the days of Joseph introduces the book. The family of Moses is portrayed as a poor tenant farm family on an Egyptian estate. Miriam is introduced in the context of a family gathering -- a celebration of Aaron's weaning. Moses is not yet conceived. As the book progresses, we glimpse the daily life of the Hebrew tenant farmers and how their servitude to the Egyptians affects them. (And there is almost nothing in this book that even reminds one of scenes from the movie, The Ten Commandments.)
This book focuses on Miriam. The author tries to show her gradually becoming aware of what appears to be a gift of prophecy such as Joseph had exhibited earlier in Hebrew history. When special wisdom is needed, Miriam's grandfather exhorts her to think of the problem and to see if God sends a dream and to report in the morning. This sort of episode is often repeated through the book.
The only part of the book which is supported by the book of Exodus is the edict that the Hebrew baby boys must be thrown into the Nile, that Moses' family hid him until they could no longer do so, and that he was put by his family into a basket that could float before being put into the Nile. It is also Biblical that Pharaoh's daughter's maids pulled him out and gave him to her, and that Miriam offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse him.
The rest of the book is full of Miriam's life the way the author imagined it might have happened. It had always been my impression from the Biblical account that Miriam took Moses back home to his mother to be in her care until he was weaned, and that then he was given back to Pharaoh's daughter. In this book, Miriam, Moses, and their mother all go to the palace, living in the servant's quarters among Egyptian servants. Miriam takes Moses to the palace garden every afternoon and waits while the princess plays with him and holds him. And then she takes him back to his mother. Miriam begins to fit into life in the palace. When the attempts to make her into a dancing girl fail because she won't remove her modest Hebrew garments, they finally teach her to play the lute, which she loves, instead. She becomes a favorite of Nebet, who seems to be in charge of all servants of the princess. Very little is said about any relationship between Moses and his mother, though sometimes other family members come to the palace to visit. Miriam's mother is portrayed as homesick and unable to adjust to palace life. Miriam begins to conform more and more to Egyptian dress and customs at the urging of Nebet, and changes back into her Hebrew clothes before entering the servants' quarters where her mother is.
Near the end of the book there is a surprise visit from the High Priest of Amon-Re -- the one who has been behind the mistreatment of the Hebrews. Nebet knows all Hebrews must be out of the palace before they are found. It's decided that Moses can stay, since the people have accepted the story that he was given to the barren princess as a miracle baby by the God Osiris. Miriam's mother was escorted to the dock by a palace servant to be sent home. But Nebet can't bear to part with Miriam and offers her the chance to go and live with a rich Mycenaean merchant when her mother returns home, and then to return to the palace after a few months as an maid from Doria to be hired as Nebet's handmaiden.. Miriam justifies this to herself as the only way to be able to keep an eye on Moses. She actually agrees. (All this has happened quickly, and Miriam is still in her Egyptian dress) But then she parts with her mother. And as Miriam tells it:
I stood in the middle of the servant's courtyard, as stunned as if Imma had slapped my face. THIS IS NOT MY DAUGHTER, THIS GIRL IN THE SHAMELESS DRESS, THIS GIRL WITH PAINTED EYELIDS, she had said, looking me up and down. THIS IS AN EGYPTIAN DANCING GIRL NAMED MERY. And then she had turned to leave with the guard. When she was almost out of the gate, I cried out, "IMMA!"
Then my mother turned back, and I saw her tears. "God pity me!" she cried. "To lose a son and a daughter on the same black day.!" Before the guard could pull her away, she raised a hand and added, "SHALOM, Miriam. Go with God."
As Miriam waits at the Nile for the merchant's ship, she ponders the parting words of her mother, reflects on what God's plans for her might be, and decides at the last minute to take a barge in the direction of her family and to go back home instead. She has chosen to remain with her people, and suffer with them rather than returning to the palace for an easy life.
If one wants an interesting portrayal of life in Egypt just before the Exodus and does not care if it is true to the Biblical account, this might be just right. From the palace to the Hebrew villages we meet interesting characters and observe both Hebrew and Egyptian celebrations and customs. But I wish the author had not used Miriam as the way to get into the palace for a look around and instead chosen some other vehicle.
This book focuses on Miriam. The author tries to show her gradually becoming aware of what appears to be a gift of prophecy such as Joseph had exhibited earlier in Hebrew history. When special wisdom is needed, Miriam's grandfather exhorts her to think of the problem and to see if God sends a dream and to report in the morning. This sort of episode is often repeated through the book.
The only part of the book which is supported by the book of Exodus is the edict that the Hebrew baby boys must be thrown into the Nile, that Moses' family hid him until they could no longer do so, and that he was put by his family into a basket that could float before being put into the Nile. It is also Biblical that Pharaoh's daughter's maids pulled him out and gave him to her, and that Miriam offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse him.
The rest of the book is full of Miriam's life the way the author imagined it might have happened. It had always been my impression from the Biblical account that Miriam took Moses back home to his mother to be in her care until he was weaned, and that then he was given back to Pharaoh's daughter. In this book, Miriam, Moses, and their mother all go to the palace, living in the servant's quarters among Egyptian servants. Miriam takes Moses to the palace garden every afternoon and waits while the princess plays with him and holds him. And then she takes him back to his mother. Miriam begins to fit into life in the palace. When the attempts to make her into a dancing girl fail because she won't remove her modest Hebrew garments, they finally teach her to play the lute, which she loves, instead. She becomes a favorite of Nebet, who seems to be in charge of all servants of the princess. Very little is said about any relationship between Moses and his mother, though sometimes other family members come to the palace to visit. Miriam's mother is portrayed as homesick and unable to adjust to palace life. Miriam begins to conform more and more to Egyptian dress and customs at the urging of Nebet, and changes back into her Hebrew clothes before entering the servants' quarters where her mother is.
Near the end of the book there is a surprise visit from the High Priest of Amon-Re -- the one who has been behind the mistreatment of the Hebrews. Nebet knows all Hebrews must be out of the palace before they are found. It's decided that Moses can stay, since the people have accepted the story that he was given to the barren princess as a miracle baby by the God Osiris. Miriam's mother was escorted to the dock by a palace servant to be sent home. But Nebet can't bear to part with Miriam and offers her the chance to go and live with a rich Mycenaean merchant when her mother returns home, and then to return to the palace after a few months as an maid from Doria to be hired as Nebet's handmaiden.. Miriam justifies this to herself as the only way to be able to keep an eye on Moses. She actually agrees. (All this has happened quickly, and Miriam is still in her Egyptian dress) But then she parts with her mother. And as Miriam tells it:
I stood in the middle of the servant's courtyard, as stunned as if Imma had slapped my face. THIS IS NOT MY DAUGHTER, THIS GIRL IN THE SHAMELESS DRESS, THIS GIRL WITH PAINTED EYELIDS, she had said, looking me up and down. THIS IS AN EGYPTIAN DANCING GIRL NAMED MERY. And then she had turned to leave with the guard. When she was almost out of the gate, I cried out, "IMMA!"
Then my mother turned back, and I saw her tears. "God pity me!" she cried. "To lose a son and a daughter on the same black day.!" Before the guard could pull her away, she raised a hand and added, "SHALOM, Miriam. Go with God."
As Miriam waits at the Nile for the merchant's ship, she ponders the parting words of her mother, reflects on what God's plans for her might be, and decides at the last minute to take a barge in the direction of her family and to go back home instead. She has chosen to remain with her people, and suffer with them rather than returning to the palace for an easy life.
If one wants an interesting portrayal of life in Egypt just before the Exodus and does not care if it is true to the Biblical account, this might be just right. From the palace to the Hebrew villages we meet interesting characters and observe both Hebrew and Egyptian celebrations and customs. But I wish the author had not used Miriam as the way to get into the palace for a look around and instead chosen some other vehicle.
August 2, 2011
This historical novel is set during the time when the Hebrews lived in Egypt, and were considered inferior to the Egyptians. This is the story of how Moses was saved by the Egyptian princess Bint-Anath, told in alternating chapters by his sister Miriam and the princess's primary lady-in-waiting, Nebet. It illuminates a period that is covered by only a few sentences in the Bible, so I found it fascinating. I found the descriptions of daily life at that time for both the Hebrews and the Egyptians most interesting. Gormley did her research! What I especially liked was the conflict Miriam faced as she found herself having to conform to Egyptian ways in order to help her brother, and the temptation of giving in to them completely. In the end, Miriam has to decide if she if a Hebrew or an Egyptian girl. Great Biblical historical novel! Recommended.
February 9, 2009
An excellent exploration of what might have happened in between the few lines given to Miriam in the Book of Exodus. Heavy emphasis on the description "Miriam the prophetess."
April 3, 2025
This was my favorite book in middle school.
Reading it again now I notice that the prose won't win any awards, yet I still enjoy the book and not just for nostalgia. It's a good story with good characters, good structure, and worthwhile themes.
An imaginative telling of the story of Miriam, this biblical fiction book is is written for middle grade or highschool. It has a simple (but effective) plot structure: Miriam's attempts to blend into Pharaoh's household (both because of her desire to be accepted by others and because of the danger of being recognized as Hebrew in the current political climate) comes into conflict with her loyalty to her people and her God. There are two POV characters - Miriam herself, and Nebet, the clever Egyptian housekeeper who takes Miriam under her wing. There is some imagery, some creative dream sequences, and some humor. It's a cross-cultural story, which I enjoy. And it has good themes without being moralistic or cheesy.
I enjoyed the reread.
Reading it again now I notice that the prose won't win any awards, yet I still enjoy the book and not just for nostalgia. It's a good story with good characters, good structure, and worthwhile themes.
An imaginative telling of the story of Miriam, this biblical fiction book is is written for middle grade or highschool. It has a simple (but effective) plot structure: Miriam's attempts to blend into Pharaoh's household (both because of her desire to be accepted by others and because of the danger of being recognized as Hebrew in the current political climate) comes into conflict with her loyalty to her people and her God. There are two POV characters - Miriam herself, and Nebet, the clever Egyptian housekeeper who takes Miriam under her wing. There is some imagery, some creative dream sequences, and some humor. It's a cross-cultural story, which I enjoy. And it has good themes without being moralistic or cheesy.
I enjoyed the reread.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews