Duncan's War (Crown and Covenant #1) [Paperback]

Douglas Bond (Author), Matthew Bird (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In Scotland in 1666, fourteen-year-old Duncan learns the value of being true to his faith while fighting against supporters of England's King Charles II, who oppress the Covenanters--those who believe that only Jesus can be king of the church.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Douglas Bond, a high school history and English teacher, has done extensive research on Scottish history and has traveled often to Scotland. He is also the author of the Mr. Pipes series. Bond has earned an M.I.T. in education from St. Martin’s College. He lives with his wife and five children in Washington.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 277 pages
• Publisher: P & R Publishing (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875527426
• ISBN-13: 978-0875527420
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Douglas Bond, author of more than a dozen books, lives with his wife and six children in Washington State. He is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), has a master's degree from Saint Martin's University, teaches English and history at Covenant High School, and was awarded the regional Teacher Award for teaching young people how to write. He lectures on literature and Church history and leads study tours in Europe.

Bond first started writing books when his own children begged him not to read to them but to tell them original stories. He haltingly launched in. They wanted more. Some of those original stories came in installments and lasted for weeks. Then one night in 1999 he couldn't sleep. Ideas began pouring in for the Mr. Pipes books on hymnody. He sat up in the dark, so not to disturb his intensely patient wife, and scribbled out the opening episodes, mapping out the first book before morning. And then he began writing furiously.

And continues to do so. His fourteenth book, Guns of Providence will release in June, 2010, with more on the way. His best-selling book, The Betrayal, has been published by Den Hertog in Dutch. P&R Publishing and now Reformation Trust (Ligonier Ministries), are his primary publishers, with forthcoming books on John Knox and the Scottish Reformation, a childrens picture book in verse on the book of Job, an Anglo-Saxon historical fiction novel, and another volume to the Fathers & Sons series, likely to be entitled, HELD FAST By Christ Alone. And other ideas.

He also has written articles for MODERN REFORMATION magazine and other publications. If you'd like to follow his web site and blog go to bondbooks.net and douglasbondbooks.blogspot.com.

One critic has written that "Douglas Bond is a rising star in the historical fiction genre for older and younger readers." Christian Book Previews

Happy reading!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Piece of Christian Literature, July 5, 2003

By 

Connor J. Hamilton (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duncan's War (Crown and Covenant #1) (Paperback)

When I first got Duncan's War, I had no idea about what to expect. It turned out to be a breath of fresh air from the vast inflow of objectionable fiction that is usually sold today. In less than a week I had read it from cover to cover. Along with a fast-paced, excellent plot, this book offers a very Christian worldview, shows clearly the differences between good and evil, and shows how hard it is to obey the Biblical command of loving your enemies. It makes us keenly aware that Christians in the United States today have it easy compared to the fierce persecutions the devout Scots endured and encourages all Christians to stay in the battle.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We Hardily Recommend this Book (Todd & Terri - KnowledgeQuestMaps.com), February 23, 2006

By 

Terri "KQ Map Lady" (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duncan's War (Crown and Covenant #1) (Paperback)

We started reading Duncan's War by Douglas Bond together as a family sometime during the fall. We became so excited about the story that we had to put the children under strict orders not to touch the book during the day, but they had to wait until family reading hour. "No Peeking!" was the command they would hear when their hand would reach slyly for the book on the end table.

Duncan's War is followed by The King's Arrow and then finally Rebel's Keep. This series, called the Crown and Covenant, follows the lives of the M'Kethe family during 17th Century Scotland as they endured brutal persecution at the hand of King James and King Charles. Those that remained loyal to King Jesus called themselves the Scottish Covenanters. This is the story of those who must wrestle with honoring God and applying His word while living amidst a government that is trying to obliterate Christianity.

As a reader, I was particularly struck with what I would do if I were in this situation with my own family. While reading these stories, I had to grapple with the scriptures as I put myself in their shoes. As a father and a Christian, I want to honor God and obey His word above all else. And yet I desire desperately to protect my children from all outside harm. In the story, the children watch their father's actions as he attempts to obey King Jesus above all others, and while they do not fully understand them at the time, they come to appreciate them more fully later as they grow and mature. The father never compromises his integrity in the midst of war. He clearly keeps the perspective that this life on earth is not the only one we live for. There is one to come. How we live and die here will show Whom it is we honor. This is how I want to live. I want to set a strong example for my children as I live out God's word even during difficult times. While reading these stories, I was struck once again that how we live in this life has implications in the next. We are to live for the Audience of One.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent historical fiction, January 9, 2007

By 

V. Hepperle (Stafford, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Duncan's War (Crown and Covenant #1) (Paperback)

I bought this for my Scottish history enthusiast child, but after reading them myself, it turned into a must read to the whole family of eight, including Dad. Since then, we have purchsed every Douglas Bond book we can acquire. This is a time of Scotland and Scottish Covenanters that I have found few people are familiar with. It is an important addition to a study of the American Revolution in that so many Scottish Covenanters fought in that in Europe it is also referred to as the Presbyterian Rebellion. Mr. Bond also lines out for the reader at the end which characters are documented nonfiction, and which are not, what of the story is fiction, and what is clearly not, and how he changed them. A very valuable addition to our large family library, and to the education of our children. It also shares principles and values that we very much want to instill in our 6 children.