King's Arrow (Crown and Covenant #2) [Paperback]

Douglas Bond (Author), Matthew Bird (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Angus MÂ’Kethe, brave DuncanÂ’s younger brother, is no longer a child with a toy bow and arrow. He is now a young man, facing the same persecution and spiritual questions that his entire family has struggled against for years.

Loyal to his family, Angus must match wits in a life-and-death struggle against Highlanders. By faith, Angus turns his beloved game of chess into a tool of victory. But desperate fear grips the Clan with an unexpected murder! Will Covenanters be found guilty? AngusÂ’s true test of manhood and marksmanship will come at the Battle of Drumclog!

The Crown & Covenant series follows the lives of the M’Kethe family as they endure persecution in 17th–century Scotland, and later flee to colonial America. Douglas Bond weaves together fictional characters with historical figures from Scottish Covenanting history.

"Douglas Bond in KingÂ’s Arrow, once again will inspire boys to become men, and men to become men of God." R.C. Sproul Jr., Director, Highlands Study Center

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 215 pages
• Publisher: P & R Publishing (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875527434
• ISBN-13: 978-0875527437
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #448,918 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

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fighting Presbyterian Highlanders, November 14, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: King's Arrow (Crown and Covenant #2) (Paperback)

It has been a long time since I read this book. Let us hope I remember enough about it to make a decent review.

I would hazard a guess that many of the readers of this review are homeschooling mothers with teenage children very much like me. As a 14 year-old homeschooler myself, I feel qualified to give you some feedback.

The main gist of the book concerns Angus M'Keith, younger brother of Duncan M'Keith, who was the hero of the previous work (Which would be helpful to read first, but not, if I remember aright, absolutely essential). He finds himself in the midst of Catholic persecution from the English persecutors of the Scottish Presbyterians. Throughout it all his faith is tested as he follows his father and brother through harrowing adventures.

From a purely literary standpoint, these books are not brilliant. They will not be compared to Dostoyevsky or Austen in future years (not that many books can claim the honor of being their equals as it is!). Nevertheless, nothing stands out as achingly bad prose; Douglas Bond is a solid enough writer.

From a purely theological standpoint, these books are quite good. The main issues it deals with are keeping one's faith under persecution, and under what circumstances it is right to kill your enemies. It is solidly Christian all throughout, and is a book your lads--and perhaps even some of your lasses--will most likely enjoy.

6 of 6 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: King's Arrow (Crown and Covenant #2) (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.