Zillah's Gift [Kindle Edition]

Lois Duffy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Zillah is an orphan girl who lives in a caravan serai--a "camel motel" ,a safe haven for desert travelers. Her world seems to be limited by the mountain walls around the serai, and the life of drudgery imposed by her mean aunt and uncle. But she is a strong, smart girl who refuses to be defined by others, or by the birthmark on her face that ignorant people think is a sign of a curse. And she has a secret, a gift from her late father, that she defends against bullies and bandits and would-be kidnappers.

Her world begins to change when she sees a strange star in the sky that is invisible to those around her. Soon a royal caravan led by three exotic strangers arrives at the serai with a mysterious goal--they are following that same star. Through a series of amazing events, Zillah joins the caravan as it travels to its destination, experiences dangerous adventures and a life she could never have imagined.

Zillah's Gift is a chapter book for young readers, ages 8 - 12. The book offers a new perspective on the story of the Magi, with a young girl as the heroine. It is a fictional tale that could have happened, but we wouldn't know it because girls' and women's lives were not recorded in those days.

About the Author

Lois West Duffy is a writer living in Afton, Minnesota. A former journalist who worked for a small daily newspaper and The Associated Press, she served as press secretary to a U.S. Senator, became an executive with a Fortune 500 company, and now devotes her working hours to writing. She is at work on her second novel set in biblical history, in addition to writing poetry and essays, some of which have appeared in Talking Stick, a Minnesota literary journal, and in a forthcoming book, Women of a Certain Age.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 296 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004UIL30Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,919 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Storytelling was one constant in our family life during my growing-up years. Another was the church we attended at least three times a week. Naturally, Bible stories were basic to who I became. But, have you noticed how few girls' and women's stories are told in the pages of Scripture? It's a mystery, who and where they were.

Other mysteries intrigued me; for example, who were the "Wise Men" who "came from the East" in the book of Matthew? Where did they come from? And where did they go?

As an adult, I studied Bibliodrama with Peter Pitzele PhD, teacher, author, and creator of this exciting form of biblical investigation and play, where participants take the parts in a story, the leader's questions helping them to tease out new meanings behind the text. (see www.bibliodrama.com) From him I learned to think of the scriptures as "written in black fire on white fire " --the words being the black fire, and the white fire, "the story, the song, the silence" behind those words. I'm grateful that his teaching opened new doors into the scriptures--and a way to imagine the lives and minds of Bible-based characters.

When I read The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell, then Chris Vogler's The Writer's Journey, I knew I wanted to write Biblical girls' hero's journeys. Zillah's Gift is the first of them, and I've started another. Perhaps I'll write at least one girl's story from each of the Abrahamic religions: Christian, Jewish, and Islamic. Meanwhile, readers tell me they want to know what happens next to Zillah--so I've started writing down more of her story too.

Keep watching . . .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine addition to any community library collection focusing on juvenile fiction, November 10, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zillah's Gift (Paperback)

When you have nothing else to look forward too, maybe you need to look to the stars. "Zillah's Gift: A Secret... An Adventure... A Gift" is an ancient Persian story following Zillah, a girl who does not have much in the way of potential prospects for her life. But when she sees a star that no one else can see, this star brings her in contact with the royal family and her life then changes forever. "Zillah's Gift" is a fine read and a fine addition to any community library collection focusing on juvenile fiction.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zillah's Gift: A Must Read!!!, October 20, 2009

By 

P. Goff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zillah's Gift (Paperback)

What a sweet and compelling story! This book also makes a GREAT Christmas gift!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delight!, September 23, 2009

By 

Marilyn G. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zillah's Gift (Paperback)

Zillah's Gift is a delight! I loved Zillah's character, intelligence and adventure. This book will keep you in suspense and warm your heart.