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Pearl in the Sand

by Tessa Afshar
Moody. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9780802458810. pap. $13.99. CF
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At the age of 15, Rahab is forced by her father into prostitution in order to help her Canaanite family survive. It is a profession that Rahab is good at, and she quickly saved enough money to purchase her own inn inside the walls of Jericho. She is visited by two Israelite spies who tell her of a planned attack; in exchange for housing, the spies promise that her family will be spared. Living with the victorious Israelites, Rahab and her family learn about God. Salmone, a leader of Judah, is leery of Rahab because of her past, but he slowly learns that her dedication to God is genuine.
VERDICT Afshar, an Iranian-born Christian convert, has done her research in this retelling of the Old Testament story. In addition to crafting a well-written tale, she pays particular attention to historical details and setting. This superb debut should appeal to readers who enjoyed Davis Bunn and Janette Oke's The Centurion's Wife or Anita Diamant's The Red Tent.
Reviewed by Nanci Milone Hill , Nov 15, 2010
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