Rebel Daughter

In this historical fiction book set in the first century of the Christian Era the author, Lori Banov Kaufmann, has heard about a 2,000-year-old tombstone belonging to Claudia Aster who is mostly known as Esther in this book, and is fascinated by it.  Many of the characters were real people whom the author learned of by reading one of the main character’s, Josephus’s, autobiography.  The plot follows Esther from fourteen to nineteen-years-old and her family and relationships with Josephus and finally with her one true love, Tiberius, who ultimately frees her from slavery and marries her.  Sadly, they only have six years together as she dies at twenty-five in childbirth.

The book is often very graphic and true to what the lives of both the upper Roman class and the slaves lived through, whether it was excrement on the roads or the torture or sexual exploitation endured.

The depth of research of the author is evident although the plot seems as though it could have been whittled down in places.

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland