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Elizabeth George Speare

American
1908 – 1994
Elizabeth George Speare was an American writer of children's historical fiction, including two Newbery Medal winners, recognizing the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". In 1989 she received the Children's Literature Legacy Award for her contributions to American children's literature and one of the Educational Paperback Association's top 100 authors.
On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed The Bronze Bow.
1
Books Reviewed
Cover of The Bronze Bow
The Bronze Bow

4.6/5

reader rating · 2,630 ratings

Elizabeth George Speare's The Bronze Bow is a Newbery Medal–winning historical fiction novel set in first-century Galilee, following Daniel bar Jamin — a young Jew consumed by hatred for the Roman Empire — whose encounter with Jesus of Nazareth forces him to confront whether vengeance or love will define his life. Originally published in 1961 and reissued by Clarion Books, it remains a staple of middle-grade historical fiction and classroom reading.

Reviewed Apr 29, 2026

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Authors Like Elizabeth George Speare
Francine Rivers

Francine Rivers

Historical Fiction
Religion & Spirituality
Francine Rivers's A Voice in the Wind shares the same first-century Roman-occupied setting and faith-under-pressure stakes, exploring belief and political violence for adult readers.
3 books reviewed
An Echo in the Darkness
A Voice in the Wind
As Sure as the Dawn: v. 3 (Mark of the Lion) by Rivers.
June Hur

June Hur

Historical Fiction
June Hur’s Behind Five Willows shares Speare’s occupied-world tension and strong young protagonist, framing historical stakes within a fast, mystery-driven plot.
1 book reviewed
Behind Five Willows
Andrea Catalano

Andrea Catalano

Historical Fiction
Andrea Catalano's The First Witch of Boston shares the conflict of Puritan witchcraft accusations, offering an older-skewing counterpart to Elizabeth George Speare's gentler historical fiction.
1 book reviewed
The First Witch of Boston
Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys

Historical Fiction
Ruta Sepetys's Salt to the Sea brings a similar moral urgency to historical fiction for middle-grade-and-up readers, following characters shaped by grief and hatred during war.
1 book reviewed
Salt to the Sea
G

Gregory Scott

Historical Fiction
Gregory Scott’s The Iron Crossing offers grounded historical fiction featuring a young protagonist navigating violence, loyalty, and identity under an occupying power.
1 book reviewed
The Iron Crossing
Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan

Children's Books

Rick Riordan is the author of "The Lightning Thief," the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, which reimagines Greek mythology in a modern-day setting where the gods are real and their demigod children attend a hidden summer camp. The

2 books reviewed
The Lightning Thief
The Titan's Curse