The Tear Jar incorporates historical elements into a fictional story that will conquer any reader’s quest for adventure!
When Alexander the Great devastates the town that young Nicholas lives in, he loses more than just his hometown. His family is taken captive as slaves. Showing extraordinary resilience and determination for his age, twelve year old Nicholas sets his sights on confronting Alexander the Great in person and repatriating his family. What follows is an adventure of epic proportions.
The journey that Nicholas takes is fraught with dangers, from marauders and traitors to wild animals and prisons. More remarkable than the perils that he faces are the friendships and loyal companions that he finds along the way, sometimes from the people whom he would least expect! For example, Nicholas’s closest companion is an unlikely one, an injured soldier that had fought with Alexander against his town. But the two quickly overcome their prejudices and differences as their mutual respect grows. Many other interesting characters are encountered along their journey, including a crazy olive-selling old prophetess, an orator that spews wisdom, and perhaps even a Greek god or two.
D. E. Powell’s writing proceeds at a pleasant pace, with short chapters that consistently provide something exciting or amusing. The smart dialogue between characters keeps your attention throughout. The Tear Jar incorporates historical elements into a fictional story that will conquer any reader’s quest for adventure!
