Samuel, Moroni's Young Warrior
by Clair M. Poulson
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Covenant Communications (American Fork, Utah): June 1993. Trade paperback: iv, 264 pages. ISBN-10: 1-55503-553-1 Suggested retail price: $8.95 (US) Tags: farriers; horses; Religious; war; Youth Tactical strength: [3/10] |
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Poulson sets his story during the Nephite-Lamanite wars around the time of Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon. Samuel, a young Nephite boy, is instrumental in helping the Nephite army recapture Samuel's small town that had been overrun by the Lamanites. Samuel goes on to have many adventures that amount to a rite of passage.
Poulson does a good job at getting his characters into trouble, but never makes them work hard enough at a solution. Mostly the characters are rescued by luck or chance, not their wits or courage. For example, Samuel sneaks out of his village by swimming in the river that passes under the city wall. His water bag strap gets caught on the underwater grating, but at the last minute before Samuel runs out of air, the strap comes loose. Just like this example, nearly every conflict gets resolved by coincidence or chance and is quite boring.
Do you think the pre-Columbian American natives had horses? And assuming they did, were the horses shod by a farrier? Poulson would have us believe so. Samuel's father is the most famous blacksmith in the Zarahemla area. This is just one of many anachronistic items that are carelessly used in the story including blue, velvet-covered chairs, a United States-style judicial system, and corrals. These are so prevalent that you can't help but feel you are reading a western and wondering when the pistol shootout with the bad guys will take place.
The action is fast paced, and Poulson does build suspense well, but I was disappointed by the resolution of almost all the conflicts that I can't really recommend this book to your children, let alone adults.
