Imagine. . .The Fall of Jericho

This story was about the fall of Jericho in a unique way! Instead of using the Bible, the author used time travel and he took a lonely boy named Jake and made him a hero in Jericho.
Jake goes to summer camp, he lies down by the lake, and he is transported to Jericho a week before the wall falls!
Jake meets a boy named Dair and he follows him through the maze of streets in Jericho, then he warns him and his friend Levi about the nearby Israelite army and how they were going to march around Jericho for seven days and the city would fall to them.
They listen, but then Dair and then Levi are captured by Ka’nah, a murderous gang leader.
You will have to read the story for yourself to see what happens to Jake, Dair and Levi and Jericho!

My son really enjoyed this. It tells the story of a boy transported back to Jericho. There are and guys, good guys and I won’t say anymore for fear of spoilers but I thought it was well written and very clever. Highly recommend.

The story of Jericho is one of my favorites in the Bible. It is all about action and courage, and that is why it is such a good one for the kids - it easily keeps their attention. Jake Henry makes a bridge between today and the past, kids can relate to him and his lifestyle, his issues and struggles. This book brings same old Bible story in a different light. I am glad there are series of books like this one for the Bible believing kid crowd.

Jake is a lonely teenager wishing he didn't have to go to a summer camp where he doesn't know anyone. Before he has a chance to hate it there, he has a magical experience. He dreams that he is caught up in the chaos of the falling Jericho.

I think the author knows his market and the Bible very well. He is able to insert biblical truths and verses without making them feel clunky. The way God speaks to Jake is also real and emotive. At location 580 Jake feels God say to him "Use what I've given you". That felt authentic to me.

Being a 32-year-old woman, I am not the target market for this story. However, I really enjoyed it and I imagine many young people that I know would enjoy it even more. It is fast paced and Biblically nuanced.

It is also a very quick read which is great for younger readers who are beginning to read for themselves. However, this is also one of my critiques. Perhaps it is too short? Jake immediately connects with Dair and Levi and the narrator tells us he "did feel a connection". I didn't. It was too quick. All they had managed to say was hello. A few lines later Levi is called his "new mentor". I could see the storytelling checklist: sidekick? check, mentor? check. Levi has not offered any useful advice or wisdom. He is simply old and therefore fits the bill?

Overall, this was very well thought out and well written for the age group it is aimed at. Personally, I think the story could have been worked through a bit more to give a less bumpy read.

Spoilers...







What ever happened to Ruth? Did she survive the fall of the city?

At location 609 there's a sentence with no object; "The man who embodied evil and who lived to see other people suffer." What? What about him?

Location 614 and 650 In the middle of the climax, we have descriptions of the sunset or Jake taking a moment to wonder if he will ever get back to the camp. This type of thing killed the action for me more than once.

Location 732 Jake adds broccoli to his pizza? The story was at times overly didactic and therefore a little inauthentic. It feels like the author is prescribing to the reader a little too much about how a 'good' person behaves.

While I was reading, the last chapter felt odd and unnecessary to me. With a bit of distance, though, I see the value of showing evil is present in our reality. However, the fire seemed random, perhaps it could be more purposeful? Who set the fire? In the dream, it was the boys.

Imagine: The Fall of Jericho by Matt Koeich is a great story for all pre-teens. Boys especially will be excited to read this book.
Make Henry is not excited about going to summer camp without his friend. He feels left out as soon as he arrives and goes down to the lake to be alone. He falls asleep on the warm grass and awakes to an adventure in Jericho. He meets a boy his age, Dair, and together they strive to save David’s family from the destruction. Is it all just a dream or is God showing Jake how to trust in him and that he is never alone?
As a grandparent I enjoyed this book. There are several twists and turns and surprises throughout the story that will keep readers wanting to know more about what will happen next. I think boys will be especially intrigued by all the action but I believe my 11 year old granddaughter will love it too as she has enjoyed the previous stories in this series and asks when there will be more. This will make a wonderful Christmas gift, if the recipient can wait! It would be a great book for middle school age to read as a group and discuss. We all feel left out or alone at times, especially at the age this story is geared to. I give it 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Jake Henry wakes from an outdoor nap and finds that, instead of being the odd boy out at a North Carolina summer camp, he is in 1400 b.c. Jericho. Quickly befriended by a local boy, Dair, and an old man named Levi, Jake is looking down from the walls of the city when the Israelites appear on the plains below for their first march around the city.

Knowing that on the seventh day the city will fall when the trumpets sound, Jake tracks his time in Jericho by putting a pebble into his pocket each day. As he counts down the days, the reader follows him on an adventure through the streets and into clutches of an evil man, Ka’nah, who rules Jericho’s streets and has imprisoned both Dair and Levi.

An exciting and interesting story that is a fun way for young readers to experience the biblical story with just enough left open for readers to begin anticipating the next Imagine adventure. Recommended for Intermediate grade readers, or for family read-alouds if the danger is not too frightening for younger children (peril and physical altercations, including Jake being threatened by a sword). This is the third book in the series and enjoyment will be enhanced if read in order.
This review refers to an e-galley read through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

My children are older now, but we have some friends with younger children, so I wanted to read books before I gifted them to their children. NetGalley has given me the perfect opportunity to do just that with the Imagine series. Of course, I always come in in the middle, or at the end, of a series, but I can tell from reading book 3 in the series, Imagine: The Fall of Jericho, that it is a really good series. This series take young readers into Bible stories. The story is set in modern times, with modern children that go back in time and find themselves apart of Biblical history. This particular book in the aeries had me on the edge of my seat, ready to find out what happened. I had to pause to fix supper, and I was a little sad. It was a short, but enthralling, read for me, and I loved every minute of it. These books are recommended for ages 8-12, and I believe would be perfect for boys and girls. I can’t wait til Christmas to be able to gift this book to one of my favorite young men.

The Fall of Jericho is another great book in the Imagine series by Matt Koceich a time travel tale for youngsters. When Jake's friend Danny is suddenly ill, Jake is reluctantly heading to summer camp--with no buddy. It looked like it was going to be a long week until he falls asleep at the edge of the lake and wakens to find himself in Jericho--a few thousand years ago. A fun-filled week at camp, right? Wrong, it's Jericho in the last week before its fall. And there begins fifth-grader Jake's adventure experiencing an epic Bible story--one that will bolster Jake's trust in God, the God who must have him in Jericho for a reason. It will take a miracle for Jake to rescue his new found friends, Dair and Levi, but he knows he has to try. The story is action-packed with an interesting twist at the end and is also threaded throughout with the truths of God's Word. Truths that will teach children that God does not make mistakes and they have been created for a purpose and God will help them fulfill that purpose. Imagine The Fall of Jericho is a great retelling of the Biblical account of the historic event and will help readers to know that they can be strong and courageous because God is always with them and made them to belong in His family. I am really looking forward to reading this with my grandkids and also for more books like this from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.

I was intrigued by this, I've always enjoyed the "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" style Time Travel books. To do that with the Bible, and for kids, makes it even better!

Imagine... The Fall of Jericho did not disappoint. I felt Jake's loneliness as he gets dropped off at camp without knowing anyone. When he finds himself in Jericho, he Trusts God did it for a reason, giving him courage to stand up for what is right.

Jake's interactions with the people he meets could be a stretch at times, but fun and action packed all the same.

Imagine... If we could harness that courageous attitude in our daily life. Knowing that God put us here for a reason, and acting like we believed?

This was great for upper elementary school students and middle schoolers.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, though voluntarily reviewed it.

This third installment in Matt Koceich’s Imagine series is my favorite so far. It handles issues pertinent to both Biblical and contemporary society, such as child exploitation and not fitting in, with grace, adding in just enough detail to make sure that young readers understand the situation without it being overwhelming or too frightening. Jake Henry makes a laudable role model, and his situation of feeling alone and unwanted resonates with readers of all ages. His experience in the world of the Biblical Jericho vividly demonstrates a lesson from which we can all benefit: “It’s like God is using this to show me I’m never alone, and I always have a job to do no matter what I feel inside or how crazy the situation is on the outside.” Undeniably, such an outlook on life helps all of us to face our fears and to fully rely on God even when our walls—literal or figurative—are crumbling down around us.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is a wonderful book for kids. It's like a time travel book back to the bible days, It was very well written and will hold their attention. It is full of action and adventure. I enjoyed every minute of this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion and I think this series of books would make an awesome gift.

Great book! The book was very captivating. I could not put it down until I finished the book. I have recommended it to many people.

Imagine… The Fall of Jericho by Matt Koceich is a wonderful fiction story based on the True story of the Walls of Jericho falling down in the Word of God. The relatability of the boy was spot on. There are so many who feel unwanted and unloved and this is a great example of the truth of that untruth. The main character finds himself in Jericho and it’s so intense and frightening, in a good way. A great thing we enjoy about this writer is that he has a way with words and he makes it so colorful and realistic. Relationships are formed and untruths change into truth. Can’t wait to read his next one…
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


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