Four siblings. Two ancient worlds.
One last chance to shape her destiny.
Set on the banks of the Jordan River over three thousand years ago, Last Days in Moav blends romance, mysticism and betrayal in a story told in multiple voices.
16-year-old Milcah and her twin brother Gidon have a mysterious healing gift that makes them both sought after and feared by their tribe. Unjustly accused of a crime she didn’t commit and promised in marriage to a scoundrel, Milcah undertakes a dangerous journey in a bid to take control of her future.
Narrated by four siblings—including a brother who speaks from the spirit world—this YA novel explores the passions and dramas of an Israelite family as they prepare to cross into the Promised Land.
Sharon Reiss Baker is the author of the debut YA historical novel Last Days in Moav and acclaimed picture books All Kinds of Strong (a PJ Library selection) and A Nickel, A Trolley, A Treasure House (Sydney Taylor Notable). While her writing habit began in fourth grade with a story about a spider-eating baby, her professional path led to Harvard University and a career as a teacher and administrator. Drawing on her experiences living in Israel, France, Puerto Rico, and across the U.S., Sharon fills her pages with settings as diverse as Middle Eastern deserts, gritty New York tenements, and the rolling hills of Connecticut chicken farms.
BEHIND THE SCENES
The Sheep Herding Disaster
I thought I had the hang of ancient sheep-herding until one rebellious lamb decided to stage a getaway. Let’s just say my shepherd skills need work!
Click to see if I ever caught that lamb.
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The Forbidden Shore
I stood close enough to throw a stone at the ancient site of the Encampment—but Covid-19 red tape kept it just out of reach.
See the ‘Forbidden Shore’ through my binoculars.
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Tastes of the Past
The blueprint for my ancient market wasn’t found in a textbook. I found it in the shouting vendors and cumin-scented air of modern-day Jerusalem.
Step into the bustling sights of the shuk.
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