The Book of the Shepherd

The Book of the Shepherd
Joann Davis
Hardcover, 208 pp., $19.99
HarperStudio (October 27, 2009)

In this fable inspired by the St. Francis Peace Prayer, Davis re-imagines the prayer and renames it the Law of Substitution. She creates a shepherd, a former slave and a young boy and sends them on an adventure that will test each of them in turn, meeting apocryphal figures like the Storyteller, the Apothecary, a Blind Man, and a Stranger whose stories, skills, and intentions help prepare the three for their final test. They will rely on each other in critical ways, learning first-hand about character, courage, and the priceless gifts that come with reckless generosity.