Blood of the Lamb. Book 2. Into the Wilderness by Mandy Hager

Into the Wilderness by Mandy Hager. Pub.  Random House, 2010

Part 1 of this series The Crossing has just won the Senior Fiction Award in The NZ Post Children’s Book Awards and deservedly so.

I can’t tell you too much about this book as it will ruin it for readers of Part 1 and of course those reading this novel. Let me just say it is different in approach than the first part because the scenario is one of survival.

While both Parts have been about faith and belief, in this  book that faith is more sorely tested and is proven both severely wanting yet having an element of truth.

The two white boys Joseph and Lazarus, who are cousins and have had the privileged life of the inner sanctum of the Blood of the Lamb faith, and two brown girls, Maryam and Ruth, who are victims of this faith, are thrown together on a sailing vessel headed to a future they have been told has been destroyed by the Tribulation.

Comparisons with the Great Fleet of Maori to Aotearoa are inevitable.

At their first landfall they find evidence that the Tribulation may well be correct and the Apostles of the Faith were  sincere and as close to God as they claim. But is this true? and are there other islands and lands out there that have survived?

Drama hits the group in the form of strong sexual urges and a clash of faith and temperament particularly between Lazarus and Maryam. With Joseph’s health deteriorating rapidly tumultuous decisions have to be made.

After heading back to sea a huge storm hits the flimsy craft changing circumstances completely. The group find themselves in contact with a situation none of them knew about or can understand.

I can tell you no more, just get out and read it. Intermediate to Senior Secondary in appeal. The action is thrilling.