A small book with clear text and manageable chapters, this book is aimed at ‘tweens’ ~ kids between nine and thirteen years old. It charts the story of a lamb growing into a young ram and being tempted by adventures outside the safety of the Good Shepherd’s flock.

If you’ve ever read Pilgrim’s Progress or Hind’s Feet on High Places you’ll know what I mean by this story being an allegory of Jesus and our life with Him. I was initially sceptical that I would be able to embrace the sheep and shepherd analogy in a story of this kind but I found I was drawn in by the style, gentle pace and character of this charming tale. There is drama aplenty as Sherman the sheep decides to go against the wishes of his parents and his Shepherd and the beauty and love with which the Shepherd is portrayed brought a tear to my eye. The Shepherd’s love and concern for, and knowledge of, his lost sheep is almost tangible.

What did you like about it?

The language and style was evocative, I did care for the characters involved and the gentle but clever use of allegory did please me.

What didn't you like?

The text is double-spaced, the cover is lacklustre and unimaginative and the main character is a sheep called Sherman; it really isn’t going to appeal to its target audience. However the subject area, that of growing up and rebelling and being led wayward isn’t really aimed at a younger age range. Therefore it is my feeling that this book may lack a substantial readership. Sadly, as the story does show some promise.

What will you still remember a year from now?

I will still remember the Shepherd calling the wayward black sheep, but not going to him, waiting for the sheep to make his own choice about whether to follow.

Who would you recommend this book to?

I’m not sure. Every now and then I hear a parent say they wish they could find good stuff for kids in this age bracket to read. I would recommend this as a story but not without reservation. It might be a book better read to a group for discussion than bought for an individual young teen.

Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?

‘Lately, though, he had grown strangely restless. The lambs’ games were not as fun. Their explorations grew stale and routine. The company of the little ones was somehow not enough. For Sherman, it was all quite puzzling. But his father Bertram understood very well: unlike his younger friends, Sherman the sheep was a lamb no more.’

‘So Sherman leaped to his feet. His legs were shaking so violently he could barely stand. He cried out wildly, “HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP ME!” This, of course, was exactly the wrong thing to do, for each cry only guided the wolf and brought it closer. But poor Sherman was completely confused. The wolf would howl, Sherman would cry, and the wolf would draw closer still.’

review by Hilary