The Ephraim Chronicles is a sweet story of a young boy who, after the accidental death of his mother, finds himself wandering the woods in the dead of winter, terrified and hungry. He and his mother had been fleeing a tyrannical father, looking for a better life in a distant city, when his mother lost control of their automobile.

The young boy, Danny Evans, spends the next few years learning to survive in the wilds of nature. In the process, he befriends a mother bear and her young cub, who Danny names "Ephraim." Danny quickly learns the essentially gentle and nurturing nature of the giant beast. As a part of the family, he accompanies them as they search for food and for shelter.

Eventually, Danny is discovered and taken into the home of a kindly professor who tries to instill his own values -- those of an unbeliever -- into his young charge.

The contrasts between city life and life as a "savage" in the wilderness are nicely contrasted. You can take the boy out of the jungle, but can you take the jungle out of the boy? This theme is played several times, with hilarious consequences. Danny is clearly not ready for "prime time," but he has a good heart and he's a quick learner.

The Ephraim Chronicles tells an interesting story simply and sparely. There is hardly a wasted word in its 180 pages. Nelson is an effective story-teller, knowing how to pace a story and how to bring together elements of the tale without losing the attention of the reader.

Some may complain that this book is a bit too spare. There were several scenes where I thought the drama could have been enhanced by a few more paragraphs. I later wondered if The Ephraim Chronicles wasn't intended to be read aloud to children. If so, then keeping the story moving becomes more important.

Central to the story of Danny's journey to civility is his corresponding journey from unbelief to faith. Those who believe in the ministration of angels (as I do) will find much to delight them here. The hand of God is clearly with this young boy, from his initial survival in the wilderness to the marvelous closure he finds in many areas of his life.

I do have one small criticism, and it has to do with what I consider the overuse of commas in the text. Sometimes it makes for an awkward read. An example:

It was late in the day, when he saw the highway, across a sprawling valley of green grass and wild flowers. (170)

Another example:

A few seconds later, the barking from one of the dogs, ended with a single yelp. (75)

If the reader were actually reading aloud, the superfluous commas would cause some difficulty, in my opinion.

This minor quibble aside, I enjoyed The Ephraim Chronicles and believe older children and many adults will likewise enjoy it. Based on a true story, it reminds the reader of the both the harsh realities of life and the kindness of an ever-present God. As we watch young Danny confront seemingly insurmountable difficulties, we realize that life can be lived victoriously if we will only remain open to the whisperings of the Spirit.

-- 
Jeffrey Needle
E-mail: jeff.needle@general.com