I Am David: The Classic Story About a Boy's Dramatic Escape from an Eastern European Prison Camp and Journey to Freedom for Kids (Ages 8-12)

This story has so many great literary elements: mystery, danger, adventure, moral themes (justice/human rights issues), emotional highs and lows, not to mention the educational value of understanding the effects of communism and the plight of refugees...but for me the most beautiful element was the process by which David learned to trust God.I saw the movie first, and was greatly moved, which led me to read the book. There is some difference between the two--part of the role of Jim Caviezel's character in the movie is accomplished in the book by another unlikely character towards the end. Also in the movie the identity of the person helping David escape is not revealed till the end, whereas in the book it's established from the beginning, but the mystery there (in the book) is "why" this person helped him. Besides the relatively few story changes from book to movie, the book places you "inside" David's head, whereas in the movie you are an outside observer of his circumstances.Being "inside" David's head allows you to share in more of his thoughts and feelings. The theme of understanding God's character and love for David was very powerfully accomplished in the book. When David loses his compass, he begins to feel hopeless and realizes his need for "outside" help, for which he turns to God. This is such an interesting and beautiful process because he has very limited knowledge of God. All he knows is a small bit of information given to him by Johannes, his late friend and mentor from the camp. Johannes had once told David that a long time ago there was another boy named David who wrote songs about his God and that his God led to green pastures and beside still waters. David made the decision to worship "that God" based on his need for "green pastures and still waters", and throughout the story he addresses God as such in his prayers to him ("God of green pastures and still waters").He begins relating to God on a somewhat "legalistic" basis--sort of an "if you do this favor for me, then I'll do this favor for you" type of system. There are times when he needs God's help, but refuses to call on Him for help because he doesn't feel he's yet "earned" it. There are actually some incredible moments within that though--the extent that David is willing to go to to make his life worthy of God's involvement and to please God. But by the end of the book, through various circumstances (and one particularly powerful, very symbolic circumstance towards the end of the story), God sovereignly reveals His grace to David--not based on what David can earn, but on God's love for him. The story also affirms to David his value and worth to God--that he (David) is worth sacrificing for.And without giving too much away...the story has a very happy, satisfying ending!

The paper quality is ok, the cover is glossy and represents some scenes from the "I Am David" movie (it's beautiful in so many senses!). I can describe the story in 2 words - "beautiful pain".

This is simply one of the best children's books ever written. I would love to see it on "must read" lists for schools. (I'm a children's librarian, and one of the parents in my school also expressed that wish). (SARAH WHITCHER'S STORY by Elizabeth Yates also needs to be on lists of great books). I originally read this as NORTH TO FREEDOM...same wonderful story. It was made into a movie (I AM DAVID), which was good, but not as good as this wonderful book about a boy who escapes a prison camp and finds his way north to his mother in Denmark. There are several wonderful parts. When David wakes up the morning after his escape, he sees color all around him. You can just feel what it could have been like after the drabness of a life inside a prison camp. I wish that the movie had capitalized on that glorious scene. A fellow prisoner dies in David's place when David is almost caught with a bar of soap. Later on, as a fugitive, a dog also takes a bullet for him. Both of these deaths are reminiscent of Christ's self-sacrificial death for all who believe. I love it when stories give us pictures like this. (What Francis Schaeffer called pre-evangelism). Very moving, and with a happy ending. (Movie pluses--Joan Plowright and Jim Caviezel are in the cast. Joan Plowright has such warmth. I loved her in Jane Eyre as Mrs. Fairfax).

This is the touching survival story of 12 year old David who escapes from a European prison camp where he'd lived most of his life then embarks on an uncertain journey to freedom in Denmark. The story reads with a light sprinkle of good Christian characterization, yet without being too forceful. The author, Anne Holm, was born in Denmark on September 10, 1922. She later became a journalist and an award winning writer of children's books, and lived to the age of 76. " I Am David" and its previously published title "North To Freedom" were both published in the United States by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and its successor Harcort Inc., respectively. Anne's original Danish version titled "David" was published in Denmark by the Danish publishing house Gyldendal. I'm not an english major, but I found that the editors at Harcourt were either unable or unwilling to prevent both english translated editions from repeatedly using the improper tenses of the verbs "lay" and "lie" throughout the book. The word "lay" requires a direct object and the word "lie" does not. The misuse of these words however, is not uncommon in professional published material or even in colloquial usage when speaking. Needless to say, this is a wonderful story--and I loved the movie based on her story just as much.

"I am David " I enjoyed this movie even if it does seem very unlikely.A twelve year old boy escapes from a prison camp with the help of a guard at the camp.The same guard fell in love with David's mother earlier in the story and helped her to escape.I guess that is why he helps young David escape.Then once he is out the poor boy is afraid to trust anyone. Finally a lady he meets convinces him to trust her.Then she is able to help him.I recommend for anyone who loves children and likes to see them being helped. I also read the book but it is quite different from the movie.But I like both.

I had recently saw this movie and My friend really isn’t into watching movies she’s more in the book so I purchase this book for her as a gift and she’s so far into a few chapters and she is very much enjoying it I love the fact that the books are always better than the movies after she’s done with this book I’ll be reading it myself

I read this in school and thought I would introduce it to my kids. It's a powerful story about resilience. It wasn't exactly how I remembered but great non-the-less. Can't go wrong with this book.

Muy buen libro, la calidad de la pasta dura es muy buena, sin embargo las hojas en su interior son extremadamente delgaditas. Muy caro para lo que es.

Good

great book. Must read. I read it to my 8 year old daughter. Makes them see life from a different perspective.

I read that the author wrote this book because she wanted young people to read books instead of spending time for doing other things even when they were harmless things. She created a young boy in this book who can be a great example for us. I think everyone should meet this boy in this book.