Spirited Young Woman Encounters Jesus in New Novella for Young Teens

St. Louis, MO, February 25, 2014 --(PR.com)-- In her recently published book, Daughter of Jerusalem, author Joanne Otto depicts Jesus’ last three visits to Jerusalem through the eyes of Mara, a plucky teenager unable to resign herself to the restricted role her society imposed on women. Mara’s growing interest in Jesus’ teaching eventually leads to a face-to-face encounter with him, one that is not only risky, but eye-opening and life-changing.

“This strong female protagonist seems quite plausible to me,” author Joanne Otto insists in light of her years of Bible study. She points out that Jesus had a number of women disciples, some of whom are even mentioned in the Gospels by name, the best known being Mary Magdalene.

Mary actually plays a key role in Daughter of Jerusalem, but readers expecting her to appear as a prostitute will be taken by surprise. “This stereotype of her seems to me to be one of history’s great injustices,” Otto comments. “It has absolutely no biblical support.”

The story of Daughter of Jerusalem can stand on its own as an engaging and enlightening read, but for those interested in delving deeper into Jesus’ life and the world he inhabited, Otto has included an appendix with discussion questions and Bible references, as well as a brief glossary.

Otto’s own lifelong interest in the Bible has motivated her not only to do extensive research, but also to visit many of the ancient sites where the events of the Bible took place. Among the most memorable of those visits were two tours of Jerusalem itself.

Daughter of Jerusalem is available in paperback or as an eBook, ePub, or PDF. It can be purchased from amazon.com, bn.com, or on the author’s website: joanneotto.com. It can also be ordered from Barnes and Noble bookstores.