Chris Heimerdinger's "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites" is now in its eighth printing, suggesting that Mormon youth are still enjoying time-travel adventures in Book of Mormon times. Other Heimerdinger books with a touch of science-fiction are "Gadiantons and the Silver Sword" and "Eddie Fantastic." Heimerdinger avoids idealized situations, making his teen heroes very true to life.
But Heimerdinger has taken a giant leap with his newest book, "Daniel and Nephi." Parents may be caught sneaking the book from their teenagers in order to explore the intriguing premise that young Nephi from the Book of Mormon and Daniel, the Old Testament prophet, knew each other as boys. To a reader schooled in types and shadows, this book resounds with the impressive footsteps of Hugh Nibley's Book of Mormon research. Indeed, Heimerdinger submitted the manuscript to BYU's Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) to ensure accuracy of depictions of Israel in this era. But to the young reader, this book signals pure adventure.Heimerdinger's Jerusalem, circa 609 B.C., is beautifully described - occasionally with a jarring word that reminds this book is meant for teens: "The feast began. Serving Levites hurried along the tables with golden plates and pitchers of carefully prepared food and drink. The Sons of Asaph filled the porch of the sanctuary and belted out the first verse of a joyous psalm."
The story begins with Nephi on a trading trip to Jerusalem where he has an unpleasant run in with Daniel, a member of royalty well-schooled in the art of put-down. As Daniel haughtily takes charge of a bolt of silk that Nephi wanted to purchase for his ailing sister, Nephi finds revenge a sweet idea. Intrigue and murder in the palace of King Josiah hand Nephi the opportunity to place the prince in a pauper's role as Daniel's life is sought by evil men.
But as Daniel begins to learn humility, Nephi finds a schooling as well. As assassins close in on Lehi's desert home, oldest son Laman is directed to take his brother and Daniel to safety - on a caravan trip to Egypt. Nephi's much respected older brother is too much at ease with the idols and strange gods of Egypt.
The amnesia induced by the murder of Daniel's father is shattered in Egypt when a savage assassination attempt is foiled: "Daniel studied Nephi's face. As the prince contemplated all that he and this boy had been through, a pang of loss welled up in his soul. But the facts couldn't be ignored. He was a prince. Nephi was a commoner. They could never be friends again, not like they had been. Such things just weren't proper . . . But Nephi saved my life, thought Daniel. He'd taught the prince how to survive on the desert, then again . . . he'd also forced Daniel to clean manure out of the stable. Daniel winced at the memory. Then he laughed inside. What a brat he must have been!"
Heimerdinger's tale is woven with the alliances and traitorous dealings of the time that ended in Babylonian captivity. Historical figures from the Bible take on full-dimensioned personalities and young readers may be able to `liken the story unto us,' something that a man named Nephi, dear to many Mormons, would heartily approve of.