Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua | 1983 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 2 | The Shepherd | 1990 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 3 | Joshua In The Holy Land | 1992 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 4 | Joshua and the Children | 1989 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 5 | Joshua and the City | 1995 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 6 | Joshua: The Homecoming | 1999 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 7 | The Parables of Joshua | 2001 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 8 | Joshua in a Troubled World | 2005 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
| 9 | Joshua’s Family | 2007 | Joseph F.Girzone | Buy |
The Joshua series by Joseph F. Girzone is a collection of nine novels featuring a quiet, enigmatic carpenter named Joshua who is a modern-day representation of Jesus. In the first book, Joshua (1983), the character settles in a small American town where he carves wooden figures and gradually changes the lives of the people around him through simple kindness and wisdom. The book was originally self-published before being picked up by a major publisher after strong word-of-mouth sales.
Subsequent books send Joshua to different settings, including the Holy Land, an urban neighborhood, and communities torn by conflict. Each novel stands on its own, with Joshua arriving as a stranger and departing once his quiet influence has taken hold. The series ran for over two decades, concluding with Joshua’s Family in 2007. Girzone’s approach is gentle rather than preachy, and the books found readers well beyond traditional religious fiction audiences.