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Reviewer’s Choice Award Winner
(Sometimes as a reviewer you can get blahed out on stuff. Like take for instance - Amish books. Not that I have anything against the Amish, but from time to time I get a little worn out reading about them. UNTIL NOW.)
Seventeen year old Hannah Lapp and family are part of the Old Order Amish. They have no electricity, phones, internet, and she has no personal rights. Everything is dictated by the area Bishop and Hannah’s very stern father.
Hannah is a little bit of a spirited girl and for years she’s been secretly meeting with Mennonite Paul Waddell. Paul’s Gram runs a shop selling local produce and goods. Gram knows the two are in love and let’s them use her home to exchange letters and when Hannah works for Gram the young lovers can spend much time together.
Although Hannah does love Paul her behavior with him has always been chaste and pure. As is his with her. Before he heads off to college again, Paul asks Hannah to marry him. They know it will be a struggle because her father will forbid it, but Paul has a plan to ‘earn’ her father’s respect.
Tragedy hits. In one horrible moment, one awful event, Hannah’s life is forever changed. Hannah begins to doubt her faith, her family, even herself. In her shattered world the journey is heartbreaking, yet hope-filled.
WHEN THE HEART CRIES is phenomenal. I started reading it on an hour long ferry trip to Seattle and was half way done by the time I got to Seattle. I carried it with me EVERYWHERE (if you know what I mean) so I could get snippets. I was impatient for the ferry ride home because I could finish by the time I got home. But then I was sad, because I love Hannah and didn’t want to say goodbye. I hurt so much for her, and I got really angry at the author, yelling something like, ‘Can’t you just let her be?! What is wrong with you?!?!??!” (this is not a usual reaction to my reading)
The story is contemporary but has hints of history because of the Amish lifestyle.
Clearly this book will be a best seller.
Reviewed by Linda Mae Baldwin
for The Road to Romance
July 28, 2006
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