Life is never so good until it suddenly is not. As Lena Rose Schwartz
readies her cute little blue-eyed blonde brother for his first day of
school, she knows that many things are soon going to change. The
arrival of two police officers at her family's doorstep in Centreville,
Michigan on that fateful day in August 1977 soon makes that stunningly
clear. Her parents have been killed in a traffic collision and Lena and
her nine younger siblings are now orphans.
More shock comes when her uncle and community deems that it is just
not feasible to keep such a large family together. The children are soon
divided up to live with various families there. Then, Lena Rose is told
that her father's second cousin, Harley Stolzfu, and his wife Mini, have
offered her a place in their home and an opportunity to work so Lena
can send money back to help support her younger sisters and brothers.
Their community is in Leacock Township, Pennsylvania. So far away!
Will her family even be together again? How will things turn out for
Lena Rose? What can God's plan for her possibly be?
When one thinks of Amish related writers, Beverly Lewis' name always
comes up top of mind. As a master storyteller with over a hundred
books published, she is well-known for her inspirational works and THE ROAD HOME is no exception to
that legacy. Readers new to Lewis as well as her many long-standing
fans are sure to relish in THE ROAD
HOME.
What is most impressive about Lewis is her talent in giving that
authentic voice and realistic mannerisms in which she describes her
settings and characters, so they all spring vividly to life. Lewis brings
incredible knowledge and research about the Amish to this work and
one of the most interesting features in THE ROAD HOME is her comparisons between the
differing clothing and cultural practices between the Pennsylvania and
Michigan Amish communities as noted by Lena.
Right from the first page, I felt Lena's pain, sadness, and shock; yet,
her thoughts and words make her reactions very realistic. One just
wants to read on to see how the plot develops. Different perspectives
are also reflected in the thoughts and comments of others. The
characters in THE ROAD HOME are
very likable and the dialogues between each other sound so authentic,
it makes you feel as if you are right there listening to what is being said.
In many ways, THE ROAD HOME is
also a story about Lena Rose's spiritual growth in faith, so part of the
story seems a bit slow as she grapples with her internal concerns and
lessons learned. I quite enjoyed these aspects, but my main quibble is
that I found Lena Rose a little too perfect in all her actions and
thoughts. Still, a good opportunity to think about my own faith and
challenges.
Given that, I believe many readers are sure to find inspiration and hope
from the love and compassion expressed in THE ROAD HOME. So, grab a copy and get on the path
to enjoy a trip on THE ROAD HOME!
Sent from Michigan to Pennsylvania following the tragic
death of her Amish parents, Lena Rose Schwartz grieves
her loss and the separation from her nine siblings.
Beside the fact that Lena has never been so far from
home, she hasn't met the family she will now be living
with. But worse than that is having to live apart from
her close-knit brothers and sisters. How will they manage
without her to care for them--especially six-year-old
Chris? And will her new beau, Hans Bontrager, continue to
court her despite the many miles between them?
Yet even as Lena Rose holds on to hope for a reunion with
those she loves most, she discovers that Lancaster holds
charms of its own. Is she willing to open her heart to
new possibilities?
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