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!