The Miting by Dee Yoder

About the Book:  

Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. She does not desire Englisher fashion, all-night parties, movies, or lots of boyfriends. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. She wants to know why Amish life is the only lifestyle her family accepts, why the church has so many rules, and...most disturbing, how godly men can allow her best friend to be abused in her own home.

In the pressure-cooker environment of church and family, Leah is not allowed to ask these questions. When finally she reaches the breaking point, she walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. Though adapting amiably to the Englisher world, Leah is tormented with homesickness. Returning to the community, however, entails a journey of pain and sorrow Leah could never have imagined.

The miting--shunning--that will now be Leah's unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?

My Thoughts on This Book:

I was very pleased when reading this Amish Fiction story. I've read several Amish stories and have loved each one. This one gives a different perspective that I haven't seen in any other book in the genre. Most books portray Amish as passive, quiet, and of a strong Christian Faith. Non violent and wanting a simple lifestyle to please and worship the Lord.

This story showed it totally different. Leah, loves her family and wants to live in the Amish community and possibly settle down to marry Jacob Yoder, but she has questions about her faith that nobody near her is willing to answer for her. Telling her that it's not up to her to have a one on one relationship with God. Leah wants to attend an Englisher bible study to find out more about God and to see what He has in store for her life. Her family disagrees with her 'rebellion' and this behavior is leading others to believe she should be shunned. 

This story really helped me understand more about the Amish culture and how they see God in their lives. If you are looking for a deeper read that is all about Amish, then I would recommend picking up this story.

About the Author:

 

Dee Yoder's fiction is based on the lives of her former-Amish friends. She is actively involved in the Mission to Amish People ministry as a mentor, volunteer, and author. In addition to writing over eighty short stories, her coming-of-age novel, The Powerful Odor of Mendacity, won the FaithWriters Page Turner contest in 2011. Dee lives in central Ohio.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given.