I cannot really say why, but I have avoided any and all types of Amish fiction. I think it is a preconceived idea that all the characters would be unbelievably holy and pious to a fault. However, when I read the back cover of author Suzanne Woods Fisher’s new book Anna’s Crossing, my interest was piqued. Regardless of the lovely girl wearing the bonnet on the cover. So I took a chance and I am happy to say I REALLY LIKED IT!!
From The Back Cover
On a hot day in 1737 in Rotterdam, Anna Konig reluctantly sets foot on the Charming Nancy, a merchant ship that will carry her and her fellow Amish believers across the Atlantic to start a new life. As the only one in her community who can speak English, she feels compelled to go. But Anna is determined to complete this journey and return home – assuming she survives. She’s heard horrific tales of ocean crossings and worse ones of what lay ahead in the New World. But fearfulness is something Anna has never known.
Ship’s carpenter Bairn resents the somber people- dubbed Peculiars by the deckhands- who fill the lower deck of the Charming Nancy. All Bairn wants to do is put his lonely past behind him, but that irksome and lovely lass Anna and her people keep intruding on him.
Delays, storms, illness and diminishing provisions test the mettle and patience of everyone on board. When Anna is caught in a life-threatening situation, Bairn makes a discovery that shakes his entire foundation. But has the revelation come too late?
If had it been up to me to board a ship and head for the Americas for my family, we would still be living in Europe. I cannot fathom tolerating the conditions Fisher writes about in Anna’s Crossing. At first I thought I wouldn’t be able to get passed the living conditions Fisher describes. Truly, just reading about them was a bit disheartening. I have the tendency to feel with characters and I wasn’t sure I wanted to suffer through their predicament! But, I am so very glad I did. There is so much more to this story than you might imagine. It seems as if Suzanne Woods Fisher must spend much time carefully planning her story, knowing from the very beginning the twists and turns she will include. I was excited to uncover the story, piece by surprising piece.
If you love historical fiction, this is a fabulous read. The characters are believable and not at all how I imagined them to be. I am excited to have found another author I enjoy.
About the Author
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series, the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, and the Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Learn more about Suzanne Woods Fisher on her website, www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.
I was given a complimentary copy of Anna’s Crossing by its publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated.
