New York Times eBook bestseller!
One fateful starless night, 17-year-old Ira Wagler got up at 2 AM, left a scribbled note under his pillow, packed all of his earthly belongings into in a little black duffel bag, and walked away from his home in the Amish settlement of Bloomfield, Iowa. Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish life—from his childhood days on the family farm, his Rumspringa rite of passage at age 16, to his ultimate decision to leave the Amish Church for good at age 26. Growing Up Amish is the true story of one man’s quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Readers will laugh, cry, and be inspired by this charming yet poignant coming of age story set amidst the backdrop of one of the most enigmatic cultures in America today—the Old Order Amish.
-
Sexual Content - 1/5
1/5
-
Violence - 0/5
0/5
-
Language - 1/5
1/5
-
Drugs and Alcohol - 1/5
1/5
Summary
Overall This memoir chronicles the life of Ira Wagler as he grows up within the shelter of the Old Order Amish. Figuring out if his childhood way of lifeis actually a shelter or a prison is a large part of the book as Ira leaves the faith by sneaking away in the dark of night at age 17 and then comes back again and again. Figuring out
who God is and how he relates to him is the largest struggle in the book as Ira describes the life of the Amish for whom he has great respect and affection. It's the living within the stringent rules that has Ira in trouble. An honest account of growing up and coming to know God, this book is a fascinating, real life account of a culture most of us know little about.
Review by 'reader'