Lenny happened to notice his blurry reflection on the windowpane. He knew it was his image; nevertheless, he couldn’t recognize his own face. Those almond-shaped eyes and dark-brown hair belonged to him, yet, inside, he felt disconnected from his past, having never known his own father. Grandpa had insisted, “Leonard, needs to come spend a summer at the home-place …” A teenage boy, struggling with his identity, reluctantly leaves his modern, city-life behind and enters the slow-paced, mysterious world of the Amish. Grandpa teaches Lenny to farm with draft horses, a tranquil experience that seeps into his soul, changing his perspective. A neighbor girl appears while he is working in the fields, weaving a romance in the fabric of his summer. Lenny discovers that everyday on an Amish farm is an adventure. Thunderstorms rumble above, as a fragile relationship, between an Amish family and their non-Amish visitor, begins to unravel. Daybreak in a cow pasture, plowing with horses, enchanting moonlit buggy rides, and picturesque sunsets are all part of life, Under the Heavens.
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Sexual Content - 0/5
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Violence - 0/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 1/5
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Summary
This book is a pleasant read¬¬nothing terribly suspenseful or gut wrenching, but an overall good story. A city kid spending the summer with his Amish step family; of course, he hates it in the beginning and can't wait to get back home. His step uncle is not very friendly, in fact, he is always at the ready to share a stern or disgusted look. Most of his step cousins are aloof¬¬friendly, but as though spending time with an English city kid might infect them somehow. However, Lenny has a few sources of comfort and companionship. One is his step grandpa, who spends the summer teaching Lenny in his job as Horse Boy, and in how to utilize the horses on the farm. Grandpa is his greatest source of encouragement, and Lenny finds himself desiring to please the gentle man. He also finds a connection with two of his cousins¬¬but you can read the story to find out why. One of the greatest sources of companionship he finds is with the multiple draft horses which he cares for every day. This may not be a book everyone likes, but I like it because it is the story of an honest lifestyle where hard work is embraced and celebrated and appreciated. The author has done a good job of taking a simple lifestyle and embedding a plot twist which leads to a heart¬warming conclusion. It is worth the read! I liked the character of Lenny. He was easy to like. I hurt along with his hurt, and I found myself cheering when he conquered something new. He made me angry when he talked badly about his Amish family with the grungy, no¬good neighbor, but it is an understandable reaction from a teenage boy looking for acceptance. When this same neighbor started to call Lenny "Will", I began to suspect the ending of the story. I thought the author did a super job of presenting the characters in a realistic way. Grandpa, with the advantage of more living and wisdom, gave more grace and exhibited more patience. Uncle was suspicious and unforgiving, but came around in the end extending love and forgiveness. This particular Amish community did not seem to be as severe and harsh as some are described in other novels, which allowed a wholesome Christian worldview shine through.
Violence:
Language:
Sexual: I don't feel like I can give the book a one rating, but yet want to mention that Lenny's birth came about by his mother in her youth being uncircumspect with a young man she didn't even know. That is explained early on in the novel. It leads to a lot of confusion and resentment for the main character, Lenny, who feels disconnected because he doesn't know who his real father is¬¬nor does his mother
Drug & Alcohol: A very small part¬¬a bit character drinks beer and offers the main character one.