Christy J. (southernsassygirl) reviewed A Brighter Dawn (Amish Memories, Bk 1) on + 180 more book reviews
It has been a LONG time since I last read an Amish novel as intriguing as this one. It's the first time I've ever read one that featured a dual timeline, and even more importantly, the first time I've read one that had any sort of historical references.
A Brighter Dawn features three sisters in the present day who have just lost their parents to a car accident. Their grandmother believes that it would be best for them to visit their Lancaster, PA Amish relatives as there are things in their past that need to be explained. A long cross-country journey finds Rosene sharing Clare's story of how she traveled to Germany in 1937 and lived there for 2 years. The history of the German Mennonites, the birth of eugenics in World War II, and an introduction to Josef Mengele found me struggling to turn the pages fast enough.
While I have always loved Amish fiction, Leslie Gould is one of the few authors I've not yet read - but I aim to read MUCH more of her work in the future! The depth of research in this story was astounding, and I couldn't believe how much I actually learned in this story that I never knew before. It was heartbreaking to read that the German Mennonites believed Hitler was the key to preserving their religion and way of life. It was hard to read about Clare's two nieces being sent to an institute where doctors were researching their epilepsy and not knowing whether they would live or die. On the flip side, it was wonderful to read about characters such as Dr. Koch who were more than they appeared and fought diligently for what was right.
If you're looking for a different kind of Amish story, then look no further than A Brighter Dawn! It has been several days now since I finished it and I still have these characters in my heart and mind - probably because I can't wait to see where their story takes them next.
A Brighter Dawn features three sisters in the present day who have just lost their parents to a car accident. Their grandmother believes that it would be best for them to visit their Lancaster, PA Amish relatives as there are things in their past that need to be explained. A long cross-country journey finds Rosene sharing Clare's story of how she traveled to Germany in 1937 and lived there for 2 years. The history of the German Mennonites, the birth of eugenics in World War II, and an introduction to Josef Mengele found me struggling to turn the pages fast enough.
While I have always loved Amish fiction, Leslie Gould is one of the few authors I've not yet read - but I aim to read MUCH more of her work in the future! The depth of research in this story was astounding, and I couldn't believe how much I actually learned in this story that I never knew before. It was heartbreaking to read that the German Mennonites believed Hitler was the key to preserving their religion and way of life. It was hard to read about Clare's two nieces being sent to an institute where doctors were researching their epilepsy and not knowing whether they would live or die. On the flip side, it was wonderful to read about characters such as Dr. Koch who were more than they appeared and fought diligently for what was right.
If you're looking for a different kind of Amish story, then look no further than A Brighter Dawn! It has been several days now since I finished it and I still have these characters in my heart and mind - probably because I can't wait to see where their story takes them next.
A Brighter Dawn by Leslie Gould is dual-timeline Amish novel. I thought the story was well-written. The characters are realistic and developed. The story is engaging. It captures your attention and holds it until the end. I enjoyed getting to know Clare and Ivy. Clare's story is intriguing. I like that we get to see Germany just before war breaks out from Clare's point-of-view. There are some interesting twists along the way and a surprise. I can tell that the author did a thorough job researching historical events. I like how she incorporated the history into the story. It is disturbing to read what happened in Germany in the time leading up to World War II. I amazed at how many people fell for Hitler's rhetoric. There is romance, but it is not at the forefront. I enjoyed the mystery as well. Ivy does not accept that her parents were killed in an accident. The facts do not add up for her. She is determined to uncover the truth. I admired her tenacity. The author takes readers from Oregon to Pennsylvania on to Germany, back to Oregon, and a return to Pennsylvania. I like that she included descriptions of the scenery as the group drove across the country from Oregon to Pennsylvania. The story has a good flow. The switch between scenes and time periods was smooth. A Brighter Dawn shows us the importance it is to be open to the truth. It can be hard to hear, but it is better than living with lies. The author gave us rich, developed characters and a complex plot. This is a story that invokes discussion. I suggest reading the author's notes at the end. I enjoyed the first installment in the Amish Memories series. A Brighter Dawn is a thoughtful tale with an atrocious accident, gracious grandparents, romantic predicaments, a lengthy journey, a verbal narrative, and unearthing answers.
