Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 8/26/2017 + 2626 more book reviews

A good book that deals with several deep issues. Death, special needs children, Alzheimer's, and religious differences are all tackled in a moving story of love and healing. Marlena's life is about to undergo some drastic changes. She leaves her home and her beau to spend the summer with her grandmother, whose husband has recently died. Mammi feels a bit lost and having Marlena there gives her a reason to get up in the mornings. A short time after Marlena arrives the family gets word that Marlena's older sister has been in an accident. Luella left the Amish church years ago and married a man who is a soldier and is away at war. Marlena's mother asks her to take charge of caring for Luella's infant daughter, Angela Rose.

I liked Marlena. She is a caring young woman who is happy to care for her grandmother. She's a bit uncertain about her ability to care for a baby, but expects it will only be for a couple weeks. At the beginning of the book, Marlena is not as happy about being separated from her beau, Nat, for the summer. She is focused on leaving her parents' more progressive Amish church and joining Nat in his Old Order Amish community, and being apart may delay their chance to marry.

Marlena's religious life becomes quite complicated. She grew up in the Old Order church, which is where her beau is, but her parents left the church to join the more progressive Beachy Amish. As an unmarried woman, she was still under her parents' roof, so she went also, though somewhat unwillingly. While staying with her grandmother, she is exposed to yet another church, as Mammi is Mennonite. The more time she spends with Mammi, the more drawn she is to the personal faith that Mammi expresses. As she questions her commitment to the Old Order church, she also has to deal with Nat's disapproval. I loved seeing her stand up for her own beliefs and ultimately do what was right for her.

When Luella dies from her injuries, Marlena continues to care for Angela Rose. Though reluctant at first, Marlena quickly comes to love the little girl. I loved seeing the bond between the two grow so strong. I ached for Marlena, who frequently reminded herself that her custody was only temporary, until the baby's father returned from Vietnam and/or his parents were able to take the girl. She is also hurt and confused when Nat also expresses his disapproval of her intentions to take care of Angela Rose for as long as necessary. There are several twists and turns to the story of Marlena and Angela Rose, and the solution was unexpected and heartwarming.

I loved seeing Marlena's world expand during her visit to Brownstown. She has extended time with Mammi, who shares her faith and her memories with Marlena. I especially enjoyed some of the stories of her grandfather and their effect on Marlena. She also meets a young woman and her brother, members of a New Order Amish church, with whom she becomes friends. Just down the road is an Old Order Amish family, the Bittners, who also provide help and support for Marlena.

There is a secondary story involving the Bittner's son Jake or "Small Jay". Jake is fourteen, but very small for his age and what today would be called special needs. He is the only boy in the family and aches for his father to accept him the way he is. Instead he spends his days exploring the area around his home. One day he comes across an old man and his dog living in an old mill. Jake befriends Boston, who can't remember how he got there. I loved Jake's compassion as he endeavors to convince his parents to take Boston in. I loved the way that Boston treated Jake as an adult and the effect that it had on Jake's self-confidence. Jake is also determined to help reunite Boston with his family. One of the things in Boston's bag is a package of love letters that he asks Jake to read to him. Through those letters, Jake begins to assemble clues to who Boston is. I loved the resolution of Boston's story, as a bit of music unlocks the missing piece to his puzzle. It was also interesting to see the effect that Boston had on the rest of Jake's family, especially his parents.

I loved the ending of this book as it shows Marlena's progress in finding a home for her faith and her heart. I really appreciated that it wasn't a sudden bolt of lightning, but a slow process of learning to listen to her heart. The epilogue catches us up on her life and that of the other characters several years later.

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