Hannah is a fifteen-year-old Amish girl who lives on her family’s farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When her family, hit hard by the Great Depression, loses their farm, Hannah’s father decides it’s time for a fresh start. Destitute but inspired by grand plans and dreams of a better future west of Lancaster, he loads his family and what little they have left into their covered wagon. They settle in … in North Dakota, hundreds of miles from any Amish community. But things aren’t going quite as Hannah’s father had imagined—his visions of success are shattered by the reality that his knowledge of farming in Lancaster isn’t of much use in Midwestern soil. With the fields barren and her family on the verge of starvation, independent and stubborn Hannah is forced to seek help from charismatic ranch hand Clay Jenkins and his family. Clay is drawn to the independent, strong-willed newcomer who is unlike any girl he’s ever known. Hannah grapples with her own feelings for Clay, an English boy. Her life is more uncertain than ever. With Hannah’s help, will her family get back on their feet and prosper in North Dakota? And what will happen with Clay Jenkins?
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Loved the homestead… a real page turner
The Homestead is Book 1 in Linda Byler’s Dakota series. After dad Mose ran into hard times and handled it in a way that was disapproved by his fellow Amish church members, the Detweiler family are moving from their Lancaster PA home, to start a new life out West. It is a rough, hardsrbabble life that they are approaching, and they have no experience, with this kind of life away from their family and friends – but Mose is convinced that with hard work and faith in God, they will make it. Unforunately, they do this during the Great Depression of the 1930s, so they not only have to deal with the normal searing and oppresive Summer heat – 105 degrees at one point as well as blizzrds, not to mention the backbreaking work of homesteading. But they also have to factor in the economy, and trying to adhere to the ordnung, so far from their brethern. At one point, they are basically about to starve and must decide whether to stay in their new home. Though she is only a teenager, mature and determined, Hannah offers to work in town, to help the family make ends meet. Her dad is strongly opposed to her working among “worldy” people. Then after a heartbreaking and sudden tragedy, the free=spirited but family-loving Hannah is torn. She must decide wehther to follow her family’s wishes and resume their previous life in PA, or stick with the new life she has grown to love – which includes the freedom and space of the new West, not to mention a young Englisch (not Amish) man whom she cannot get out of her mind. I loved how Byler emphasized that even though the Englisch and Amish have differences in beliefs and lifestyles, they are still have things in common and they can work together in love, when it is needed. I will not give away the rest of the story, but suffice it to say that everyone with open minds will end up learning things from each other. At this divided time in our country, I found this emphasis on unity and looking past labels, to be very heartwarming and encouraging! Anyone can put words together and tell a story. But it takes a gift to be able to make the words and characters come alive like Linda Byler can do. I highly recommend her books.
I didn’t enjoy it.
I struggled with the personality of the main character in the series and felt sorry for the husband(s). The pioneer spirit was well defined, though.
I enjoyed this book and the series!! It was a wholesome, interesting book. I enjoy reading this type of books with an Amish connection as I live very close to an Amish community and have great respect for them.
Loved the book
It was a very good book. I read parts of it to my husband and he got hooked on it too. Wanted to know what happened. Excellent read.
Depressing. No sympathy for the protagonist. Weak characters.
There is no conclusion, just abruptly stops.
It is a good description of life in North Dakota during the Depression. I enjoyed reading this story of an Amish family whose deeply religious father decides to move his family to North Dakota. Their struggles and lack of knowledge about North Dakota life and weather are very realistic. The ending is rather abrupt.
All Amish novels I have purchased have been inspirational. Cannot put down. Thankyou.
Ok
Great inspirational story! Highly recommend!
A view into the lives of the Amish makes me want to read more books like that one
This was very interesting book. We don’t usually have books set in the time of the great depression. It was an easy read and am looking forward to the sequels.
Great Book!
I did enjoy reading this book, was a bit perturbed that I have to wait for Book #2!!! I still don’t understand the mindset of the character, why was she so angry and obstinate since day one? Hope I don’t forget to look for the 2nd book when it comes out. Overall a decent read.
A great story. One that kept me reading. Motivation and definitely Christian. Inspiring one to live better.
Enjoyable
My favourite readings are the ones without all the vulgar language, good story line, and interesting. Anything to do with Amish falls under that category. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and many others in the same field. You don’t need vulgarity, blood thirsty nor violence to tell stories….