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 … 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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UNDER THE HEAVENS by Thomas Nye is the first book in the Amish Horses series. It’s the wonderfully well-written story of Lenny Gingerich who is sent to spend the summer on the farm with his Amish relatives.
Arriving by train, Lenny feels out of place with his English clothing and ways missing the modern conveniences from home straight off. Finding it hard to talk to his cousins, not understanding the Dutch dialect, and not feeling that he fits in makes it even harder. Although quiet by nature and speaking with thought and meaning, his grandfather treats him as if he’s special. He tells him that he is going to be the Horse Boy for the summer and tend to his own crop. His grandfather shows him the joys of working the horses and the relationship between human and horse teaching him the skills of a good horseman. Lenny finds a special bond with his young cousin Perry through their mutual love of the horses.
Lenny is on a search to find out who his father is, who he is and where does he fit in. Little does he know that he might find the answers when he’s not even looking for them. In his summer journey, Lenny’s outlook on life changes. He learns to enjoy life, appreciate the simple pleasures and to look at his life with new eyes. His summer is touched by the sweet dimples of neighboring girl. He loves being around her and thinks she makes the best black raspberry pies. He finds out she is the same little girl he use to push in the swing years ago on visits to the farm making their friendship all the more special.
During that summer, Lenny finds God and along the way finds himself with the love of his grandfather and some Amish work horses.
Thomas Nye weaves a fabulous story that will have you feeling Lenny’s loss of who he is and the great joy when he finds himself. You begin to understand how the horses work and why they do what they do making you appreciate those that not only work these magnificent animals, but also love and care for them. Your heart will swell with happiness and other times break and having you reaching for the tissue. The author succeeded in making your “feel” the book. Loved the accuracy in telling how Amish farm life is – there is hard work, but there is also fun. The thread of love of family and God are evident. Thomas Nye’s descriptive writing will have you smelling the smells and seeing the sights just like you were standing beside Lenny. He had me believing that if I saw Tug and Train in a pasture that I’d recognize them, know how it feels to run a brush down their flanks or to look in their eyes. LOVED the beginning and ending scenes where Lenny is looking into the train window at his reflection! So much happens in just a short few months during the telling of this story.
HIGHLY – HIGHLY recommend this book! I, for one, can’t wait to devour the second book in this series now. If you love reading about horses, the Amish lifestyle or just a fabulously well written Christian book, grab a copy of UNDER THE HEAVENS. You will not be disappointed!