The Miting - A Unique Amish Novel That Will Have You Thinking

I first met debut author, Dee Yoder, when we shared an agent. Over those years I became intrigued with her heart for the Amish and concerns that many of them had not truly found a personal faith in God. Her husband comes from Amish stock and, together, they have reached out to young Amish that have chosen to step away from their Amish roots because of all the rules and regulations, etc.

Even though I'm not a fan of Amish stories, I couldn't wait for Dee's new book, The Miting, to come out because I knew she would delve into areas that many of the Amish novels today don't. Just days after receiving my copy of her book in the mail, I began reading it and couldn't stop until I'd finished the last page. The next thing I did was email Dee to ask her when the next book was coming out.

Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. She does not desire Englisher fashion, all-night parties, movies, or lots of boyfriends. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. She wants to know why Amish life is the only lifestyle her family accepts, why the church has so many rules, and . . . most disturbing, how godly men can allow her best friend to be abused in her own home. In the pressure-cooker environment of church and family, Leah is not allowed to ask these questions. When finally she reaches the breaking point, she walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. Though adapting amiably to the Englisher world, Leah is tormented with homesickness. Returning to the community, however, entails a journey of pain and sorrow Leah could never have imagined. The miting--shunning--that will now be Leah's unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?

I loved how Dee treated the Amish in her story with great respect even though the story portrayed Leah's family in a difficult light. Leah never stopped loving her family even though she came to the conclusion she had to leave them if she was ever going to know the truth she was seeking.

I highly recommend reading this book. Even if you are not a fan of Amish stories, I think you'll enjoy this story as I have. Published by Kregel Publishing, The Miting is available at your favorite brick and mortar store or on line at Amazon and Barnes and Noble in both print and ebook formats.

I received a review copy of The Miting from the publisher for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

About the Author:

Dee Yoder's fiction is based on the lives of her former-Amish friends. She is actively involved in the Mission to Amish People minsitry as a mentor, volunteer, and author. In addition to writing over eighty short stories, her coming-of-age novel, The Powerful Odor of Mendacity, won the FaithWriters Page Turner contest in 2011. Dee lives in central Ohio.