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Customer Reviews for Bethany House Publishers Paradise Valley - eBook
Bethany House Publishers Paradise Valley - eBook
An Amish settlement in Ohio has run afoul of a law requiring their children to attend public school. Caleb Bender and his neighbors are arrested for neglect, with the state ordering the children be placed in an institution. Among them are Caleb's teenage daughter, Rachel, and the boy she has her eye on, Jake Weaver. Romance blooms between the two when Rachel helps Jake escape the children's home.
Searching for a place to relocate his family where no such laws apply, Caleb learns there's inexpensive land for sale in Mexico, a place called Paradise Valley. Despite rumors of instability in the wake of the Mexican revolution, the Amish community decides this is their answer. And since it was Caleb's idea, he and his family will be the pioneers. They will send for the others once he's established a foothold and assessed the situation.
Average Customer Rating:
(31 Reviews) 31
Rating Snapshot (31 reviews)
5 stars
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4 stars
9
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30 out of 3197%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Paradise Valley - eBook
Review 1 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Christian Book Distributors is tops in my BOOK!
Date:May 16, 2013
Brenda W
Location:Waterford, PA
Age:55-65
Gender:female
Although I haven't read the book yet, the process of ordering and receiving my ebook was very simple and user-friendly.
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Review 2 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
This book has a good clean story.
Date:May 1, 2013
CatCotrona
Location:Ontario, Canada
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
This story was a nice clean story, with wholesome values. With this fast past world we live in, it's nice to slow down and read a nice story of back to the earth and pure family values.
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Review 3 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Date:April 19, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I really enjoyed this book. Had a lot of insight as to what the Amish had to endure. A lot of misunderstanding from the world, if they would just look at the people without judgment, but this is their way of life. Their simplicity is a blessing. I wish it was longer, I could have kept on reading.
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Review 4 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Amish men jailed and their children taken away
Date:March 10, 2013
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Five Amish fathers arrested and thrown in jail, brought before a judge and charged with neglecting the welfare of their children and contributing to the delinquency of a minor all because they kept their children home from the consolidated school. The men tried to convince the judge that they were giving the children an education by teaching them the ways of the farm and the ways of Gott, to read, write and figure so what more do they need since they grow up to be farmers and farmers' wives. The men refused to budge and were sentenced to sixty days in the county jail unless and until they each paid a fine of twenty dollars per child, plus expenses, AND submitted a signed statement agreeing to comply with the conditions of the Bing Act by seeing to it that their minor children attend public school five days a week from then on.
Three days later the sheriff made the rounds to the five homes again, this time to pick up all of the school age children and take them to the county children's home, because they had been neglected. They told the children they were going to clean them up, like they were dirty or something. The boys got haircuts and all of the children were given new clothes, now they looked like Englisch children instead of Amish.
When the father's heard about this, they paid their fines and agreed to send the children to public school, they didn't want their children to suffer. Father's and children were all returned to their homes. The children didn't like attending school any more than their Dad's wanted them to go there. No one was happy with the situation.
Caleb Bender found an advertisement for land in Mexico, Paradise Valley. After some research and talking among themselves it was decided that he and his family would move to Paradise Valley so they could raise their children the way they wanted. Once the Bender's were there they would keep in touch and other Amish would follow them.
There were problems and fears in Mexico, rattlesnakes, scorpions and the biggest fear, bandits. After hearing about some of the difficulties, some of the families backed out, but there were also some families from other Amish communities that decided to move to Paradise Valley.
If you think the Amish are hard workers in America, wait until you read about the work they did in Paradise Valley. Not only that, the obstacles and fears they now have, was it worth the move? You will read about the bandits and everything they do to the Benders, but Caleb still sticks to the Amish way, no violence, no guns to deal with them. How does that work out for them?
The Bing Act, the Ohio law that got the men in trouble, stipulates that all children shall attend public school five days a week from the age of six until eighteen with a possible exemption at sixteen, providing they obtain a valid work permit.
From the author's notes in the back of the book:
The author's great-grandfather was the elder statesman of the colony, his grandparents lived in Paradise Valley, and his father was born there. However written records are scant and few firsthand accounts have survived, so the author used the known history and geography of the colony to create a backdrop. But this is a work of fiction. While the historical context of the novel is fairly accurate, the characters and their stories are entirely the author's creation.
The author's great-grandfather was the elder statesman of the colony, his grandparents lived in Paradise Valley, and his father was born there. However written records are scant and few firsthand accounts have survived, so the author used the known history and geography of the colony to create a backdrop. But this is a work of fiction. While the historical context of the novel is fairly accurate, the characters and their stories are entirely the author's creation.
This is a very interesting story, one that I think other readers of Amish books will enjoy. I am on to the second book in the series, The Captive Heart and after that I've already got the third one, Though Mountains Fall.
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Review 5 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Interesting historical information concerning
Date:June 18, 2012
grandma jane
Location:missouri
Age:55-65
Gender:female
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
persectution of Amish and their beliefs. The book is based on circumstances I had never heard of. It is well written, easy to read, entertaining and thoughtful.
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Review 6 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Thoroughly enjoyed this bit of Amish history
Date:March 3, 2012
homemom5
Location:Regina, SK, Canada
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I did not know that Amish fathers had been jailed for refusing to send their children to public schools, or that their children had been removed from their loving homes and placed in foster care during this time. This was well-written and I have since enjoyed more books written by W. Dale Cramer.
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Review 7 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Amish historical fiction based on actual events
Date:April 16, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This historical fiction is based on the colony where Dale Cramer’s great-grandparents lived. His strong fictional characters bring the tale to life as they interact in a saga that moves them from the heart of Amish country in Ohio to Paradise Valley, a rugged, remote settlement in Mexico, in the early 1920s.
You may have heard of the Amish men who were jailed because they refused to allow their children to attend public school full time. The children were put in a foster home and stripped of their Amish attire until the families complied with the law. One family then chose to pioneer a move to Mexico, where they would not be forced to send their children to a government school.
The tale is movingly told mostly from one daughter’s viewpoint. Teenager Rachel Bender was one of the children snatched from her community. Her quick thinking and actions helped Jake Weaver and his brother escape. But when her family moves away, she fears she will never again see this young man whom she hopes to marry.
Homesteading in a strange land brings struggles and challenges—a new language, different climate, thieves, and threats. The Benders persevere, and their hard work pays off for their own family and those living around them. In the midst of their difficulties, Rachel discovers a gift for life that God has given her.
This heartwarming story is the first in a trilogy about the daughters of Caleb Bender. I particularly enjoyed the audio version.
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Review 8 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Good reading
Date:February 16, 2012
Maeb
Age:Over 65
Gender:female
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Good history of Amish that I didn't know before. I never knew that some Amish had moved to Mexico. I really enjoyed learning something new.
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Review 9 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Date:February 3, 2012
Wendy Stivers
Location:Louisville KY
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Well written and engaging. Looking for the next one in the series.
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Review 10 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Good Read
Date:February 2, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
3
out of
5
This book is set in the early 1920’s in Ohio. The government is mandating all children go to school 5 days week even the Amish and they go as far as to put Amish in jail and take the kids. This book follows the Bender family. In this book we follow Rachel who is 15 at the time and must go to school. We also follow the father of the family Caleb as he must decide what is best for his family. He ends up seeing a advertisement for cheap land in Mexico which means freedom from the government. Hearing that there are bandits the community want to send one family down there to start and see how it goes and Caleb agrees to be that family.
Rachel is heart broken because this means she must leave her secret boyfriend Jake behind. She has to deal with her grief over the move as well as help her sisters Emma who is married her boyfriend right before they leave and her other sister Miriam adjust to the move as well. Once in Mexico things get interesting. Its not as friendly or as safe as they had hoped but they soon make friends with a young Mexican named Domingo who help them settle in and also protects them. As the book draws to a close its revealed that Miriam and Domingo seem to have feeling for each other and this sets the stage for the next book.
Wow this was quite the book! This author was quite the story teller and I really enjoyed reading this book.
What I liked: The historical factor of this book is great! Learning about how the Amish where treated during this time was very interesting. I also enjoyed learning about Mexico. The characters where very enjoyable. Even though Rachel was young I really liked her and her family. Again the author is an amazing story teller and I felt like I was right there with the family as they went along on their journey. I also enjoyed the suspense in this book I was on the edge of my seat a few times and felt myself holding my breath as well.
What I did not like: Rachel was 15 at the beginning of the book. I kept forgetting she was that young she came across as more of a 18 year old and it made it hard to relate to her at times. I know it’s the culture for the Amish to want to marry etc, but it just seemed a little forced for her to be worried all throughout the book about Jake. I really wish we could have had a few small chapters where both Jake and Domingo told some of the story. I get the feeling they are going to be a big part of the next book and I would have liked to get to know them a little better especially Domingo.
Over all I really enjoyed this book. Like I stated above I really felt like I was there with the family the author is an amazing storyteller. I am looking forward to the next book and the new adventure this family will face as they settle into Mexico. I highly recommend this book!
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Review 11 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Strong start to a new series
Date:September 7, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Readers who enjoy Amish fiction and those who enjoy any historical fiction are in for a special treat with Cramer's latest novel, Paradise Valley. The author has a unique ability to create true-to-life characters that leap straight off the page and into your heart. His writing is simply a pleasure to read and savour, providing rich detail without getting bogged down. I found the story moved at a brisk pace, filled with drama and adventure and providing a fascinating look at a people and situation based on real life events.
Caleb's faith is inspiring as he seeks to hear God's voice and be obedient. As a parent, I could fully relate to his desire to see his children be raised in a godly manner. The opening chapters where the children are taken and the fathers arrested because they will not send them to secular public school are just heartbreaking, and you cannot help but feel impassioned by the injustice of the situation. I greatly enjoyed reading about the family's move to Mexico and their industrious spirit that allowed them to start over and not only survive but overcome in a new culture while facing unexpected threats to their lives.
The power of forgiveness and the beauty of a deep-rooted faith in God simply permeate this story and left me feeling uplifted. The only part I disliked about this story was coming to the end...and knowing I have to wait to see how the tale will continue in the next book in the series! I truly believe that the wait will be worth it. I highly recommend this novel and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
My sincerest thanks to the publisher, Bethany House, who provided a copy of this book for the purposes of this unbiased review
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Review 12 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Love it!
Date:August 3, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Before this book, I wasn't a huge fan of Amish fiction. I liked to read them, but they weren't my favorite. Dale Cramer did a wonderful job writing "Paradise Valley." I didn't want to stop reading until the end! My family has moved a lot since I was younger, so I completely sympathized with the daughters during the move. While my moves were never this drastic, it was always hard to leave friends. When daughter Rachel found out she was leaving her first love, she was very upset. Another unmarried daughter feared she would never marry because they were leaving all of her potential 'mates'. This family showed how important it is to stick together in these hard times. When they were feeling down, another family member would be there for them. There were many dangers awaiting the family in Paradise Valley, but thanks to "Gott" (God) they found help when they needed it. I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to read more by this author!
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Review 13 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Boring!
Date:June 10, 2011
Wendy
Location:south central Pennsylvania
Age:35-44
Gender:female
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
1
out of
5
Generally speaking, I stay away from Amish fiction, on the premise that authors like to build this community up as some-kind of misunderstood utopian, Christian society. Yet, I grew up with the Amish and Mennonites and they're flawed human beings like the rest of us--even if you like their lifestyle. They deal with the harsh realities of sin and death, such as drug and alcohol abuse, premarital sex (which Cramer touches on in this book), child and spousal abuse, etc.
Anyhow, I have enjoyed Dale Cramer's other fiction so I'd thought that I give his Amish fiction a try. Yikes, I couldn't get past the 12th chapter! It was boring--too innocent. I wondered as I read through the pages if Cramer struggled thinking like his 15-year old female protagonist b/c his female characters sounded too perfect and two-dimensional.
This might be a great book for outsiders who think the Amish are perfect--but for a regular gal like me, it was nothing short of boring. And, even though, Cramer touched on parental rights and government encroachment--which are very real issues for Anabaptists' sects--he simplified it too much where the characters tamped down their anger and quickly picked up roots to move to Mexico. I know that this was based on facts and maybe that's my Englishness getting in the way of their culture, but I find hardly settling to read that Caleb Bender's one pregnant daughter rushed into marriage out of season without raising eyebrows and that the 15-year old was just too saccharin sweet to be believable.
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Review 14 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Great Amish Fiction
Date:June 3, 2011
Vanessa of HHCreations
Location:Pennsylvania
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Here is another book I recommend to all of my fellow readers out there, especially those of you who (like myself) are fans of Amish fiction. If I were you, I would definitely add Dale Cramer’s Paradise Valley to your summer reading list!! I couldn’t agree more with New York Times bestselling author Beverly Lewis when she says, “If you like Amish fiction, you’ll love this book!”
Set in the 1920′s, Paradise Valley is a great example of historical fiction, having been inspired by actual events with the historical context of the novel being fairly accurate. The story begins with the arrest of 5 Amish fathers for violating the Bing Act of 1921. From this point forward Cramer’s characters — the Bender family — come to life through the eyes of 15-year-old Rachel, one of Caleb Bender’s daughters. I encourage you to follow the journey of Rachel and her family as they move to Mexico to start a new life in a place where the American government cannot interfere with their Amish way of life. They are faced with many trials and tribulations throughout their journey and their attempts to begin life in their new home, Paradise Valley. See how they draw upon their faith and keep to “their ways” as temptation, hard times, and risky encounters with bandits threaten their new start.
I hope you take the time to look this book up at your local library or book store!! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if you enjoy Amish fiction as much as I do, then I know you will too!! Happy reading!!
Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
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Review 15 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
A different Amish Story...
Date:May 25, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Life is quickly changing for the Amish in Eastern Ohio. Part of the Amish life is work on the farm; there are many chores to do from gathering eggs to milking cows, feeding all of the animals and then of course gardening. The Amish belief was what needed to be learned came from the parents and the farm along with God. However, the government in Ohio began to see things differently, thus passing the Bing Act requiring all children ages 6 – 18 to attend public school 5 days a week, with the exception of a work exemption at the age of 16.
Five Amish fathers were taken to jail because they refused to send their children to the public worldly school. After a week in jail these same men were brought before the judge and asked how they pleaded, they were then asked to sign a paper stating they would send their children to public school and they refused. The judge sentenced them to sixty days.
With the fathers away from home the rest of the family had to take up the slack. In the Bender household the girls had to work alongside their brother. Rachel was working in the field beside her brother when they saw an Amish boy running towards their house. Rachel recognized him as Jake, the boy she was secretly fond of. They decided he must have been bringing important news so Aaron being the oldest sent Rachel to see what was going on. Unfortunately, it was not good news; the sheriff was making his rounds, taking the school age children into custody and placing them in a home. Rachel and two of her sisters were taken to the home along with other Amish children, from that moment on their lives began to change.
When the Amish fathers heard of this they decided they had no choice but to send their children to the public school, it was the lesser of two evils. The children along with their fathers were allowed to return home, providing they started attending school. The school was nearly three miles from the Bender home, but if they timed it right Jake and Rachel could walk to school together. They were becoming quite fond of each other but had to keep quiet about it because they were not dating age yet.
Caleb Bender was at a loss of how to get his family pass these hardships that they had encountered. He tried his best to follow God’s leading and one day after praying about it he turned and there it was; a flyer staring him in the face with the words: MEXICO – Land for Sale – Paradise Valley – 5000 acres of prime flat fertile farmland. Caleb felt like this might be his answer so he promptly went to talk to the land broker. Everything seemed to good to be true including the fact there was no public school system, a dream come true.
Will Caleb Bender uproot his family and travel across country to Mexico? Will any of the other Amish families follow? Will Rachel’s sister Emma marry her beau Levi and travel to Mexico? How will Rachel react to leaving Jake behind? Will they ever find each other again? What perils will the Amish families face in traveling to Mexico? Will Paradise Valley live up to its name and description? Find the answers to these questions and many more in Paradise Valley!
This is a great book, a lot happening throughout the book, very fast paced but easy to follow! I recommend it to everyone.
I received this book free from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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Review 16 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Date:May 11, 2011
Jona
Location:Boise, Idaho
Age:55-65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
“Paradise Valley” by Dale Cramer
This book takes place in the Salt Creek Township in eastern Ohio about 1922. The story is about Amish families who were forced to obey the laws of the land instead of their own beliefs. The Bender family decided to move to another country where they could raise their families the way they felt God was leading them. It’s an amazing story about survival in a new and strange land filled with danger, love and faith. I would recommend this book. This book was given to me to review from Bethany House.
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Review 17 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
a "twist" on Amish fiction
Date:May 6, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Paradise Valley tells the story of an Amish community in Ohio in 1922 in which children were ordered by the court to attend public schools. When the families refused to comply, several of the men were put in jail and children were put in a state-run home. In response, some of the families moved to Mexico, where they started a new Amish community, Paradise Valley. In Mexico, the families encountered many changes and difficulties, including threats from marauding bandits. This fictional story was based on true life events. The author’s grandparents and great-grandparents were involved in this “Mexican experiment.”
I really enjoyed this book. The circumstances made it quite different from other “Amish books” that I’ve read and the dangers and cultural differences of life in Mexico made it interesting. The characters were likeable and believable and there was just enough suspense to keep the story moving quickly. Although the conclusion was satisfying, there were some ends left untied which make me think that a sequel will follow. I will look forward to that.
I received a free review copy of this book from Bethany House. All opinions are my own.
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Review 18 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
An Amish story set where?
Date:April 23, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Holmes County, Ohio. The Sierra Madre of northeastern Mexico. Which one of these places does not belong in a list of settings for Amish stories? The answer is: they all belong!
Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer is a fictional story (although with some basis in fact) of a small group of Amish people who moved from Ohio to Mexico in the early 1920s. Caleb Bender was one of five Amish fathers briefly jailed for refusing to obey Ohio's new law requiring all children to attend public schools. To be released from jail and to have their children returned to their families from a state-run home, the men had to agree to send their children to the local school. After some time of struggling with the issue of how to honor his promise to abide by the law and living true to his own convictions, Caleb found a small pamphlet that appeared to provide a solution: "Paradise Valley -- five thousand acres of prime, flat, fertile farmland nestled in the Sierra Madre of northeastern Mexico . . . ten dollars an acre." Others in the community became interested in the potential, but they all shared concerns about making such a move with no one having any firsthand knowledge of what they would encounter in the wilds of Mexico. It was finally decided that Caleb and his family would be the trailblazers, moving ahead of the others and reporting back home so their friends could decide whether to follow.
Dale Cramer is the great-grandson of one of the leaders of a group of Amish who made such a trek from Ohio to Mexico. He weaves together a real historical context and some very "real" fictional characters into an excellent story of faith and struggle among Amish families. Although it was very different from the Amish stories I usually read, I enjoyed this book and look forward to future installments in The Daughters of Caleb Bender series.
(For the purpose of review, I was provided a free copy of this book by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. The views expressed, however, are my own opinions.)
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Review 19 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Great story
Date:April 18, 2011
Paradise Valley
Book 1 of the Daughters of Caleb Bender Series
by Dale Cramer
a novel
Book 1 of the Daughters of Caleb Bender Series
by Dale Cramer
a novel
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The plot was, although somewhat predictable in a few areas, very well written and made for an enjoyable read.
The issue of freedom for parents to oversee their children's education.
One of the first things that struck me was the fact that the opening portion of the story has five (Amish) father's jailed for not sending their children to school every day. As a homeschooler, I found myself very sympathetic, even though I do not agree with some of the reasons that they were avoiding the schools. The states taking the children away from their family's and forcibly taking them to school made my blood boil. Overseeing kid's educations is completely outside of the constitutional and Biblical jurisdiction of the state.
One of the first things that struck me was the fact that the opening portion of the story has five (Amish) father's jailed for not sending their children to school every day. As a homeschooler, I found myself very sympathetic, even though I do not agree with some of the reasons that they were avoiding the schools. The states taking the children away from their family's and forcibly taking them to school made my blood boil. Overseeing kid's educations is completely outside of the constitutional and Biblical jurisdiction of the state.
The issue of being "not of this world".
This issue is incredibly complex and multi-sided, and so I don't have time or space here to address every side of the issue. However, I think that the Amish, if they would study their bible more, would see that many of the things that they catagorize as "worldly" are completly biblical. The bible says that we are to be the light of the world, which means that although we are not to mingle with the darkness, we are to confront and change it. I did appriciate the authors tact in these areas.
This issue is incredibly complex and multi-sided, and so I don't have time or space here to address every side of the issue. However, I think that the Amish, if they would study their bible more, would see that many of the things that they catagorize as "worldly" are completly biblical. The bible says that we are to be the light of the world, which means that although we are not to mingle with the darkness, we are to confront and change it. I did appriciate the authors tact in these areas.
Other thoughts
* There is quite a bit of a lack of supervision among the young adults which I did not like. Because of this, I do not recommend this book for children.
* I really liked the setting of this book. It was very interesting to read about Amish people in Mexico, a combination I had never considered before.
* I really liked the setting of this book. It was very interesting to read about Amish people in Mexico, a combination I had never considered before.
8 out of 10 stars ★★★★★★★★☆☆
I received this book from Bethany house publishers for free. I was not compensated in any other way, nor was I obligated to write either a positive of negative review. All of the thoughts and opinions stated here are my own. Thanks.
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Review 20 for Paradise Valley - eBook
Overall Rating:
Paradise Valley By Dale Cramer
Date:April 16, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
About the Author
Dale Cramer, bestselling author of the critically acclaimed novel Levi's Will, was the second of four children born to a runaway Amish man and a sharecropper's daughter. True to his Amish ancestry, he skipped college and became an electrician, yet the thought was never far from his mind that someday he would like to write. Dale lives in McDonough, Georgia, with his family.
Dale Cramer, bestselling author of the critically acclaimed novel Levi's Will, was the second of four children born to a runaway Amish man and a sharecropper's daughter. True to his Amish ancestry, he skipped college and became an electrician, yet the thought was never far from his mind that someday he would like to write. Dale lives in McDonough, Georgia, with his family.
________________________________________
Series: The Daughters of Caleb Bender….Book 1
Author……Dale Cramer
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0838-6
Price: $14.99
Format: Paperback
Publication date: Jan. 11
Publisher: Bethany House
Author……Dale Cramer
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0838-6
Price: $14.99
Format: Paperback
Publication date: Jan. 11
Publisher: Bethany House
It is 1922 in an Amish community in Ohio. Trouble is starting in this Amish community because of Ohio State laws that children between the ages of 6 and 16 have to be in school 5 days a week, and they couldn’t work on the farms during school hours. These laws interfere with the Amish beliefs as well as the families needing the children home to help with the daily chores. When the Amish parents do not comply with the laws that were passed by the people, they are arrested and jailed. When this didn’t get their attention enough to send their children to school, their school age children were arrested and put in a home for children.
Caleb Bender happens across an ad for land in Mexico for $10.00 an acre. This sends his family on a trip across a number of states to the land in Mexico to start a new life, having no idea what they will face once they arrive. They would stay a year to check out conditions before other families followed. What they did know was the Government would not interfere with their Amish lifestyle. What they were not ready for was the poverty causing people to steal from them, and the bandits terrorizing the country. For the first time in their life, they had to keep everything under locked conditions. The ladies and girls were in danger, Caleb couldn’t go anywhere without his Mexican helper, Domingo.
An Amish community in Mexico seemed so out of place until I found out this story was based on actual events from the author's family history. I found it very heartwarming the way Caleb took a stand for his beliefs even when they were in grave danger. And was always willing to feed a man and help in any way, even when his own things were taken from him. He was starting to earn the respect from the people around him by his attitude. My heart went out to Caleb’s family, and all of the other families facing putting their children in school to learn another lifestyle, when this just isn’t the Amish way. How heartbreaking it must have been. I think I would have followed in Caleb’s footsteps, taking his family someplace that their Amish faith could be lived without persecution.
This is my first Dale Cramer read, and it was worth my time. I enjoyed his style of writing. The Bender family characters came to life, taking me back to the early 1920’s way of living, and the strong faith of the Amish lifestyle. Especially in the life of Caleb, his determination to stand true to his faith the God, trusting Him to see them through.
Caleb Bender happens across an ad for land in Mexico for $10.00 an acre. This sends his family on a trip across a number of states to the land in Mexico to start a new life, having no idea what they will face once they arrive. They would stay a year to check out conditions before other families followed. What they did know was the Government would not interfere with their Amish lifestyle. What they were not ready for was the poverty causing people to steal from them, and the bandits terrorizing the country. For the first time in their life, they had to keep everything under locked conditions. The ladies and girls were in danger, Caleb couldn’t go anywhere without his Mexican helper, Domingo.
An Amish community in Mexico seemed so out of place until I found out this story was based on actual events from the author's family history. I found it very heartwarming the way Caleb took a stand for his beliefs even when they were in grave danger. And was always willing to feed a man and help in any way, even when his own things were taken from him. He was starting to earn the respect from the people around him by his attitude. My heart went out to Caleb’s family, and all of the other families facing putting their children in school to learn another lifestyle, when this just isn’t the Amish way. How heartbreaking it must have been. I think I would have followed in Caleb’s footsteps, taking his family someplace that their Amish faith could be lived without persecution.
This is my first Dale Cramer read, and it was worth my time. I enjoyed his style of writing. The Bender family characters came to life, taking me back to the early 1920’s way of living, and the strong faith of the Amish lifestyle. Especially in the life of Caleb, his determination to stand true to his faith the God, trusting Him to see them through.
Several more families did come, just before the book ended, so we will have to wait and see how they handled the move. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Amish. It will be well worth your time!
This book was generously given to me by Bethany House Publishers to read and review. I was not expected to give a positive review. The review is my personal opinion only.
This book was generously given to me by Bethany House Publishers to read and review. I was not expected to give a positive review. The review is my personal opinion only.
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