Lily is approaching 10 yrs old, which is an important time for a young girl in the Amish community. She still likes to play with dolls with her friends, but one girl in particular seems to rub her the wrong way. No matter what Lily does this girl claims do it better if she can't she says it isn't lady like and should not be done. Dolls is one of the things this young girl thinks they are too old to play anymore. This girl and a particular boy at school are always causing trouble for someone especially for Lily.

Do you have anyone like this in your life? Someone that can ruin your whole day no matter how hard you try to avoid them.

I really enjoy reading this series, each book brings to light the normal everyday antics of Lily, like how she interacts with family and friends. Sometimes she does not always use good judgement. One of her bad traits is, "What my parents don't know won't hurt a thing." Wrong!

I am sure children will learn many good lessons from the mistakes the children in this book create. There are a lot of good things that come from the children actions too!

I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Group/Revell for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.

A Big Year for Lily

The Adventures of Lily Lapp #3

By Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher

A new school year is about to begin and Lily couldn't be happier, especially when she sees that she will be sitting next to cousin Hannah. But to Lily's utter shock and amazement Hannah isn't of the same frame of mind as she is where Aaron Yoder is concerned.

But growing up isn't easy and sometimes it isn't fair either. Effie Kauffman is as much a bully as ever and Lily and her friends are the target of Effie's meanness.

But there are plenty of good points to growing up too. Lily gets to start wearing pinned clothes(ouch!!!) and sitting with the girls in church instead of with Mama.

Lily has more adventures in cooking this time it isn't Jell-O but rather a birthday cake for Mama. Then there is a mishap with toasting marshmallows.

Being the only girl with 3 younger brothers can be a bit of a challenge especially on Saturdays and house cleaning. Then there are the times when she has to watch baby Paul and everyone else is doing something Lily wants to do.

A Big Year for Lily is sure to delight readers of the first two books in the Lily Lapp series as well as those new to the series. Lily is growing up and learning some important lessons along the way. Lily is a fairly good role model for young readers. Yes she makes mistakes and sometimes her thoughts may seem unreasonable, but she has a good relationship with her family which is a rare find in so many books marketed to young readers today. Lily Lapp is Laura Ingalls for today's reader!

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Available July 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

It was absolutely great to be back in Pennsylvania with the Lapp family, and especially with Lily. She is such a fun girl, so active, both physically and in her imagination, dreams and projects. Not all of her projects turn out like she envisions them to, but turn out they do. Add in her cousin and best friend Hannah and you are either chuckling at their antics or cringing at the eventual outcome. Typical ten year olds who do not have access to entertainment except books and what they make themselves, their lives are full of drama. I learnt somethings too about their lifestyle (who knew that your tenth birthday ushered in a new and exciting season) and their dress. Those things that came up would not have been covered in an adult novel, because they would be of particular interest to young girls. I did not get the second book in the series, and though I do not have children in my house, I want to get each one of the series. Not since Little House on the Prairie have I found such a refreshing children's book series.

I received this book free from Revell Publishing Group through Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest opinion. A positive critique was not required. The opinions stated are my own.

I am quite pleased to offer my review for a book that is possibly the only series of its kind. Amish books are so widely popular, and this is the perfect series for introducing children to this cultural phenomenon. I was privileged to read the first book, but I somehow missed the second book. As outstanding as the first book was, this book is even better! I was thoroughly engaged, and I often lost track of time as I raced through the pages.

At times I felt that I was reading "Little House on the Prairie" Amish-style. I took great delight in that series as a child, and this book is so similar and yet stands on its own. This book works well for the third book in the series, but it is also a stand-alone book. The characters appear to be authentic, and I appreciate the history and cultural lessons that are taught within this book. I found myself so engrossed, and the humor in the book was often laugh-out-loud funny. My only criticism is that I wish that the faith of these people was emphasized and explained in a more concrete way.

In short, if you have a child who wants to learn about the Amish culture, this is a perfect series to do just that. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Oh, and adults will love it, too! I sure did!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

We became friends with young Lily in book 1 of the series and continue our friendship in book 3 - A Big Year for Lily. Lily has her 10th birthday and that's a very big year in the life of a young Amish girl. She begins to dress differently, socialize differently, and supposedly behave differently.

But Lily is Lily and try as she might, she finds herself in one scrape after another. At school she contents with the boys - specifically one who seems to torment her and yet takes up for her. She has an issue, continuously, with one of the bossy girls. But Lily learns lessons in truthfulness, kindness, honor, and grace. She learns not to be nosy but to somewhat, at least, curtail her curiosity.

Lily is again a delightful little girl growing up Amish. But her life isn't really that much different from other little girls and the lessons each must learn as they grow. I heartily recommend this delightful book and series to young girls everywhere and to libraries public, church, school.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of A Big Year for Lily in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. No compensation was received for this review. Published by Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.