Title: Forever With the Lord
Author: Angela K. Zehr
Series: Early Anabaptist series
Major Themes: Michael Sattler, Anabaptists, Switzerland
Synopsis: Ursula knew how the Anabaptists were being persecuted—but her sister and brother-in-law found joy as they joined that group.
We are working our way through history, and have spent a couple of months now in the Reformation in Europe. One of the historical fiction books we chose to read was Forever With the Lord, about Michael Sattler, one of the early martyrs in Switzerland.
Publisher’s description:
What would it be like to be an Anabaptist? Ursula knows the Anabaptists are hunted, captured, and sometimes killed. Yet her sister Margaretha and her husband Michael Sattler find joy as they join the Anabaptists in their search for truth. Their joy remains even when they face persecution.
One of Ursula’s brothers starts sneaking away at night and begins behaving mysteriously. Is he attending the Anabaptist meetings too?
Ursula is full of questions. How will these changes affect her family and their traditions? How can she know whether the Anabaptists are living the way the Bible teaches?
Join Ursula, a young girl in sixteenth-century Switzerland, as she faces these questions.
My thoughts:
Forever With the Lord felt fairly authentic. Some of the books we have read about early Anabaptists feel like modern culture has been transplanted into 16th-century Europe, but this one had a more real feel. The characters became so real to us that we all felt sad at the end when Michael was martyred for his faith. At the same time, we felt his triumph as he remained faithful to God until the end. It was inspiring to read about Ursula’s family and how they related to family members who joined the Anabaptist movement. It was also inspiring to read of how both Michael Sattler and his wife remained true to their faith, even till death. I had read their story many years ago, but it was good to be reminded again.
WARNING: Chapter 16 describes the deaths of two people.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 12 – 15
Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Audio CD
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Other Places: CAM Books—Paperback or ePub • Audio CD or Download
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