Title: Storm Song
Author: Rebecca Martin
Series: Amish Frontier series, book 7
Major Themes: Amish, Michigan, School, Historical Fiction
Synopsis: As World War II rages overseas, life goes on nearly as normal for the Amish Yoder family in Michigan—until the local school board decides that the teenagers must go to school!
We just finished the final book in the Amish Frontier series. Storm Song tells the story of a very stormy time in the Yoder family’s life. We found it quite interesting to read about the history of World War II from an Amish point of view.
The flu was going around in the winter of 1943, and Hettie went to her sister’s house to help out when the sickness hit there. On the way, the truant officer stopped and inquired why the 15-year-old wasn’t in school. He informed her that she hadn’t heard the last of him. What would happen next? Meanwhile, older brother Elam was in the CPS camp, struggling to do the work required and get along with a grouchy camp director and missing his family. However, many neighbors had sons in the war, some of whom were even killed or missing in action.
Several months later, Hettie’s father and several other men were given notice that their 14- and 15-year-old children must go to school, or the fathers would possibly face prison. What should they do? Hettie’s family had moved to Mexico for awhile, years ago, over the same issue! Now, in Michigan, it caught up with them again. What would they do now? The answer was creative—the teenagers would disappear—but what would happen to their fathers?
Storm Song is a different way of viewing World War II and education than I’ve ever read before in a story book. It will help you to think about some important issues in a Biblical way. Most modern Christians probably won’t agree completely with Hettie’s father’s convictions, but I believe he has a lot of truth in what he believes and it is good to think about it. If you enjoy Amish stories, be sure to check out this series! Written by an Old Order Mennonite woman, this series shows the Amish as the best of them really are.
No warnings!
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12
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