Title: The Covenant
Author: Beverly Lewis
Published By: Bethany House Publishers (2002)
Synopsis: Book 1 of Abram’s Daughters series from bestselling author Beverly Lewis. Years of secrecy bind the tiny community of Gobbler’s Knob together more than the present inhabitants know, and the Plain folk who farm the land rarely interact with the fancy locals. So when Sadie is beguiled by a dark-haired English boy, it is Sadie’s younger sister, Leah, who suffers from her sister’s shameful loss of innocence. And what of Leah’s sweetheart, Jonas Mast, sent to Ohio under the Bishop’s command? Drawn into an incomprehensible pact with her older sister, Leah finds her dreams spinning out of control, even as she clings desperately to the promises of God. The Covenant begins a powerful Lancaster portrait of the power of family and the miracle of hope. (Taken from Goodreads)
Review:
Loves: The Amish culture was fascinating to read about. The characters were well rounded and likeable, and I enjoyed seeing the world through these character’s eyes in such a vivid way, even if their perspectives weren’t ones I necessarily share or agree with.
Analyzation: The story was a little slow. Strongly character-driven, nothing big happens until almost halfway through the book. However, I found every character to be very unique and I always wanted to know more. The story jumped around quite a bit, but still found focus in Leah and Sadie’s plotlines, with Mary Ruth and Hannah weaving their way in as well. Generally, it was the interpersonal conflicts that drove the story, and I felt the author penned it very skillfully, keeping each struggle unique, but still tying it together.
Cleanliness/Negative Content: One hundred percent clean. <SPOILER> Sadie becomes pregnant by an English boy, but it is handled so carefully—in tune with the Amish culture—and there was absolutely nothing even remotely close to being dirty.<SPOILER>
Overall: I really found myself enjoying this book, despite its lack of strong conflict. I found myself intrigued by the three-dimensional characters and their struggles, all against the backdrop of the Amish culture. I’m already excited to return to this world and continue following these characters in the sequel!
NOTE: There were some Christian thematics, as following God is apart of the Amish culture. However, they were not all necessarily thematics I agree with. I would not classify this book as Christian fiction because a lot of the teachings are not ones I follow or recommend following. Just a disclaimer:)
Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Recommendation: Anyone looking for insight into Amish culture or just a strong character-driven story.