The Covenant

From Publishers Weekly Inspirational novelist Lewis begins Abram's Daughters, a Lancaster County series about four Amish sisters, in the tradition of her previous novels. It should please her fans, while not offering much in the way of fresh material. It's 1946 in Gobbler's Knob, Pa., and Sadie Ebersol and her sister, Leah, are exploring the joys of "rumschpringe" the period of relaxed rules and running around that Amish teens enjoy prior to their baptism into the church. Tomboy Leah's first love is Jonas Mast, but her father Abram has determined she'll marry Gideon Peachey, whose father's farm adjoins the Ebersols'. Her beautiful sister Sadie's defiance crosses the boundaries when she becomes involved with Englischer Derek Schwartz. Heartache is inevitable. The dialect (perty, redd, Dat, ach, wonderful-gut, jah) is as dense as sugar cream pie, as are the italicized terms. There are further challenges for the reader: multiple points of view and cumbersome Amish definitions make the novel a bumpy read for the uninitiated. The characters are flat and unchanging, and the plot functions mostly as a setup for the series. There are factual errors, as when Ebersol's home garden produce stand features early spring vegetables in the month of August. Several events, including a hidden pregnancy that remains unobserved by the family until almost the eighth month, require enormous suspension of disbelief, and readers will see the key plot developments coming from the earliest pages. However, none of these troubles may deter Lewis's enthusiastic audience. (Sept.) Forecast: With nearly three million novels sold, Lewis is a staple on the CBA bestseller charts. Bethany plans a major marketing push for the new series.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Fans of Lewis's "Heritage of Lancaster County" trilogy will cheer her return to Amish country with this new series. When the teenage daughters of Abram Ebersol begin courting during the summer of 1946, Sadie furtively sees smooth-talking, non-Amish Derry, who impregnates and then abandons her. After keeping her pregnancy hidden from all but her younger sister Leah and Aunt Lizzie, Sadie goes into premature labor, and Derry's father is the doctor called in to help. At the same time, Leah defies her father, who has chosen her future husband, by becoming engaged to Jonas Mast. Meanwhile, younger twin sisters Hannah and Mary Ruth struggle with their own hopes and fears for the future, and a fifth daughter is born to mother Ida. Unfortunately, Lewis's scattershot approach focuses too briefly on too many characters, making it hard for the reader to keep them straight. It's also difficult to be sympathetic to a family who weaves its own web of deception, but Lewis is a master of eliciting empathy for characters caught in troubles of their own making. The Amish community with all of its intricacies is vibrantly drawn (Lewis grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch country), and the tension between it and the encroaching English world is palpable. "Jahe" readers will be impatient for the continuation, even if it won't be "perty." Recommended for all collections. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Beverly Lewis was born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. She fondly recalls her growing-up years, and due to a keen interest in her mother's Plain family heritage, many of Beverly's books are set in Lancaster County. A former schoolteacher, Bev is a member of The National League of American Pen Womenx97the Pikes Peak Branchx97and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her bestselling books are among the C.S. Lewis Noteworthy List Books, and both The Postcard and Annika's Secret Wish have received Silver Angel Awards. Bev and her husband have three children and make their home in Colorado. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. After the noon meal Leah helped Sadie wash and dry each one of the kerosene lamp chimneys in the house. The glass tubes had been rather cloudy last evening during Bible reading and evening prayers, and Leah and Mamma had both noticed the light was too soft and misty because of it. Dat hadnx92t complained at all, though he did have to adjust his reading glasses repeatedly, scooting close to the lamp in the kitchen, where theyx92d all gathered just before twilight, the back door flung wide, along with all the windows, coaxing the slightest breeze into the warm house. "We really oughta clean these every day," Leah said, handing one to Sadie for drying. "No sense Dat struggling to see the Good Book, jah?" Sadie nodded halfheartedly. "Are you going out again tonight?" Leah whispered. Sadiex92s eyes gave a sharp warning. "Ach, not now ..." Glancing over her shoulder, Leah saw that Mamma was dusting the furniture in the sunroom. "Cleanliness is next to godliness," Mamma liked to say constantly. Hannah and Mary Ruth had run outside to hose off the back porch and sidewalk. "Youx92ll break Mammax92s heart if youx92re sneaking out with English boys, ya know," she said softly. "How do you know what Ix92m doinx92?" "I saw you come home last nightx97saw what you were wearing, too." But before she could ask where on earth Sadie had gotten such a getup, Mamma returned, and that brought a quick end to their conversation. Leah washed the rest of the chimneys, turning her thoughts to the Preaching service tomorrow. Will Gid single me out again before the common meal? she wondered. He had been more than forthright with his intentions toward her before, though discreetly enough. Yet she knew he was counting the weeks till she was old enough to attend Sunday singings. And so was she, but for a far different reason. "Ix92ll be first in line to ask you to ride home with me," hex92d said to her out in the barnyard two Sundays ago, when it was her familyx92s turn to have house church. Speechless at the time, she wished the Lord might give her something both wise and kind to say. To put him off gently. But not one word had come to mind and she just stood there, fidgeting while the smithyx92s only son grinned down at her. What she was really looking forward to was next Sundayx97the off-Sunday between church meetingsx97when the People spent the day visiting relatives. Mamma was awful eager to go to Grasshopper Level and see the Mast cousins again. It had been several months. Leah remembered precisely where she was standing in the barn when Dat had given her the news of the visit. Looking down, in the haymow, shex92d stopped short, holding her pitchfork just so in front of her, half leaning on it while she willed her heart to slow its pace. She smiled, fondly recalling the first time shex92d ever talked with Jonas. The two of them had nearly missed out on supper, standing out in the milk house talking about birds, especially the colorful varieties that lived on Aunt Lizziex92s side of the woods, near where the wild flowers grew. She had told him her favorite was the bluebird. Jonas had wholeheartedly agreed, his blue eyes searching hers. And for a moment, she nearly forgot he was three years older. He was Sadiex92s age. Yet, unlike any other boy, he seemed to know and understand her heartx97who Leah truly was. Not a tomboy, but a real girl. In all truth, she hadnx92t experienced such a thing with anyone ever in her life. Not with Sadie, for sure. And not so much with Mamma, though on rare occasions her mother had opened up a bit. Hannah and Mary Ruth had each other and were constantly whispering private conversations. Only with Aunt Lizzie and Adah Peachey, Gidx92s younger sister, could Leah share confidentially. So she and Jonas had a special something between them, which was too bad. At least Mamma would think so if she knew, because young women werenx92t supposed to open up much to young men, unless, of course, they were being courted or were married. Just now, Sadie glanced nervously toward the sunroom, where Mamma was still busy dusting. "Walk me to the outhouse," Sadie whispered to Leah. "What for?" "Never mind, just come." Sadie led the way, through the utility room and enclosed porch, then down the back steps, past the twins, who laughed as they worked. Silently they walked, till Sadie said, turning quickly, "Listen, if ya must know, I think Ix92m falling in love." "In love? Ach, Sadie, who with?" "Shh! He lives down the road a ways. His name is Derry." "So, Ix92m right then, a fancy boy." Leah wanted to turn around right now and head back to the house. She didnx92t want to hear another filthy word. "Whatx92s happened to you? English boys are big trouble. You oughta know from going to high school and all." "You sound too much like Dat." "Well, somebodyx92s got to talk sense to you! Having a wild rumschpringex92s one thing, Sadie, but whatever ya do, donx92t go outside the boundaries of the Ordnung." Sadiex92s eyes were ablaze. "Say whatcha want, but zip your lip." "Maybe I should tell." Their eyes locked. Sadie leaned closer. "You have a secret, too, Leah." "Are you threatening me?" "Call it what you will, but if Mamma finds out about me, Ix92ll know it came from you. And if you go and tell Mamma on me, Ix92ll tell Dat on you. And if Dat finds out you hope to marry Jonas x92stead of Smithy Gid, hex92ll put a stop to it." Leahx92s heart sank. Sadie had her, for sure. Glaring at her, Sadie opened the door to the outhouse and hurried inside. The second Leah heard the door latch shut, she turned and fled for home. Read more