Books for Christian Girls: "An Amish Cradle" by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller & Vannetta Chapman

About this book:

“Tiny fingers,
     Tiny toes,
     And lives that will never be the same.
     Journey with four families as their lives are about to change forever.”

Series: Thomas Nelson has published quite a few novella collections with the title “An Amish ______” (Love, Kitchen, Wedding, Christmas, Garden, Miracle, Cradle) This was my first time reading one.

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“In His Father’s Arms” by Beth Wiseman

About this book:

“Ruth Anne has been dreaming about motherhood her entire life. Now she is doubly excited that she and her best friend are due with their children the same week. But when Ruth Anne’s baby is born with Down syndrome, she and her husband struggle to understand God’s plan.”

Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about & mentions of God choosing special people & being Blessed; Talking to the Bishop; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Levi is angry at God.

Negative Content- N/A

Sexual Content- Married couples kiss; Wanting to touch (barely-above-not-detailed); Babies are born (detailed wise is barely-above-not-detailed but the emotions are semi-detailed); Mentions of nursing; Levi walks out of the bathroom naked (not-detailed); Mentions of abortions.

-Ruth Anne

-Levi
P.O.V. switches between them.
96 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

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“A Son for Always” by Amy Clipston

About this book:

“Carolyn and Joshua are thrilled to be pregnant with their first child together. Carolyn was just a teenager when she had her son, Benjamin, and she still feels solely responsible to secure his future. As Joshua watches Carolyn struggle to accept his support, he knows he has to find some way to convince her that she and Ben will always be taken care of.”

Spiritual Content- Prayers; A Scriptures is quoted; Talks about God being in control & being forgiven; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God.

Negative Content- N/A

Sexual Content- Married couples kiss; A baby is born (not-detailed); Mentions of nursing; Carolyn had Ben when she was 16 (all that’s said is “She had given in to the pressures of her then boyfriend and found herself pregnant and alone.”)

-Carolyn Glick

-Joshua Glick

P.O.V. switches between them
96 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

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“A Heart Full of Love” by Kathleen Fuller

About this book:

“Ellie’s mother hasn’t stopped meddling in her personal life since Ellie lost her sight and she s taken it up a notch now that Ellie s pregnant. When Ellie gives birth to twins, her mother insists on moving in to care for them. But when her mother s behavior becomes unbearable, Ellie is forced to take a stand . . . and finally find out why Mamm can’t let go.”

Spiritual Content- Prayers; Mentions of God & trusting Him; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘stupid’s.

Sexual Content- Married couples kiss; Mentions of nursing.

-Ellie Miller

-Edna Chupp
P.O.V. switches between them, Sarah Lynn & Chris
96 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

(and a half)

Early High School Teens-

(and a half)

Older High School Teens-

(and a half)

My personal Rating-

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“An Unexpected Blessing” by Vannetta Chapman

About this book:

“At 42, Etta thought she was finished having children, but she s pregnant again. After a frightening labor, Etta finally gives birth, but her constant worry over her estranged grown son, David, haunts her still. As a new mother again, Etta must hold tightly to the promise that God will watch over her children and that one day David will return.”

Spiritual Content- Psalm 126:3 at the beginning & quoted in the story as well; Prayers; Talks about God & His Will; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; A mention of Abraham & Sarah; Discussions about the Amish & Mennonite beliefs.

Negative Content- N/A

Sexual Content- Married couples kiss; A mention of a monthly cycle; Mentions of menopause; Mentions of a stillborn; A baby is born (with a looped cord & cutting the cord, barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed); Mentions of nursing.

-Etta Bontrager, age 42

-Mose Bontrager, age 45
P.O.V. switches between them
96 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

(and a half)

Early High School Teens-

(and a half)

Older High School Teens-

(and a half)

My personal Rating-

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

(and a half)

Early High School Teens-

(and a half)

Older High School Teens-

(and a half)

My personal Rating-

(and a half)

A total of 400 pages (with recipes!), “An Amish Cradle” is a pretty super-clean read. Let’s break down my thoughts on each novella.

“In His Father’s Arms” by Beth Wiseman – As someone who has a heart for kids with special needs and a future Occupational Therapist, I did enjoy this novella. Tied for first with....

“A Son for Always” by Amy Clipston – Yay! I get to see Carolyn & Joshua & Ben again! Connected to “A Mother’s Secret” a full length story, it was nice to “see” them again...even if I can’t relate to the storyline.

“A Heart Full of Love” by Kathleen Fuller – While reading this novella, I got the feeling that I was missing something! Turns out it’s collected to a novella in the “An Amish Love” collection.

“An Unexpected Blessing” by Vannetta Chapman – Now this one...Hmmm. I got the same feeling from it but I can’t find that it’s connected to any other novellas/novels. Hmm!

See y’all on Monday with a new review! :)