Anna's Crossing

Anna's Crossing
Suzanne Woods Fisher
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800723194
February 2015/336 pages/$15.99

Some endings are really beginnings . . .

On a hot day in 1737 in Rotterdam, Anna König reluctantly sets foot on the Charming Nancy, a merchant ship that will carry her and her fellow Amish believers across the Atlantic to start a new life. As the only one in her community who can speak English, she feels compelled to go. But Anna is determined to complete this journey and return home--assuming she survives. She's heard horrific tales of ocean crossings and worse ones of what lay ahead in the New World. But fearfulness is something Anna has never known.

Ship's carpenter Bairn resents the somber people--dubbed Peculiars by the deckhands--who fill the lower deck of the Charming Nancy. All Bairn wants to do is to put his lonely past behind him, but that irksome and lovely lass Anna and her people keep intruding on him.

Delays, storms, illness, and diminishing provisions test the mettle and patience of everyone on board. When Anna is caught in a life-threatening situation, Bairn makes a discovery that shakes his entire foundation. But has the revelation come too late?

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the beginning of Amish life in America with this fascinating glimpse into the first ocean crossing--and the lives of two intrepid people who braved it.


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series, the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.


MY THOUGHTS

I'm not a huge fan of Amish novels but I always read those written by Suzanne Woods Fisher because of the unique perspective she brings to the genre. She broadens that even further with this historical tale that portrays the crossing of the early Amish settlers who came to the American colonies from Germany. Far from the romanticized depiction that novels often present of life in the early eighteenth century, Fisher's well-researched and authentic representation conveys the horrific conditions of the overcrowded ships that bore these desperate believers to a land of hope. A heart-wrenching encounter with a slave ship highlights the unwavering faith of Anna and her fellow believers, provoking both exasperation and longing in Bairn, who finds his walls begin to crumble. Far from being oppressive, however, this well-balanced tale contains light moments as well. (The incorrigible young Felix stole my heart!) Setting and character development intermingle to produce a novel that engages all of the senses. Unable to set it aside until I had turned the final page, I felt a sense of loss at the book's completion, not yet ready to bid farewell to these characters. Fans of Suzanne Woods Fisher will love this book, and those who haven't yet experienced her gift of story are in for a treat. Anna's Crossing is a must for your reading list!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publisshers as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”