"Anna's Crossing"

An Amish Beginnings Novel

by Suzanne Woods Fisher

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining & educational

Description

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.

This book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, and Deeper Shopping.

Biography:

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 ~

Anna's Crossing to the New World was anything but a vacation cruise across the ocean. As numerous Mennonites and Amish sought land and freedom to worship in the New World, none knew what awaited them on the ship, Charming Nancy. Atrocities that are unimaginable were what these people faced through months of sea travel. Seasickness and a shortage of water are only a couple of the abominations that these passengers encountered.

Suzanne Woods Fisher has created a brilliant story of early 1700s sea travel in all its putrefaction and unpleasantness as travelers were packed into the lower deck of a ship just above the bilge of the ship. This is not an ordinary tale of Amish fiction. It is a historic representation that has been well researched by the author.

I was swept into the story immediately, and found it difficult to take breaks from reading. There is no room for boredom in this well-written book. The author is well known for her expertise in writing Amish fiction. This is a masterpiece in history. 

I highly recommend "Anna's Crossing!" I learned a great deal from the descriptive elements throughout the book, and was entertained by a mischievous young boy and Anna's relationships with other passengers on the ship, particularly the ship's carpenter. Grab a copy of this book and prepare yourself to become engrossed in an historic tale of faith and redemption!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.