Anna's Crossing (Amish Beginnings)

is a very soft representation of what was actually an horrifically difficult, trans-Atlantic voyage. S. W. Fisher addresses this issue with detailed notes at the conclusion of the book but failure to include the harsh realities in the story cause the story to feel whitewashed.Fisher does a good job at creating well crafted characters with deep, rich histories. This is the first book in a series and I expect many of these characters will continue on to volume two. “Anna’s Crossing” is a complete story that lays groundwork for future development. Anna and her people haven’t even disembarked at the ending of this book.The story begins a bit rough and feels more like an info dump than good fiction. By the time the Amish folks board the ship, the characterizations are in place, the dialogue is vastly improved and I was able to get lost in the story a bit. Towards the end of the book the writing improved quite a bit and I have great hope for the next volume. I have enjoyed other books from Fisher more than this one.

I can't blame my hiatus from blogging for not having read this book prior to now. Well, perhaps I can I mean it's only been 2 years-ish since it was released. I've somehow kept my head in the sand to have missed out on this book and ensuing series. Thanks to CelebrateLit and the opportunity to review 'The Return' (the last book in this trilogy) I was given a really valid excuse to go to the beginning. 'Anna's Crossing' sets the stage for what I anticipate to be a pretty amazing series.Anna doesn't want to travel with the rest of her community to the New World. Her Grandparents aren't going and she doesn't wish to leave them behind knowing that she'll never see them again. However, she's the only one who can speak English thanks to her Grandfather's teaching and his belief that language and learning are vital to lifelong success. I never really picked up on what had become of her parents. Once they boarded the ship however it became less about Anna and more about Bairn. I didn't mind so much as his story was also intriguing but it was very unexpected. I figured out what he was hiding from before it was totally revealed but I was completely OK with that. I think that he never pieced it together before he did was somewhat surprising. Yet I understand it. A lot of life happened in the interim. And most of it not pleasant.Fisher did an amazing job of building characters that had amazing strength and integrity. While I didn't fully grasp the backstory of their leaving for America or even the little bits that were shared in the story of how they came to be to begin with it didn't matter. I was there as they took on the hard decisions. As they faced their fears. As they triumphed over it all and had the grace in difficult times to still show the strength and faith of God. I can't wait to dive into the next book and discover what happens with Anna and Bairn as they begin life in the new world. And as Bairn's secret comes to light.

In Ixheim, Germany we meet Anna Konig who is being sent to the New World by her grandparents aboard the Charming Nancy to find a husband. Also going is the remaining Bauer family-Dorothea and Felix (whose husband/father Jacob had already gone to the New World), the Müller family-Christian with his wife Maria and daughters, Josef Gerber and family, Simon Miller, Isaac Mast with his son Peter and wife Lizzie. While crossing the Atlantic, we get a look into the various lives and interactions of the Amish and their beliefs. Historical settings in a novel give the reader a glimpse into the past as it truly was. The Charming Nancy is where the major events of the story take place. This novel is unlike other Amish novels, in that it focuses on the hardships endured aboard ship.Bairn, one of the characters, serves on the Charming Nancy as the carpenter under Captain Charles Stedman and the first mate Mr. Pocock, has his heart changed but not without some very deep and personal internal struggles. Then there is Decker, who was recently promoted to carpenter's apprentice. He bullied the crew, caused malice and rancor (a rather unsavory fellow). There is also Georg Schultz, a Neulander, who procures passage for people aboard the Charming Nancy (another fellow who is a necessary evil).This book paints a pictures of how the Amish people lived, died and believed in God and/or were bound by superstition. It also makes you think of the harsh life, high mortality rate and the freedom to worship that the Amish desperately wanted. Some of the differences in human lives I saw were hope, endurance, faith, believing, superstition, greed and loyalty. History can teach us all many lessons but we don't always listen. Not even when a written account is left behind of what was encountered in other lifetimes. The way it was then is the way it is now. The "rich" still walk all over and take advantage of the "poor". Whether you agree with the way the Amish live or not really has no bearing as one lesson we can learn is do we live like we profess to believe?

This was an unusual Amish story. It deals with the very start of the Amish community based on their journey from Switzerland to the Benelux regions& then the horrific conditions of crossing the Atlantic.I was impressed by the authors research and knowledge& how that was woven into the story to make it both credible & poignant .There are lessons in this book which can benefit people of all faith groups or none. It isn't a preachy book but a practical story of adversity uniting.The ending was perhaps a little weak& obvious , but never the less a good read I would commend.

Excellent Novel about the Amish Believers crossing the Atlantic from Rotterdam in 1737 to start a new life in America. Love this Author - a lot to ponder and a great read. H.

An intensely gripping tale of life on board a ship taking immigrants to the new world. The characters come alive to the reader as the story progresses and has some unusual twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyable

It's a book I think I wouldn't.t enjoy but I did..I thoroughly enjoyed it. If there is a follow on I will surely read it.

Really good book - couldn't put it down and have read it twice now! Woods Fisher at her brilliant best.