A fresh view, to me at least, of what it meant to be Amish back in the 1920s. Ohio passed a law that meant all children, Amish included, had to attend a state school. To many Amish fathers, this was a terrible decree to be avoided at all costs. Amish children were taught the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic by their Amish teachers, and the ethics of their faith, which included hard work, family unity and the skills they needed to farm, or to look after children and run a busy house. To go to state school meant long walks, and exposure to worldly things that their parents viewed with horror. This is the story of a family who emigrated to Paradise Valley in far away Mexico, to be free to live their chosen way of life. A story based on true facts, of confrontations with bandits, of learning about a new climate, new terrain, and meeting people who spoke a mixture of languages, a story of young love, and growing to maturity. A thoroughly good read, and all the better for being based on historical research.

A fresh view, to me at least, of what it meant to be Amish back in the 1920s. Ohio passed a law that meant all children, Amish included, had to attend a state school. To many Amish fathers, this was a terrible decree to be avoided at all costs. Amish children were taught the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic by their Amish teachers, and the ethics of their faith, which included hard work, family unity and the skills they needed to farm, or to look after children and run a busy house. To go to state school meant long walks, and exposure to worldly things that their parents viewed with horror. This is the story of a family who emigrated to Paradise Valley in far away Mexico, to be free to live their chosen way of life. A story based on true facts, of confrontations with bandits, of learning about a new climate, new terrain, and meeting people who spoke a mixture of languages, a story of young love, and growing to maturity. A thoroughly good read, and all the better for being based on historical research.