Naomi’s Hope
Naomi Schrock and her adopted son, Davey, are newcomers settling into the Amish community in Indiana in 1864. The group is just beginning to feel its unity, having come from other Amish communities in which difficulties had caused permanent rifts. Naomi loves Davey as much as any natural mother could love a child. A wrinkle develops with the arrival of Cap Stoltzfus, a man glad to start anew as he mourns his loss of a wife and child. He and Naomi immediately take to each other as good friends, with blushes and stares that indicate something nice might happen soon.
Then a new member, Shem Fischer, a minister from afar, comes to town, and Cap becomes aware that their boyhood rivalry might continue into their present lives. Little by little, Cap learns that something about Shem is not right, especially the way he seems to take over by morally judging members and attempting to influence others into accepting his authority as a preacher. Other difficulties quickly emerge, such as a severe illness that erupts and dramatically changes the lives of members in one family.
Other dramatic conflicts develop, especially the arrival of a family claiming to be Davey’s relatives. The future and its limitless possibilities await resolution, which Jan Drexler provides with twists and turns that hold readers with unflagging interest.
Naomi’s Hope is a lovely read that engages immediately because of the way the characters honestly care for each other. That connection unites this disparate, troubled group into a solid Amish community. Well-crafted historical fiction.
