Hannah's Dream [Paperback]

Jerry Eicher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2008

Set in the Amish communities of northern Indiana and Montana, Hannah Miller has just found a poem about love that stirs her dreams. Checking her past experiences with boys, no one seems to fit, especially not Sam. She had chosen him in the eighth grade only because everyone back then just had to have someone. With his mouth that always fell open when astonished, Hannah now looks for someone else. Feel the agony of mistakes, the burden of guilt, and one girl s attempt to make sense out of love. In this end, will Hannah go the whole way with the logic of her conclusions?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Miller exudes naïveté and absolutely lacks guile. One admirer notes that she has ...all kinds of stars in her eyes. Hannah dreams of reconciling a poetic, idealistic notion of romantic love with the will of God, as filtered through her parents. Eager for excitement but not predisposed to rebellious rummspringa, she leaves the South Bend area to help her aunt on a Montana horse farm and wrestle with the options. Bachelor number one: Sam stands to inherit a choice farm, on which he and a future spouse will work intensively every day of their grueling lives. He s loyal and a punctual letter writer. Downside: Sam hates books and Hannah gets bored just thinking about him. Bachelor number two: A bit of a bad boy, Peter mixes with the English and cruises the byways of northern Indiana in an extremely unbuggylike sports car. He tells Hannah to watch for him out her window some night, and to never mind her old-school father or the watchdog. Downside: May tell innocent womenfolk what they want to hear. Bachelor number three: A fire spotter for the Forest Service in northwestern Montana, Jake hikes down from the Cabinet Mountains to sing praise songs in church. Not ready for membership, he carefully avoids sins which require a knee confession. Downside: Burned once by love; might be hung up on the past. The author incorporates approximate symmetry into characters experiences to show the impact of acceptance and rejection from both sides. Religion is part of daily discourse, but cultural norms and the processes used to determine their pairings are prominent in this story. The strong paternal tone is best viewed through a prism of relativism; otherwise occasional pronouncements like, it takes a woman to straighten out what a woman messes up, could appear as internalized scorn for female competence. Jerry Eicher s other young adult novels are the briskly selling Sarah and A Time to Live. Raised in an Amish community, the author is active within the Anabaptist Evangelical movement. Amish readers will note general support for the goals and expectations of established ways, despite a few indirect criticisms. Hannah s Dream is aimed at teens but can be enjoyed by curious adults of English or any other extraction. Todd Mercer --Foreword Clarion Reviews

Hannah's Dream is an exceptional book of faith, dreams, and love. It is a wonderful story of a young Amish girl who is able to overcome obstacles and disappointments to discover true happiness. Great reading. --Carol M. Broadwater, Co-owner-Amish Original

About the Author

The author of two novels on the Amish before Hannah's Dream, Sarah, and A Time To Live. Jerry Eicher and his wife were raised and married Amish. They live in central Virgina with their four children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Horizon Books; First Edition edition (March 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978798732
• ISBN-13: 978-0978798734
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a boy, Jerry Eicher spent eight years in Honduras where his grandfather helped found an Amish community outreach. As an adult, Jerry taught for two terms in parochial Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. He has been involved in church renewal for 14 years and has preached in churches and conducted weekend meetings of in-depth Bible teaching. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True to life, excellent book, May 14, 2008

By 

Reader of all things "Teacher/avid reader" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hannah's Dream (Paperback)

I must strongly disagree with the other reviewer of this book. Not only does the book draw you in to the TRUE life and lifestyle of the Amish community, but the story has depth of characters that keep your attention and your interest. Although Beverly Lewis and other writers portray the Amish lifestyle, they over simplify that lifestyle. Personally knowing many Amish families, there is so much truth to Mr. Eichers' book. Truth about the Amish that many are not familiar with. Not only does this community of people experience the same feelings and emotions as the non-Amish, but they too strugle with the same day to day issues as the non-
Amish. Much about the Amish can ONLY be KNOWN by someone born and raised Amish. Other authors are outsiders looking in, where Mr. Eicher has lived the life. Who better to give us non-Amish readers a TRUE look at Amish life. I have read his other books and found each of them well worth the read and the re-read. He is an excellent source of information that has been hidden from the world. Can't wait for the next book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Surprisingly Great Read !, May 15, 2008

By 

Leslie Ann (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hannah's Dream (Paperback)

I purchased this book by it's cover, very quickly at the drugstore. What a gem I found. I wasn't sure how well a male author would compete with the other great female authors who write Amish Fiction. Boy, was I very surprised. Mr. Eicher not only captured the essence of the Amish and his characters within the this wonderful storyline but also this reader's total absorbency. Hannah's Dream kept me reading page after page, late into the night. I didn't want to put it down. My only fault would be with Mr. Eicher's editor/publisher. There is an inconsistency toward the end on page 313 about the third paragraph. Kathy is married to Roy, not Steve. I think, Kathy would have spoken to Roy, Hannah's Father and not her Brother-In-Law, who was still in Montana, at the time. I don't blame Mr. Eicher for this variance. His editor/publisher dropped the ball in the proofreading. This book has put Mr. Eicher on my favorite authors list; amongst those like: Wanda Brunstetter, Kim Vogel Sawyer, and Beverly Lewis. i will be looking forward to other books written by Mr. Eicher in the future. Well done.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Author grew up Amish yet many things he wrote in this book are not typical of what Amish do in real life , so book wasnt very b, April 15, 2008

By 

momma - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hannah's Dream (Paperback)

Sources say Author grew up Amish yet this book has a lot of things in it that the Amish people would never do.The book although fictional wasn't what you would expect. Have read other Amish author fiction books and his is very unlike any I have read before.I don't care to read this again as I do with my other Amish fiction writings.I will stick with Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, Linda Byler and her "Lizzie" series books.
If you want other Amish themed books try also Mary Christner Borntrager and Carrie Bender.