Polly Miller doesn t want to move to Texas. No other Amish families live in Lone Prairie, and Polly loves her family and friends in Ohio. But her father s mind is made up. As Polly settles into her new life, she gains a non-Amish friend, Rose Ann, who shares her dresses and makeup with Polly. She also earns the attention of a young hired hand named Tom, who takes her to a rodeo and tells her how pretty she is. Will Polly commit herself to God by following her family s Amish ways, or will a budding Texas romance set her feet on a different path altogether? Ages 10 and up. Book 5 in the Ellie's People series.
Mary Christner Borntrager was born to Amish parents near Plain City, Ohio. Her Ellie’s People series is based on her childhood and youth among the Amish. The books bring authentic Amish stories to life for readers interested in Amish fiction and also real depictions of Amish life. Her Ellie’s People novels have sold more than half a million copies and are treasured classics among the Amish and Mennonites.
I find it hard to read Borntrager's books because she inserts so much Pennsylvania Dutch (and its translation). I admire her desire to keep true to Amish life and have no doubt that these phrases are commonly used in Amish family life, but the excessive usage breaks up the story for me.
Amish youth have a time of running around during which they can experience worldly ways before deciding if they will officially join the church. Polly and her brother Ben reach this age while their family is living in Texas, away from Amish youngsters their age. Having no Amish to cavort with, Polly is drawn to worldly ways more strongly--with almost disastrous results.
Not a strong story in the series at all. This is about Polly who is in an Amish family that decided to move to Texas for a while to work off their house and rent their house in Ohio out. We see how Polly seems to like Cinderella a lot and wants to dress up and has a struggle with that wordly pull. She meets a guy who makes her feel beautiful. She doesn't know if this will be a good thing so she hides it behind her parents' back. So that's what the book is basically about.
Young Amish girl Polly is dismayed when her parents move from their close-knit community in Ohio down to Texas. She forms close friendships with some English neighbors which threaten to challenge her family's ways as she goes through her teenage years.
Poor Polly! She wants the friends she has in Ohio; she doesn't want to move to Texas even though her father assures the family they will be better able to succeed there. Shows the inner struggle of a young Amish girl. All stories are in some way tied to Ellie.