The Amish Ballerina

by Richelle Brunstetter, Wanda E. Brunstetter

An Amish Woman Hides a Secret Passion
 
Eighteen-year-old Arie Kauffman loves to twirl and leap around the barn in her Amish bonnet and dress, practicing ballet moves her English friend taught her. Her parents would be upset to learn that this longtime interest has progressed to her secretly attending ballet classes. Arie even hides her dance skills from her boyfriend, Edwin Chupp, who often invites her to try new things, knowing she has an artistic heart. Her secrecy, however, is causing damage she may not be able to repair. When offered new opportunities to dance, will Arie break from Amish tradition or hold true to the bonds of her faith and family?
 

Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Inspirational, Christian Romance

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2025

Reviews

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young Amish lady has had a secret passion for ballet since she was in elementary school . It started when her English friend invited her to go to a ballet recital. Unknown to her parents Arie Kauffman has been taking ballet lessons from her English friend for years. When ever she had a chance Arie would sneak off to the barn to practice ballet and it made her very happy. Arie has kept this from her boyfriend Edwin Chupp. Encouraged by her friend Lorrina Moore , Arie agrees to take ballet lessons with a group even if it means lying to her Amish parents. Lies always lead to more lies . Will Arie’s passion to be a ballerina lead her to leave the Amish faith? Will her parents find out about her Ballet lessons and her passion for dancing? What would her boyfriend think if he found out about Arie learning to be a Ballerina?
This book grabbed me in from the beginning.Its a page turner and an easy read. I thought it was a realistic story and captivating. I loved the characters that fit the story so well. I loved the ending too. This is the first time I’ve read a book about an Amish person who wants to learn to be a ballerina. The story was very well written.
I highly recommend it to readers of Amish Fiction and romance. So far it is a standalone but could become part of a series. It’s scheduled for release on 10/1/2025.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of The Amish Ballerina. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#TheAmishBallerina #NetGalley

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lackluster book, in my opinion. It definitely wasn’t up to par with Wanda’s other books. I have noticed whenever she has a co-author, the book isn’t as good. My rating is a 3 1/2 stars. There’s a good Christian message throughout the book, but too many characters are grouchy and complaining. I also felt a lot of the dialogue was unrealistic. I was given a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE AMISH BALLERINA is such a heart tugging story! But before I go any further, I’m going to warn fans of Wanda’s previous books, this story isn’t like what you are used to. Both of the main characters do not come from typical Amish families. The Amish are very loving people and these two families are not that. There are many secrets that come out while reading this story as well. Big secrets! The biggest one would be that without her parents knowing, Arie Kauffman has been taking ballet lessons from her English friend for quite a few years. Her boyfriend, Edwin, doesnt know this either.


THE AMISH BALLERINA is a very emotional story and I would suggest keeping a box of tissues close by as you are reading. What Edwin and Arie are experiencing and going through will break the reader’s hearts and have you rooting for them to be able to leave the past behind and be happy again. Will the Amish community ever support them? THE AMISH BALLERINA reminds the reader that we are not alone and that God will always forgive us. Now if only Arie and Edwin could let go of their past. This is definitely not one of my favorite stories by Wanda Brunstetter. But maybe that is just me.

I love how these authors made me feel all of the anxiety and tension that the characters were dealing with. Besides all of that, there is also romance, forgiveness, and healing. THE AMISH BALLERINA seemed to go really slow at first. It picks up when Arie begins taking ballet classes. By the end of the book, everything is resolved very quickly. A perfect way to spend the day on the couch with your favorite beverage, lost in the pages of THE AMISH BALLERINA, a heart tugging story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Fiction through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Amish Ballerina by Richelle and Wanda Brunstetter is a stand-alone book. Although I've read lots of Amish fiction, this is the first book that had an Amish ballerina in it.

Arie Kauffman is no ordinary Amish girl. She has a secret passion for ballet, which is forbidden by her Amish faith, and her Engslih friend has been teaching Arie for many years. When her boyfriend, Edwin, catches her practicing this forbidden art in her barn, she urges him to keep quiet about it. As Arie covertly begins taking ballet classes with her English friend, the secrets and dishonesty pile up. Will Edwin and Arie's relationship continue? Will Arie continue her ballet classes?

To me, this story seemed to really drag at first, but it picked up when Arie began taking ballet classes. Toward the end of the book, everything was reslolved too quicklly. It also seemed like there was a lot of arguing between spouses. Although I did enjoy the read, it's definitly not one of my favorites of Wanda Brunstetter's.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC e-pub of this book.

All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

#TheAMishBallerina #NetGalley

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance between Edwin and Arie. There was more drama between the family members of each family than anything else in this story. There is some dancing, mostly ballet, and some (mostly) natural disasters. It didn't end the way I wanted it to, but it did end the way I expected it to.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book but unfortunately I did not enjoy it.

I found the book to be slow moving and it didn't hold my interest.

The characters were hard to like as well, especially Lorinna and Arie's mothers. Edwin was my favorite character. He showed compassion for those around them and supported their choices.

Thanks to netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the arc. The opinions are my own.

[Viola Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 25%. Too many inner dialogues that don't make sense. What 17-year-old considers that her mom is pressuring her because she's trying to live through her? In very eloquent phrases? I really wanted to like it but it's just too dry for my tastes.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical Amish read from this author as it involves secrets and distorted truths because of family dynamics. This book brings to light the hard choice between family expectations and a desire of the heart that is not allowed in the Amish community. When we try to fit ourselves into a box amidst rules and regulations instead of seeking God’s plan for our life it can lead to heart ache and broken dreams. I thought the subject matter was tackled with finesse and although I don’t always agree with the Amish rules I understand their culture and trying to preserve their heritage. I did have trouble connecting with the characters the way I prefer as they seemed distant and hard to get to know except for Edwin who is a sincere, kind man who grants grace to others. It was interesting to learn of the drill teams that the Amish participate in as I had never heard of that . This is an interesting story and gives you a different perspective.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about an Amish girl who had a passion for dance was very interesting and different from other Amish books. Arie had some problems with her parents, allowing her to explore the things that she wanted to learn about. She knew that ballet was against the Amish culture so she kept it hidden from her parents for years. She had an English friend who took lessons weekly. They would get together and Lorraina would teach Arie what she had learned in class. It was never clear to me how she met this English friend.
As the book goes on, Arie’s parents find out that she has been secretly learning ballet throughout the years and were very disappointed in her. Arie decides that she is going to start taking classes with her friend because that is what she wants to do. The class has come between her and her boyfriend so they break up. One night there is a car accident that hit her parent’s store and this seems to change everything. I enjoyed the book and feel that others will enjoy it also.

[Michelle Rhoden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unique story about an Amish girl wanting to be a ballerina. Should she follow her dreams and risk disappointing her family and boyfriend? Will she always be left to wonder if she missed out on fulfilling her happiness by not dancing? This book was written by Wanda Brunstetter and Richelle Brunstetter.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley and the author. All words are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite Amish book unfortunately. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy the characters, the family of Arie was frustrating, not much love or warmth and the same with Edwin's family, with his family just poor relationships non that are resolved, I wonder why they were introduced because they did not impact the story in a positive way.

[Anna Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and netgalley for this Arc to read and give an honest review.

I have been a fan of Wanda Brunstetter for years, and an Amish fiction fans for years; but this book was just okay. Readers are introduced to main charactwr Arie Kauffman an amish teenager of around 18 and her boyfriend Edwin. Arie's English (non-Amish) friend is s ballet dancer who has been secretly teaching Arie. Are has a passion for ballet even though her parents and boyfriend disapprove.

The Amish Ballerina, as are Wanda's books, is full of scriptures and biblical truths; but I felt that the story was forced. I did find empathy for the main characters at times, concerning their relationships with their parents, it still just felt like there was no depth to any of the characters. There was a sweet ending, but it just felt there was something lacking to the story. I felt like all of the characters throughout the book were a little selfish, and even though there were moments of truth and wisdom it didn't feel real to me.

Simba gives this book 2.5 paws.

This is my honest review.
#Netgalley
#TheAmishBallerina

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amish Ballerina by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Richelle Brunstetter. I was really wanting to love this book but it wasn’t my favorite book she has written. Still an enjoyable read with Faith and Family at the center. Thank you to # NetGalley and #BarbourPublishing for this Arc. This is my honest review.

[SKP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some spoilers here…
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3.5 rounded up —I realized that Wanda’s granddaughter, Richelle, has top billing on this novel. Even though it is obvious that she learned writing at the knee of her grandmother, I have never liked the books Wanda writes with her other family members nearly as much as I enjoyed those that she wrote by herself. I kind of regret purchasing the Kindle book, wishing that I’d borrowed it from the library instead, but it SOUNDED very intriguing! I think I was deceived because I don’t think the book turned out to be quite as good as it sounded. The actual execution of the idea of an Amish Ballerina was not very well done.

For one thing, I thought it was really, really, really, really, REALLY excessively wordy and longwinded. I think this story could have been told in a book half the size of this one.

Another thing was that it was full of characters I really didn’t like very much. I think Edwin was about the only character I really liked. Arie didn’t seem like she was anything like what I’ve come to respect in the Amish people. She was a total liar for one thing! She acted respectful to her parents’ faces, but lied to them for years and continued to lie to them even after her boyfriend found her out. She lied to her boyfriend too —about the only person in the whole book who really seemed committed to his Amish faith. She lied about going to the classes, and she lied about spending time with the English friend with whom her mother didn’t want her spending time. She was really, really selfish. While her parents were certainly committed to their faith, they seem to be overly flawed. Arie’s mother was an over-bearing, pushy and not very likable. Her father seemed a bit wimpy.

Another issue I had with the book was that it was really predictable. I saw a mile away how this was going to be resolved as soon as the possibility was introduced.

Also, I thought after so much of the book was spent with Arie trying to figure out what she should do about ballet, all of the sudden after one incident (not the tornado or other problems that the family faced throughout the book, but the Englisher crashing into the store) she just up and realizes she doesn’t want to dance anymore.

I also really didn’t think it was very well-written in parts. I got exhausted with all the italic parts where the character is thinking about things. I know Wanda has used that in her books, but I have never liked it. I think it would be better to just tell the story from different points of view but in first person. I was listening to part of this on audio, and it got really confusing sometimes. Also, I got annoyed when some of the characters acted really clueless. For example, the part where Edwin is looking for his boots and can’t figure out where they went. As soon as he discovered they weren’t where they belonged, I immediately thought to myself “your brother took your boots”, yet it took another 2 or more pages before —duh—he thinks to check his brother’s room to see if his brother who had left for the barn with boots on had left his own boots in his room and taken Edwin’s. There were several scenes like that one.

I will think twice before spending money on a book that is not only written by Wanda in the future.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book because it was a different subject that I have not seen about the Amish before. They live a quiet life but I have often wondered if some of them have hidden dreams they don’t share. This story is very emotional as we watch a young woman’s dream hinder her happiness and hide secrets from those close to her.

Arie is a young woman who works hard but has kept a secret from many. She loves ballet and desires to be a ballerina someday. The Amish frown on this because they consider it worldly. Arie wants to obey her parents but her worldly friend keeps her dream alive when she spends time teaching her different moves. Arie is graceful and can feel her feet lift off the ground with ease as she spins. I like how Arie so wants to tell her mother how much she wants to dance but knows she will reject her dream.

There are several other characters that are important to the story such as Arie’s boyfriend. Edwin wants to spend more time with Arie and perhaps bring up the idea of marriage. I think he suspected she was hiding something though. I could easily visualize when he found her in the barn dancing with such grace. He was shocked but the way he handled it was so sweet that it made Arie realize she can share anything with him. Perhaps this will be the moment their relationship starts to grow. Trust is such an important part of any relationship and the authors illustrate this very well.

As the ending came to this beautiful story readers find that secrets are not always good to keep. Misunderstandings can lead to mistrust and strained relationships that are hard to repair when bitterness takes over. I like the unexpected announcement of a blessing for one family but I did chuckle at it. As a mother who had two teenagers then became pregnant again late in life, I understood very well how this family felt. Are you wondering if Arie pursues her dream? To find out grab a copy of this book.

“Masking your passions compromises your honesty.”

I received a copy of this book from the authors and publisher. The review is my own opinion.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amish Ballerina by granddaughter and grandmother authors Richelle Brunstetter and Wanda Brunstetter is a Christian contemporary Amish book. It is not part of any series and is a standalone novel. It has the most unique storyline of any Amish book that I have ever read.

This is the story of Arie Kauffman, an Amish young woman. She helps her parents at home and in their store. Her English friend, Lorrina Moore, has secretly been teaching ballet lessons for years. Arie has kept this knowledge from everyone, including her family and boyfriend, Edwin Chupp. She practices in the loft of the barn away from everyone.

There are a lot of characters in this novel. Most of them seem to be disgruntled for one reason or another. Even Arie gets gloomy at times. There were a lot of side stories going on to keep straight.
I was not certain how the authors would integrate ballet dancing into an Amish novel. They did in a plausible way, and I was impressed. Their descriptive words whisked me away to that Amish barn where I envisioned Arie gracefully twirling and leaping to an unheard melody. There are some twists and turns in the story. A few are predictable while others are not.

There are many life and spiritual lessons woven intricately into this tale. Honoring parents, forgiveness, faith, love, trusting God are just a few. Overall I found it to be an entertaining and enjoyable read. I would recommend it to Amish readers for something different from the normal Amish book. It gets a 4 out of 5 star rating from this reader. A complementary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing, but these are my honest words.

[Karen Hoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Richelle Brunstetter and her grandmother,  Wanda E. Brunstetter in "The Amish Ballerina." It has a different approach than many of their past books. 

   An eighteen year old Amish young lady, Arie Kauffman and her English friend, Lorrina Moore have been friends for many years. Lorrina has taught Arie many ballet steps over the years. Arie's parents certainly would not approve of this. Arie has been secretly practicing the ballet steps in the loft of the barn. The subject of doing ballet has come up in the past and both her parents are against it. Arie Kauffman  keeps on dreaming what it might be like to actually take ballet classes and perform on stage. She has kept her secret from her boyfriend, Edwin Chupp.

   It is best to always to be honest with yourself and others in your life. One lie leads to another and another and another until it is totally out of control.  Arie tells her parents she wants to work full time at the variety store in Shipshewana. Ballet dance lessons goes against her Amish faith. Will Arie's secret passion for ballet drive her from her Amish roots? What will happen if her parents and her boyfriend find out what she has been doing?

   Arie Kauffman has always felt like she does not meet her mother's expectations. She has to find a way to remain Amish yet satisfy her desire to dance ballet. She is very concerned about how her boyfriend, Edwin and her parents will react if they find outI

her secret.

   Arie struggles with her following her dreams while staying true to her faith convictions. You have to read the ending to find out what she does.

    

  

  

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arie wants so much to take ballet lessons, but her parents and her Amish beliefs will relegate her to learning a few moves from her English friend and practicing in the barn. She may never be a ballerina wearing real ballet shows and a tutu, but still she hopes and dreams.
Arie's boyfriend Edwin doesnt know Arie's secret about being wishing to be a ballerina, but his interest lies in the Amish mounted drill team. Riding and performing with this group is something he feels Arie would really like, but she refuses to take part, unsure of herself and her horse.
Arie's parents run a general store, and therefore much of the responsibility for her younger siblings falls on Arie's shoulders. She barely has time for everything expected of her, not to mention any ballet practice, even in the barn and away from watchful eyes. Will she ever be able to chase any dreams of her own or will her life always center around her family obligations?
When Edwin catches Arie as she practices in the barn, his feeling are hurt that she didnt share her desires with him, but he decides to support her anyway while still trying to convince her to join the church so they can marry one day. Then comes the day when Edwin can no longer support her decisions, her younger siblings tell her parents what Arie is doing, and then a heartbroken Arie suddenly faces the impossible decision she doesn't know how to make. Should she choose ballet and leave the Amish community or should she join the church and commit to the Amish faith?
A good story, and as always with Brunstetter books, an accurate delve into the lives and ways of the Amish people.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amish Ballerina by Richelle Brunstetter,and Wanda E. Brunstetter
An Amish Woman Hides a Secret Passion

Eighteen-year-old Arie Kauffman loves to twirl and leap around the barn in her Amish bonnet and dress, practicing ballet moves her English friend taught her. Her parents would be upset to learn that this longtime interest has progressed to her secretly attending ballet classes. Arie even hides her dance skills from her boyfriend, Edwin Chupp, who often invites her to try new things, knowing she has an artistic heart. Her secrecy, however, is causing damage she may not be able to repair. When offered new opportunities to dance, will Arie break from Amish tradition or hold true to the bonds of her faith and family?
This is Arie Kauffman and family's story.
This is Edwin Chupp and family's story.
This is Lorrina Moore and family's story.
Arie has a secret passion for ballet, which is forbidden by her Amish faith.
Arie must make a decision to join the church and have a future with Edwin or not join the church and pursue her dreams of becoming a ballerina.
Edwin, wants her to choose the Amish church, so they can stay together.
Read this book to find out what Arie decision is.
I recommend this book.
The Amish Ballerina by Richelle Brunstetter, and Wanda E. Brunstetter is a 4 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Richelle Brunstetter, and Wanda E. Brunstetter.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[Janet P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took great interest in reading this book. As a young child I took many years of dance and passed that love on to my daughter. I can't imagine not being able to dance but that's the situation that Arie Kauffman finds herself in as a young Amish girl. Secretly taking lessons from her English friend Lorrina Moore, Arie dances in secret whenever she can. Both of these young women face family issues over their love of dance and choices they must make. Lorrina never wanted to be a professional ballerina, but her mother has other ideas for her which leads to disappointment for both she and her mother. Arie must dance in secrecy afraid that her parents will discover her passion.
When Arie's boyfriend Edwin discovers her dancing he does his best to understand knowing that he encouraged her to pursue her artistic interests. As the story unfolds Arie will have to make a choice. Does she choose to continue on with her dancing when opportunities arise for her, or will she leave Edwin and her faith behind?
This a story of faith, trust, and acceptance written with the warmth and understanding that Wanda Brunstetter writes with. I think it's interesting reading a book written by grandmother and granddaughter. I will definitely follow Richelle Brunstetter's writing career as well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not what is typically expected of an Amish book. The main character of the book, Arie Kauffman, has found enjoyment in ballet dancing which would be frowned upon by her Amish parents. She hides her interest and dances in secret, practicing the movements her English ballerina friend Lorrina has taught her. Her boyfriend Edwin seems to be a supportive and kind person.

The book moves somewhat slow and has a good deal of internal dialogue that contributed to the pace. I was disappointed in the relationship between Edwin and his brother and father and hoped for some resolution, but it was not to be had. I felt like Arie's somewhat difficult relationship with her parents led her to keep the secrets about her ballet lessons and interest in dance. I would have liked to see more compassion between the family members. There were also moments between Arie and Edwin in their romantic relationship that felt too worldly for an Amish couple and as someone very familiar with the Amish, those moments stuck out as unrealistic.

Overall, the book was an okay read and the concept of an Amish girl being interested in dance is quite unique. While it's not my favorite Amish romance it was a different story which I could appreciate, and it did share themes of faith and how keeping secrets can affect relationships.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts are my own.

[Elena Rose (The Bookish Queen) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Amish Ballerina tells the story about an eighteen-year-old Amish woman named Arie who has secretly been practicing ballet against the wishes of her parents. It started out with her friend Lorrina teaching her privately, but eventually this advanced to professional ballet classes. Arie kept this information to herself, knowing that her family’s reaction would not be a positive one if they were to discover the truth.

Eventually Arie’s secret leads to conflict with her boyfriend and soon her passion seems to be leading her away from her family.

Wanda E Brunstetter is among my top favorite authors of Amish literature. So I was so happy to receive an ARC of this book. Her writing and masterful storytelling never disappoint me.

I love learning about the Amish religion and culture, and I also love a clean romance! This book has both.

I am super grateful to Barbour Publishing for selecting me to participate in the Review Crew for this novel!

Thank you to Wanda E and Richelle Brunstetter for creating such a beautiful novel.

I’m giving this book five stars.


You can read my original review on my blog here: https://thebookishqueen4.wordpress.co...

[Eunice R]

Stories of life among the Amish are always of great interest to me. Indeed, this one kept my interest and curiosity alive throughout. An Amish ballerina seemed very unlikely to me but inquisitiveness got the better of me and I found myself flipping through the pages to discover what Arie was up to.

Arie was very secretly into ballet dancing, a no-no frowned upon by the Amish. The dynamics of the issue for Arie mirrored an inner struggle. Would she be able to embrace her Amish-ness, or not?

I was very satisfied with this clean story not only because of the Amish element but the added faith-based input and the dash of romance. There was some extra 'meat' in regards to time the author, Richelle Brunstetter, must have put in to researching both ballet moves and the drill team of synchronized horse demonstrations, so that she could describe them with enjoyment for the reader. It was a lovely touch too, to find a recipe at book's end that refers to the soup Brenda makes for her family.

Overall, I believe that the author has treated the Amish with dignity and respect; another great point in favor of this book.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Amish Ballerina sounded like a very unique and interesting story. I know Englisher interests such as ballet dancing is forbidden to the Amish so I was interested in seeing how this would be pulled off.
Arie has been interested in ballet for years as her Englisher friend Lorina has been a ballet dancer for years and is teaching her.
This is a huge secret she is not only keeping from her family but her boyfriend as well.
The writing style is different that Wanda's. I've read all of Wanda's over the years and have loved them all. This is not her writing. It's slow, stilted and very formal sounding.
There is not a warmth in these Amish families, they almost act as casual acquaintances towards each other, but a closeness and homey feeling is not to be found.
There are unreasonable expectations put on Arie by her mother, she is at times talked to as a young child, but the mother's responsibilities are unreasonably put on her.
There were a lot of secrets and dishonestly in the book. Some understanding did come through. She has a big decision to make; will her heart lead her to give up her worldly ways or will Arie be drawn to the Englisher world and all it has to offer?
This book was not a favorite of mine, but I have enjoyed all of her other books.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[C Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amish Ballerina by Richelle Brunstetter and Wanda E. Brunstetter is a very unique story. Very different than the traditional Amish stories and especially different from the usual Wanda Brunstetter stories. I have noticed this uniqueness since Richelle Brunstetter has joined Wanda and Jean. This is not a bad thing, just different. I think this uniqueness comes from her. However, it is interesting to see a different type of plot from the Amish-fiction genre.
Arie Kauffman is a young eighteen year old girl who of all things, loves to dance ballet. Her boyfriend, Edwin Chupp, encourages her to try new things. He has a unique passion himself. He is on a horseback drill team. Both are very unique Amish concepts and one can almost find them unbelievable.

Both Arie and Edwin’s families were frustrating, not much love or warmth. We see growth, acceptance and understanding as each find their passion for life. The ending was a little abrupt, but overall well written.

I would recommend this book for its uniqueness and the different perspective of Amish life.

Thank you Barbour Publishing | for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to give a positive review. 4-stars.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amish Ballerina is a dual effort by Richelle Brunstetter and her grandmother, Wanda Brunstetter. It is a book with modern dilemmas, but dilemmas that have been around for generations – centering around the idea of following your dreams, even if that means alienating your family. Arie Kauffman is Amish, but has always dreamed of being a ballerina since she witnessed a ballet recital as a child. Obviously, as an Amish person, her dream could never come to pass - but that doesn’t stop her from taking ballet lessons from her friend Lorrina, and practicing every chance she gets. Lorrina’s mother wants her to try out to dance with a major ballet company, but Lorrina doesn’t feel drawn to that – she would rather teach ballet classes. Again, another young adult who is facing the dilemma of following their heart and risking alienating their family, in the process. While Arie’s boyfriend, Edwin Chupp knows about her desire to dance, he hopes that she will eventually tire of this dream, and join the church so that they might have a life together. But can Arie give up on her dream? Is she willing to lose Edwin over her desire to dance? This is a great book for young adult readers!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise and title of this story had me intrigued so I was happy to read a book from a genre I don't read much of in general - Amish fiction. I liked the unique take on this one and the title grabbed my attention. This is a sweet Amish romance with some twists and turns as Arie and Edwin enjoy their very different hobbies but also find themselves drawn to one another.

This was a fast read for me. There are a lot of characters in the story but they are easy to keep separate. This was a glimpse into Amish fiction I haven't read about before with Arie taking ballet classes during her running around years and Edwin with his drill team. They are completely new ideas I hadn't read in previous Amish fiction. This one was set in Shipshewana, IN and it was nice to read a book set there as well.

Overall this one is enjoyable and I'd give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. It's a clean fiction book and I'd recommend this one for ages 14+.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Amish Woman Hides a Secret Passion

Arie dances around many things -- her barn, her family, her faith and her boyfriend. She's the oldest of three children, works a part-time job and has a well-grounded boyfriend. Expectations and responsibilities are daunting as the eldest child in a family that has a family business. But it's her running around time and shouldn't she be able to do what she wants without her mother treating her like a child?

Torn between doing what she wants and what her family expects, Arie pushes the boundaries and makes some decisions, all while wrestling with herself over what to do. What would you do if you were in her shoes, especially when you're good at something that brings you joy? But is her joy making her happy?

I was a tad surprised at some of Arie's actions as she struggles to figure out where her place is and where she fits in. I wish my own dad were more like Arie's but glad my mom wasn't like hers.

** I want to thank goodreads for having giveaways -- I won this title!

[Tammy G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on Amish life.

Who would ever think about an Amish girl wanting to be a ballerina? How did she even know about ballerinas being raised so strictly in an Amish household.

The Englisch friend, Lorrina, had taken Arie to see the ballet and Arie's heart is forever taken up with the dance. But the Amish don't believe in dancing of any kind and Arie must practice in secret...namely the barn.

Then there's Edwin Chupp, Arie's boyfriend. It's difficult to hide her passion for ballet when Arie becomes quite good at ballet and must make a decision. Will Arie choose to stay Amish or go for the Englisch world pf ballet?

A well written story with some timeless age related truths. Whether you're Amish or an Englischer one must always face the decision of what to do in life and how will it glorify God.

No mystery or suspense in this read just good old fashioned reading of the Amish life and how decisions affect the whole family.

[Shelly Itkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arie Kauffman is a wonderful daughter and big sister to her younger brother, Rudy, and sister, Maggie. She dreams of being a ballerina but knows that can never happen if she wants to join the Amish Church.

She practices thanks to her friend Lorrina, who has taught her the lessons she learns from her classes.

Arie feels she works hard, helps her mother, has a part-time job, and cares for her younger siblings, but she never seems to be appreciated.

She decides to keep a secret from her family and take lessons she pays for herself while working part-time at a gift shop. She confides in her boyfriend, Edwin.

Eddwin tells her she should confide in her family and promises to do so, but unfortunately, she does not. She is unsure of her future once they find out, which you know they will. Will they ask her to leave the house?

With Edwin's suggestion, there is a way things can work out, but it means giving up ballet. Will she do it?

It was a relatively slow read, just ok.