Growing Up Amish: Insider Secrets from One Woman's Inspirational Journey

by Anna Dee Olson

Anna Dee Olson's passion is to help people understand where they belong and why they are here on earth. Growing up Amish proved to hold many obstacles for Anna. If she can go against absolutely everything she had ever known to be right so that she can live her dream lifestyle than so can you. ""Growing Up Insider Secrets from One Woman's Inspirational Journey"" is packed with many tips and strategies to help you along the way.

Genres: Amish

138 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jennifer Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want "insider information" about Amish life, you may be disappointed in this book. I think the book would be better titled without the "Insider Secrets" phrase. The book is really more about Anna's life journey. While being raised in the Amish culture, she was able to recognize that her upbringing was lacking in so many areas. She wanted much more in life and was brave enough to leave and change her life.

Yes, the grammar and punctuation is poor. (I'm not sure how much education the author received...poor editing... or was it intentional?) But it's clear that Anna is genuine and kind and just wants to inspire and help others with her book.

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was extremely poorly edited. It was full of grammatical and spelling errors which I found disturbing, since the author had left the Amish (who only educate through 8th grade) obtained her GED and had two 2-year degrees in writing fields. However, I will give it props for the inspirational lessons the author imparts to her reader about dealing with verbal abuse, raising children and living life.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because Anna showed us what she experienced and then she showed us where she is today. She included several parenting tips or life tips along the way.

Yes, there were grammatical errors, but I am willing to look past it knowing she only received an 8th grade Amish education. I'm not familiar with the GED requirements, so I don't know what all she did for that.

This book seemed like a healing book for Anna, and I give her credit for writing those difficult memories down. Writing this book took a lot of courage.

In the book she mentions www.growingupamish.com, which is no longer available. She also mentions a second book The Five Stages of Leaving, which I have not seen advertised. Personally, I'd be interested in reading it.

This book shows Anna's perseverance through difficult times and the grit it takes to overcome those challenging situations. Through her tips, the reader is challenged to be more compassionate as a person and more loving and understanding as a parent. I liked the book!

[Laney · Rating 2 out of 5]

About 150 pages of someone being sad that her brothers used to tease her about her weight

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you take something away from a book and can apply it to your life, then it was worth reading. So, in that sense I am glad I read this book, but I wouldn't run around recommending it to people. It was hard to get past the first few chapters, where she lets out all her frustrations about being called fat when she was was growing up. (I don't think that happens exclusively in Amish cultures.) Towards the end she had some good advice about listening and being patient with your children. The book had spelling and grammar errors, I don't know if that was for an authentic Amish feel, or if the editors did a bad job.

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inside this book there is the germ of a fascinating story. The author grew up in an old order Amish home and was subjected to emotional and physical abuse as a matter of course. She also was sexually abused by a member of the community. She only superficially addresses these issues; the book seems rather an outline for something more important to come.

[Melody · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written. What did this author's editor do? Why didn't someone proofread this book? If you are looking for a biography to read about the Amish, skip this one. Too much "self help" is included to be a biography.

[Cherrypie895 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have liked to hear more about her life in the Amish community. Loved hearing about her healing through Christ and how she overcame the abuse she endured as a child.

[Amber Hajos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, this was bad. It seemed that the author was more interested in telling us how bad her life was bc she thought she was fat rather than how it was to grow up Amish.

[Danni · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a sad depressing book.