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Summerhill Secrets #2
Secret in the Willows
Join Merry Hanson, a very modern fifteen-year-old living in Pennsylvania's Amish country, as she faces the true-to-life struggles and heartfelt triumphs of growing up to be the best she can be in God's eyes. After her Amish neighbors' farm is vandalized, Merry resolves to find the culprit before an innocent person is blamed.
Audiobook
First published May 1, 1995
2 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Lewis
259 books3,022 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher's Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado."
Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher's Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado."
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 22, 2019
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I listened to this audiobook on Hoopla, accessible through my local public library. Similar to the first book in the series, I don't know if it was the writing or the narrator's performance that disappointed me since I usually enjoy Beverly Lewis' writing very much.
Fiction tales that include the Amish culture are normally interesting and captivating. The plot line in this story was directed toward children. However, the dialogue and the sound of the narrator didn't correspond with that sentiment. And unfortunately, it was not as interesting and compelling as one would hope.
This short tale was based on the Christian faith, which is usually a big draw for me. However, the Amish community reflected don't really exhibit the traits of the Amish as I have come to believe of them. I remember now why I didn't complete this series after I read the first installment. I shall have to make myself a note to avoid any further installments of this series, in order to curtail my disappointment in this author again in the future.
This is a very short book and the conclusion seemed very rushed. I appreciate the clean storyline, the ability to stand on its own, but there was no definitive H.E.A.
I listened to this audiobook on Hoopla, accessible through my local public library. Similar to the first book in the series, I don't know if it was the writing or the narrator's performance that disappointed me since I usually enjoy Beverly Lewis' writing very much.
Fiction tales that include the Amish culture are normally interesting and captivating. The plot line in this story was directed toward children. However, the dialogue and the sound of the narrator didn't correspond with that sentiment. And unfortunately, it was not as interesting and compelling as one would hope.
This short tale was based on the Christian faith, which is usually a big draw for me. However, the Amish community reflected don't really exhibit the traits of the Amish as I have come to believe of them. I remember now why I didn't complete this series after I read the first installment. I shall have to make myself a note to avoid any further installments of this series, in order to curtail my disappointment in this author again in the future.
This is a very short book and the conclusion seemed very rushed. I appreciate the clean storyline, the ability to stand on its own, but there was no definitive H.E.A.
January 28, 2019
Ahhh! I loved this hook! Elton is the sweetest! It breaks my heart how the other kids were mean to him.
March 8, 2020
This was much less depressing than the previous book. There are some serious moments and topics in this story, too. This one involves fires and autism and vandalism. There is also a bit of romance.
December 16, 2014
This book is about a girl named Merry who friends a guy named Elton. Elton is an autistic kid and he never talks to anybody. He has a ball point pen that he clicks over and over again. Nobody likes Elton and everybody would make fun of him. Merry thought her best friend was behind her, but he wasn’t. She was going to take a picture of him, but instead of him being there, Elton was there, and she felt bad and embarrassed.
Merry’s Amish neighbors have been getting robbed, and Rachael isn’t supposed to tell Merry but is telling her about the robberies. They don’t want to go to the police because they are Amish.
While the Amish are trying to figure out who is robbing them, and while Merry is trying to figure out who she should bring to a church dance, but the guy she was going to ask got asked by someone else. Elton gave Merry a picture that he drew of her while he was in art class and she gave it back because it was for a grade. After school he put the picture in the trash can and set it on fire. He got suspended, and Merry tried to get him unsuspended because she was trying to explain that he was mad that Merry gave the picture back.
The Zooks and Merry were planning on how to catch the person who was robbing everything. They had this plan and everything was going to go according to plan. Then they heard a car and they smelled smoke. They all ran out of the barn except that Rachael tripped and hurt her foot. Merry ran back inside to get a cat that she named, and she fell down and heard her name. Did Merry die, or was she saved?
Merry’s Amish neighbors have been getting robbed, and Rachael isn’t supposed to tell Merry but is telling her about the robberies. They don’t want to go to the police because they are Amish.
While the Amish are trying to figure out who is robbing them, and while Merry is trying to figure out who she should bring to a church dance, but the guy she was going to ask got asked by someone else. Elton gave Merry a picture that he drew of her while he was in art class and she gave it back because it was for a grade. After school he put the picture in the trash can and set it on fire. He got suspended, and Merry tried to get him unsuspended because she was trying to explain that he was mad that Merry gave the picture back.
The Zooks and Merry were planning on how to catch the person who was robbing everything. They had this plan and everything was going to go according to plan. Then they heard a car and they smelled smoke. They all ran out of the barn except that Rachael tripped and hurt her foot. Merry ran back inside to get a cat that she named, and she fell down and heard her name. Did Merry die, or was she saved?
December 5, 2025
This was pretty enjoyable. I felt like the conflict resolved pretty quickly though. I felt like it was found that Ben burnt down the barn too fast and I literally had to reread to make sure that was what I read lol. 😂 What exactly were his motives for burning down the barn and all the vandalism? That never really seemed to be explained…? If he really was a friend of Levi, why would he want to hurt his friend’s family? Just because he got in with the wrong people? Plus it was also never really resolved whether Elton was acquitted for his supposed crimes or not. Yes, he did set that picture on fire, but there was a reason. He was upset. If he’s a nonverbal autistic, all autistic behaviors, whether good or bad, are communication. On that note, I can definitely tell that this was written at a time when disability was a very taboo subject, not understood at all, and to make friends with a kid like Elton was social suicide. I’m glad Merry saw the pureness in Elton even when her friends (and brother) did not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
Secret in the Willows was one of those gentle, heartfelt stories that makes you feel like you’re standing right there among the willows.
I LOVED how Lewis’ characters frequently spoke about trusting God, surrendering worries and their strong-rooted faith.
Beverly Lewis did such a good job capturing the quiet tension beneath the surface- The family secrets, the tender emotions, and the spiritual questions that shape the characters’ choices.
By the end, I felt like I’d walked through something peaceful and meaningful. It’s a story about truth coming to light, the strength of family, and the kind of hope that grows quietly, like the willows themselves!
I LOVED how Lewis’ characters frequently spoke about trusting God, surrendering worries and their strong-rooted faith.
Beverly Lewis did such a good job capturing the quiet tension beneath the surface- The family secrets, the tender emotions, and the spiritual questions that shape the characters’ choices.
By the end, I felt like I’d walked through something peaceful and meaningful. It’s a story about truth coming to light, the strength of family, and the kind of hope that grows quietly, like the willows themselves!
April 23, 2023
This was such a good book I loved the characters and Merrys kindness to Elton when the other children at school don’t seem to be understanding of him at all. The ending of this one seemed to creep up unexpectedly.
Looking forward to the next short story.
Looking forward to the next short story.
October 20, 2025
I love the autism representation. Sadly, this book was written 30 years ago and society still looks at people with autism negatively. Hopefully with more understanding people will realize that individuals with autism are still people!
February 19, 2022
This is the second book. The story took an interesting turn with an autistic boy.
November 20, 2022
great book
September 29, 2025
Middle school friends and their adventures. Christian lit
March 15, 2017
A perfect book for youth that shared a story of standing up for people who have special needs. A wonderful message.
August 28, 2016
The rate at which things happened in this book defied my willing suspension of disbelief. Also, a big part of this book was about the main character befriending a boy with autism and how she (and, seemingly she alone) saw him as person beyond his autism (and since this was written with first person narration it was hard to present this without it being a little disturbingly self-congratulatory from the main character) but she still CONSTANTLY brought up the fact that he was "special needs" in her descriptions and that grated on me a little. ("He's a PERSON and I don't like how other kids are talking about him but also did I mention that he's super different and special needs and stuff but I DON'T MIND THE WAY OTHER KIDS SEEM TO!!!") I also thought it was unfortunate that the main character kept dwelling on how the boy was some sort of artistic savant because it seemed to present his artistic genius as the grounds for her willingness to view him as person when, really, he would be just as deserving of friendship, respect, grace, and kindness, and he would have just as much value, even if he didn't have artistic skills.
Beyond that, though, the message was solid and plot was engaging. I think it's important and valuable to represent all sorts of people in the stories we tell and I respect that this novel made a sincere effort to challenge the way readers think about others and dissuade them from making snap judgements about others based on differences they don't fully understand. So, yes, I was troubled with aspects of how this particular character was portrayed I was also very grateful that Lewis created a character to represent this demographic and that she did so in as gentle of a way that she did. I just... wanted more.
Beyond that, though, the message was solid and plot was engaging. I think it's important and valuable to represent all sorts of people in the stories we tell and I respect that this novel made a sincere effort to challenge the way readers think about others and dissuade them from making snap judgements about others based on differences they don't fully understand. So, yes, I was troubled with aspects of how this particular character was portrayed I was also very grateful that Lewis created a character to represent this demographic and that she did so in as gentle of a way that she did. I just... wanted more.
March 3, 2023
Number of pages: 100
Genre: Amish fiction
Series: Summerhill Secrets #2 (Should be read in order)
Age recommendation: 13/14+
Summary: There has been some vandalism in the Amish community, and when the adults don’t want to bring it to the police, the kids take matters into their own hands. Can Merry, Rachel, and Levi figure out who the culprit is before the wrong person is blamed?
My thoughts: I loved the plot for this book and I loved the characters. Merry has a heart for the unloved/unseen/unheard people, and I think that’s what really draws me to the books and her. I love how Merry sticks up for the autistic guy in her class, Elton, even though it causes her ridicule from other students. It takes guts to do something like that, and even though she’s a fictional character, I admire that in Merry.
Merry is a little too boy crazy for my liking… in this book Levi seems to be portrayed as the brotherly “just friend” guy, and Jon was more of the “romantic interest” guy. Why does she flip between the books? Or maybe I just misunderstood the first book… I hate love triangles.
I love how they used art for evangelism. It reminded me of another story I read where the point was that words aren’t the only way to reach someone’s heart. It was really cool and brought some happiness to the story.
My personal rating: 5/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Genre: Amish fiction
Series: Summerhill Secrets #2 (Should be read in order)
Age recommendation: 13/14+
Summary: There has been some vandalism in the Amish community, and when the adults don’t want to bring it to the police, the kids take matters into their own hands. Can Merry, Rachel, and Levi figure out who the culprit is before the wrong person is blamed?
My thoughts: I loved the plot for this book and I loved the characters. Merry has a heart for the unloved/unseen/unheard people, and I think that’s what really draws me to the books and her. I love how Merry sticks up for the autistic guy in her class, Elton, even though it causes her ridicule from other students. It takes guts to do something like that, and even though she’s a fictional character, I admire that in Merry.
Merry is a little too boy crazy for my liking… in this book Levi seems to be portrayed as the brotherly “just friend” guy, and Jon was more of the “romantic interest” guy. Why does she flip between the books? Or maybe I just misunderstood the first book… I hate love triangles.
I love how they used art for evangelism. It reminded me of another story I read where the point was that words aren’t the only way to reach someone’s heart. It was really cool and brought some happiness to the story.
My personal rating: 5/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
July 14, 2012
I loved the character of Elton and his non-verbal autism. I felt like it was accurate having taught students with Asbergers and autism. I loved the patience that Merry showed him and how she was an advocate. I loved the way Elton could relate to his need for Christ in his life through art. REALLY liked this one.
May 6, 2014
This book touched my heart, if you know anyone who has autism or some other form of mental illness, you know school can be hell, bullies and morons can make it really hard. I love how Merry is growing as a Christian and those around her are as well, it is without a doubt one of the best Christian/Amish books I have read in a long time.
July 21, 2014
It was a great book. I can't wait to get to the third. It really awesome the way Mary allowed herself to be used by God to fixed Elton, even when others didn't really care that she was doing and made fun of her. Hope you enjoy it.
September 2, 2016
I liked this one a lot better than the first- it was really good.
June 21, 2014
Here is my review of the entire series:
http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2014/0...
http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2014/0...
September 6, 2014
Loved this book about Merry and her friends and the secret that they share, love reading about the Amish, they are some of my favorite stories. Would recommend this book.
January 18, 2016
Liked this story better than the first book of the series. I like that Merry befriended a special needs student and stood up for both him and what she knew was right to her peers.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews