Peg's review
Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman
"... a fascinating look at a little-known Amish coming-of-age ritual, the rumspringa - the period of "running around" that begins for Amish you at the age sixteen. ..Amish youth are allowed to live outside the bounds of their faith, experimenting with the larger world and its temptations: alcohol, premarital sex, phones, drugs, wild parties, etc."
Parents home that the children will then make a decision to ignore the outside "English" way of life and return to be baptized in the Amish faith.
Particularly enjoyed it because during my childhood I had observed a number of Amish folks vacationing at the NJ shore. Knew very little about them except their modest way of dressing and what I had read/heard about their simple way of life. This book explained the foundations of the Amish way of life as well as the tradition of Rumspringa.
Parents home that the children will then make a decision to ignore the outside "English" way of life and return to be baptized in the Amish faith.
Particularly enjoyed it because during my childhood I had observed a number of Amish folks vacationing at the NJ shore. Knew very little about them except their modest way of dressing and what I had read/heard about their simple way of life. This book explained the foundations of the Amish way of life as well as the tradition of Rumspringa.
