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Amish Horses #1
Under the Heavens
Lenny happened to notice his blurry reflection on the windowpane. He knew it was his image; nevertheless, he couldn't recognize his own face. Those almond-shaped eyes and dark-brown hair belonged to him, yet, inside, he felt disconnected from his past, having never known his own father. Grandpa had insisted, "Leonard, needs to come spend a summer at the home-place ..." A teenage boy, struggling with his identity, reluctantly leaves his modern, city-life behind and enters the slow-paced, mysterious world of the Amish. Grandpa teaches Lenny to farm with draft horses, a tranquil experience that seeps into his soul, changing his perspective. A neighbor girl appears while he is working in the fields, weaving a romance in the fabric of his summer. Lenny discovers that everyday on an Amish farm is an adventure. Thunderstorms rumble above, as a fragile relationship, between an Amish family and their non-Amish visitor, begins to unravel. Daybreak in a cow pasture, plowing with horses, enchanting moonlit buggy rides, and picturesque sunsets are all part of life, Under the Heavens.
412 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2013
3 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Nye
18 books104 followersThomas Nye moved to a rural community in Iowa when he was nineteen. His first acquaintances happened to be an Amish family, and they took him to visit Amish church, Singings, and volleyball games. Over the past two decades, he has owned draft horses, which were acquired from local Amish farmers. Through these neighbors, he learned to work with horses in harness. Almost a time-traveler, Thomas visits the 1800's when with his Amish neighbors; returning to the modern world when at work as a letter carrier in Iowa City, Iowa. A natural-born story teller, he intertwines his own life experiences into his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 18, 2014
Lenny Gingerich can't help but wonder about who he really is. You see he never knew who his father was, so his step grandfather, who happens to be Amish thinks that he needs to come and spend the summer at his farm, so that he can teach him a bit about his heritage. When he arrives the first thing he sees is his grandfather's huge horses, and while Lenny loves horses feels a bit intimidated by them. He also feels a bit out of place on the Amish farm, that is until his grandfather assigns him to a summer job of being the Horse Boy, he will be responsible for taking care of the horses, and will also learn how to drive and handle them. Lenny's summer is one of changes, as he learns to farm with horses he also learns several valuable life lessons as well.
Thomas Nye certainly captures the heart with the story of Lenny Gingerich, a young man who feels like he doesn't really belong. As a stepson it seems that he has a good relationship with his father, but he still wonders who he really is. While he has visited the Amish farm before spending the summer there had him feeling homesick, but as the summer moves on, he finds himself adjusting. The author really brings farm life alive, I really felt like I was visiting the Gingerich farm, rich detail allowed me to envision the day to day going on that goes along with taking care of animals and having a farm. I have visited a few Amish farms so I could easily envision those big Percheron horses, and how intimidated Lenny must have felt in the beginning. As an avid Amish fiction reader Under The Heavens was a unique read,because it isn't the typical amish romance. Instead it feels like a coming of age story for young Lenny. Readers get an accurate look at the slower pace of Amish life, while also learning about farming and horses. A quick easy read, even though the book is 400 pages, I found myself zipping thru the pages to see what might develop next. Overall, a story that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a coming of age story that takes readers on a journey to an Amish farm.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.
Thomas Nye certainly captures the heart with the story of Lenny Gingerich, a young man who feels like he doesn't really belong. As a stepson it seems that he has a good relationship with his father, but he still wonders who he really is. While he has visited the Amish farm before spending the summer there had him feeling homesick, but as the summer moves on, he finds himself adjusting. The author really brings farm life alive, I really felt like I was visiting the Gingerich farm, rich detail allowed me to envision the day to day going on that goes along with taking care of animals and having a farm. I have visited a few Amish farms so I could easily envision those big Percheron horses, and how intimidated Lenny must have felt in the beginning. As an avid Amish fiction reader Under The Heavens was a unique read,because it isn't the typical amish romance. Instead it feels like a coming of age story for young Lenny. Readers get an accurate look at the slower pace of Amish life, while also learning about farming and horses. A quick easy read, even though the book is 400 pages, I found myself zipping thru the pages to see what might develop next. Overall, a story that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a coming of age story that takes readers on a journey to an Amish farm.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.
June 30, 2014
REVIEW
This book was a different take on Amish life. This was about their horses and how important they were to the Amish families. The book is about Lenny, whose father had left the Amish years ago. He goes to spend the summer with his step father's Amish family. He doesn't know these people or their ways. It was like going into another world for him. He likes horses so the grandfather made him "the Horse Boy". His grandfather teaches him how to work with the horses while working on the farm. Lenny slowly learns to understand and love the horses. He learns how to work with them. What to do and what not to do. As each day comes and goes, he grows more confident in working with them. He not only learns about the horses but about the lifestyle and he becomes more confident with it also. Of course, we need that little bit of puppy love, romance? There is so much to be learned in this book. Like I said, it's not your normal Amish read. It's educational, fun, and interesting. I found it hard to put the book down. I wanted to know if Lenny wanted to stay or was he in a hurry to get back to his TV and modern ways.
Everyone who loves Amish books, should read this book. It's fun, educational, a little romance tucked in, interesting and different. I'm hoping the next book isn't far away.
I was given a complimentary copy of UNDER THE HEAVENS from the author Thomas Nye and Book Crash for my view of this book. No other compensation took place.
I would give this book 5 STARS.
This book was a different take on Amish life. This was about their horses and how important they were to the Amish families. The book is about Lenny, whose father had left the Amish years ago. He goes to spend the summer with his step father's Amish family. He doesn't know these people or their ways. It was like going into another world for him. He likes horses so the grandfather made him "the Horse Boy". His grandfather teaches him how to work with the horses while working on the farm. Lenny slowly learns to understand and love the horses. He learns how to work with them. What to do and what not to do. As each day comes and goes, he grows more confident in working with them. He not only learns about the horses but about the lifestyle and he becomes more confident with it also. Of course, we need that little bit of puppy love, romance? There is so much to be learned in this book. Like I said, it's not your normal Amish read. It's educational, fun, and interesting. I found it hard to put the book down. I wanted to know if Lenny wanted to stay or was he in a hurry to get back to his TV and modern ways.
Everyone who loves Amish books, should read this book. It's fun, educational, a little romance tucked in, interesting and different. I'm hoping the next book isn't far away.
I was given a complimentary copy of UNDER THE HEAVENS from the author Thomas Nye and Book Crash for my view of this book. No other compensation took place.
I would give this book 5 STARS.
August 17, 2014
This was a nice story about a young teenage boy who does not know who his real father is. He does have a stepfather who grew up in the Amish faith. He left the faith before he married Lenny's mother. This means he can still spend time with his Amish family. Lenny's step grandfather wants Lenny to spend a summer learning more about his Amish family members. Lenny goes to the Amish farm and learns to work with horses. He gets close to his grandfather and gets to be very close to the horses that he is learning to work with. He also learns more about his Amish family and he has many adventures during his summer.
I enjoyed learning some about this sect of Amish and I liked the characters that were in the story. My favorite character was the grandfather. I would have liked my grandfather to be similar to him.. I enjoyed learning more about Lenny during the summer and about who his real father is. This story had a little mystery to it and a lot of growing up. I look forward to the next part of this Amish Horse Series. I received this from Bookcrash.com for a fair and honest opinion.
I enjoyed learning some about this sect of Amish and I liked the characters that were in the story. My favorite character was the grandfather. I would have liked my grandfather to be similar to him.. I enjoyed learning more about Lenny during the summer and about who his real father is. This story had a little mystery to it and a lot of growing up. I look forward to the next part of this Amish Horse Series. I received this from Bookcrash.com for a fair and honest opinion.
September 3, 2019
UNDER THE HEAVENS by Thomas Nye is the first book in the Amish Horses series. It’s the wonderfully well-written story of Lenny Gingerich who is sent to spend the summer on the farm with his Amish relatives.
Arriving by train, Lenny feels out of place with his English clothing and ways missing the modern conveniences from home straight off. Finding it hard to talk to his cousins, not understanding the Dutch dialect, and not feeling that he fits in makes it even harder. Although quiet by nature and speaking with thought and meaning, his grandfather treats him as if he’s special. He tells him that he is going to be the Horse Boy for the summer and tend to his own crop. His grandfather shows him the joys of working the horses and the relationship between human and horse teaching him the skills of a good horseman. Lenny finds a special bond with his young cousin Perry through their mutual love of the horses.
Lenny is on a search to find out who his father is, who he is and where does he fit in. Little does he know that he might find the answers when he’s not even looking for them. In his summer journey, Lenny’s outlook on life changes. He learns to enjoy life, appreciate the simple pleasures and to look at his life with new eyes. His summer is touched by the sweet dimples of neighboring girl. He loves being around her and thinks she makes the best black raspberry pies. He finds out she is the same little girl he use to push in the swing years ago on visits to the farm making their friendship all the more special.
During that summer, Lenny finds God and along the way finds himself with the love of his grandfather and some Amish work horses.
Thomas Nye weaves a fabulous story that will have you feeling Lenny’s loss of who he is and the great joy when he finds himself. You begin to understand how the horses work and why they do what they do making you appreciate those that not only work these magnificent animals, but also love and care for them. Your heart will swell with happiness and other times break and having you reaching for the tissue. The author succeeded in making your “feel” the book. Loved the accuracy in telling how Amish farm life is – there is hard work, but there is also fun. The thread of love of family and God are evident. Thomas Nye’s descriptive writing will have you smelling the smells and seeing the sights just like you were standing beside Lenny. He had me believing that if I saw Tug and Train in a pasture that I’d recognize them, know how it feels to run a brush down their flanks or to look in their eyes. LOVED the beginning and ending scenes where Lenny is looking into the train window at his reflection! So much happens in just a short few months during the telling of this story.
HIGHLY – HIGHLY recommend this book! I, for one, can’t wait to devour the second book in this series now. If you love reading about horses, the Amish lifestyle or just a fabulously well written Christian book, grab a copy of UNDER THE HEAVENS. You will not be disappointed!
Arriving by train, Lenny feels out of place with his English clothing and ways missing the modern conveniences from home straight off. Finding it hard to talk to his cousins, not understanding the Dutch dialect, and not feeling that he fits in makes it even harder. Although quiet by nature and speaking with thought and meaning, his grandfather treats him as if he’s special. He tells him that he is going to be the Horse Boy for the summer and tend to his own crop. His grandfather shows him the joys of working the horses and the relationship between human and horse teaching him the skills of a good horseman. Lenny finds a special bond with his young cousin Perry through their mutual love of the horses.
Lenny is on a search to find out who his father is, who he is and where does he fit in. Little does he know that he might find the answers when he’s not even looking for them. In his summer journey, Lenny’s outlook on life changes. He learns to enjoy life, appreciate the simple pleasures and to look at his life with new eyes. His summer is touched by the sweet dimples of neighboring girl. He loves being around her and thinks she makes the best black raspberry pies. He finds out she is the same little girl he use to push in the swing years ago on visits to the farm making their friendship all the more special.
During that summer, Lenny finds God and along the way finds himself with the love of his grandfather and some Amish work horses.
Thomas Nye weaves a fabulous story that will have you feeling Lenny’s loss of who he is and the great joy when he finds himself. You begin to understand how the horses work and why they do what they do making you appreciate those that not only work these magnificent animals, but also love and care for them. Your heart will swell with happiness and other times break and having you reaching for the tissue. The author succeeded in making your “feel” the book. Loved the accuracy in telling how Amish farm life is – there is hard work, but there is also fun. The thread of love of family and God are evident. Thomas Nye’s descriptive writing will have you smelling the smells and seeing the sights just like you were standing beside Lenny. He had me believing that if I saw Tug and Train in a pasture that I’d recognize them, know how it feels to run a brush down their flanks or to look in their eyes. LOVED the beginning and ending scenes where Lenny is looking into the train window at his reflection! So much happens in just a short few months during the telling of this story.
HIGHLY – HIGHLY recommend this book! I, for one, can’t wait to devour the second book in this series now. If you love reading about horses, the Amish lifestyle or just a fabulously well written Christian book, grab a copy of UNDER THE HEAVENS. You will not be disappointed!
February 15, 2018
Needless to say, when I was finally able to read Under the Heavens by Thomas Nye, I was so stinkin’ excited. This author is so very good at creating literary doorways for his readers to escape through.
The story follows Lenny, a teenage boy who lives in the city with his mother and step-father. Lenny’s step-father is formerly of the Amish faith, and agrees to send Lenny to his family’s Amish farm for the summer. Lenny is just this-side of horrified. He has no idea how he will fit in, what he will do, or what his step-father’s family will think of him. He is pleasantly surprised to find that he takes to his grandfather immediately, and that the pretty Amish girl on the farm just over the field takes to him immediately. But his first love on the Amish farm?
Tug and Train. Grandpa’s huge Percheron horses. (Don’t know what a Percheron is? Think big. Like, big. About 17 hands high, 2,000 pounds big. Also? think gorgeous.) I absolutely fell in love with Tug and Train.
Thomas Nye captures the majesty, warmth, gentleness, strength and intelligence of horses absolutely brilliantly. The way Grandpa knew and respected his horses, passing that onto Lenny and bringing Lenny into the fold of the family warmed my heart all the way down to my toes. Tug, Train and Grandpa were the stars of this show for me.
After a time, Lenny learns to enjoy the slower-paced life. But there are some twisty curves that I didn’t see coming, that kept me reaching for the book with every free moment of my day. The story itself moves quickly, with things progressing at a perfect pace. The characters all shift and move and grow as the plot deepens. God remains at the helm of the story, perfectly woven into each page. I was a goner from the start, hopelessly pulled into the lives of these beautifully written characters and intend to carry them in my heart for a long time to come.
Thomas Nye somehow manages to combine unforgettable stories with memorable characters, intertwined with life-lessons and wrapped up with a God-sized red bow. My heart gets involved with every story this author creates. I just can’t recommend him enough.
The story follows Lenny, a teenage boy who lives in the city with his mother and step-father. Lenny’s step-father is formerly of the Amish faith, and agrees to send Lenny to his family’s Amish farm for the summer. Lenny is just this-side of horrified. He has no idea how he will fit in, what he will do, or what his step-father’s family will think of him. He is pleasantly surprised to find that he takes to his grandfather immediately, and that the pretty Amish girl on the farm just over the field takes to him immediately. But his first love on the Amish farm?
Tug and Train. Grandpa’s huge Percheron horses. (Don’t know what a Percheron is? Think big. Like, big. About 17 hands high, 2,000 pounds big. Also? think gorgeous.) I absolutely fell in love with Tug and Train.
Thomas Nye captures the majesty, warmth, gentleness, strength and intelligence of horses absolutely brilliantly. The way Grandpa knew and respected his horses, passing that onto Lenny and bringing Lenny into the fold of the family warmed my heart all the way down to my toes. Tug, Train and Grandpa were the stars of this show for me.
After a time, Lenny learns to enjoy the slower-paced life. But there are some twisty curves that I didn’t see coming, that kept me reaching for the book with every free moment of my day. The story itself moves quickly, with things progressing at a perfect pace. The characters all shift and move and grow as the plot deepens. God remains at the helm of the story, perfectly woven into each page. I was a goner from the start, hopelessly pulled into the lives of these beautifully written characters and intend to carry them in my heart for a long time to come.
Thomas Nye somehow manages to combine unforgettable stories with memorable characters, intertwined with life-lessons and wrapped up with a God-sized red bow. My heart gets involved with every story this author creates. I just can’t recommend him enough.
November 5, 2017
If you want a book that "feels" like you are in a real Amish setting, this is the book series for you. Thomas Nye knows and understands the Amish intricately and it comes out in his work.
May 9, 2014
The author, a gifted storyteller, writes a tale about things close to his heart and based on his experiences: horses and the Amish. I was delighted to read this book because I've always loved horses, in spite of the lack of opportunity to feed that particular fascination, and I enjoy reading about the Amish. In addition, I soon realized once I started reading this book that it afforded me many trips down memory lane with every description of the farm our main character spends a summer living on.
Leonard's foray into experiencing summer at his Amish cousins' Iowa farm came at his grandfather Jesse's request. He was an angry young teen who wished he was anywhere but on a farm. He lived in a city. Living on the farm would be like moving to a foreign country. The black, heavy storm clouds that blew in with him seemed to reflect his attitude perfectly. It didn't take him long to sense that his Uncle Albert's family was not exactly enthused about his presence with them either.
Grandpa Jesse, however, began to pour all his time and energy getting to know Lenny. Before he even realized it, the teen had entered into training as the farm's Horse Boy. He didn't object because he loved the horses, a fact that drew the two closer.
Being the Horse Boy wasn't easy work. He woke up with the rooster crow. He had to learn from scratch all the nuances of using horses for farm work, while at the same time learning other chores he was expected to do in between, such as milking cows. There were plenty of cousins to share the jobs with, but they were always busy from sunup to sundown.
It occurred to Lenny that he had as much to learn from the horses as he did from his grandfather. To him the horses seemed to read his soul and his heart. Once he overcame his fear of the giant animals, he grew especially close to them, including the draft horse team, Tug and Train.
Lenny proved to be an apt pupil and a hard worker. He wanted to be respected, and as he immersed himself in farm life he began to leave his anger and bitterness behind. Eventually he became friends with one of the youngest cousins, Perry, who seemed to love horses as much as Lenny and Grandpa did. He was looking forward to being the Horse Boy the next summer. How Lenny is eventually able to win over the hearts of his Amish family and find a place for himself in this small community is what makes this a heartwarming read.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is the familiarity I have with the experience. When I was quite young, my grandparents had a small farm with dairy cattle. In my mind's eye I saw Grandpa's farm instead of the Amish farm. When I was deemed old enough not to get squashed by the bovine, I began to "help" grandpa with the milking. Some of my experiences were similar to Lenny's, including a time when I was trapped between two cantankerous cows.
The author's storytelling skills made me feel as if I were there with Lenny as he learned skills and consequently some self confidence. In my opinion, the author successfully creates a world his readers would love to visit and see for themselves.
A second reason I enjoyed this book is that Grandpa Jesse was able to show Lenny how nature shows us God's heart, how much He loves us. Lenny was so much closer to nature on the farm that his eyes saw life in a whole new perspective. It changed him and made him a better person. If you enjoy a tale that moves at a more leisurely pace, one that gives you a glimpse of a different lifestyle, a different culture, and has great character development, then I believe you would enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Book Crash on behalf of the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Leonard's foray into experiencing summer at his Amish cousins' Iowa farm came at his grandfather Jesse's request. He was an angry young teen who wished he was anywhere but on a farm. He lived in a city. Living on the farm would be like moving to a foreign country. The black, heavy storm clouds that blew in with him seemed to reflect his attitude perfectly. It didn't take him long to sense that his Uncle Albert's family was not exactly enthused about his presence with them either.
Grandpa Jesse, however, began to pour all his time and energy getting to know Lenny. Before he even realized it, the teen had entered into training as the farm's Horse Boy. He didn't object because he loved the horses, a fact that drew the two closer.
Being the Horse Boy wasn't easy work. He woke up with the rooster crow. He had to learn from scratch all the nuances of using horses for farm work, while at the same time learning other chores he was expected to do in between, such as milking cows. There were plenty of cousins to share the jobs with, but they were always busy from sunup to sundown.
It occurred to Lenny that he had as much to learn from the horses as he did from his grandfather. To him the horses seemed to read his soul and his heart. Once he overcame his fear of the giant animals, he grew especially close to them, including the draft horse team, Tug and Train.
Lenny proved to be an apt pupil and a hard worker. He wanted to be respected, and as he immersed himself in farm life he began to leave his anger and bitterness behind. Eventually he became friends with one of the youngest cousins, Perry, who seemed to love horses as much as Lenny and Grandpa did. He was looking forward to being the Horse Boy the next summer. How Lenny is eventually able to win over the hearts of his Amish family and find a place for himself in this small community is what makes this a heartwarming read.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is the familiarity I have with the experience. When I was quite young, my grandparents had a small farm with dairy cattle. In my mind's eye I saw Grandpa's farm instead of the Amish farm. When I was deemed old enough not to get squashed by the bovine, I began to "help" grandpa with the milking. Some of my experiences were similar to Lenny's, including a time when I was trapped between two cantankerous cows.
The author's storytelling skills made me feel as if I were there with Lenny as he learned skills and consequently some self confidence. In my opinion, the author successfully creates a world his readers would love to visit and see for themselves.
A second reason I enjoyed this book is that Grandpa Jesse was able to show Lenny how nature shows us God's heart, how much He loves us. Lenny was so much closer to nature on the farm that his eyes saw life in a whole new perspective. It changed him and made him a better person. If you enjoy a tale that moves at a more leisurely pace, one that gives you a glimpse of a different lifestyle, a different culture, and has great character development, then I believe you would enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Book Crash on behalf of the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
June 19, 2014
Lenny is a lost teen who has lost himself. As he looks at himself in the mirror he finds he cannot even place many of his own features. Not knowing who his biological father is, and unable to form a past for himself he starts to become bitter and angry.
When Lenny's step-father's Amish Grandpa says it may be a good idea for Lenny to come spend a summer on their Amish Farm they agree. However, Lenny is reluctant to leave his modern city life he is accustomed to.
After a few hiccups on the farm Lenny soon finds that he doesn't mind a more simple life. Especially when Grandpa issues him the duty of being "horse boy" for the summer. Lenny finds himself excited and proud to be able to work with the big draft horses on the farm, and starts to connect with other members of his Amish family. He soon starts to leave some of his bitterness and anger behind.
A neighbor girl pops up at the edge of a field one day and Lenny finds himself instantly attracted to her. As their mini romance starts to form Lenny finds that the Amish life isn't the burden he expected. From moonlit buggy rides, to volleyball matches with friends, lanterns hanging from tree limbs, adventures with horses, and an unexpected non-Amish neighbor who causes a few hiccups in Lenny's summer adventure this book has a bit of everything.
I have to say that I enjoyed this book much more than expected. The author does a fantastic job of pulling you right in with the words to where it becomes hard to even put this book down. The main thing I loved about this book is that the author weaves the words in such a way to where you can picture almost everything you are reading. Everything is so descriptive it would be hard not to find yourself sucked right into this story. I felt so bad for Lenny throughout this whole novel. I could not imagine the feelings or emotions he was struggling with, but seeing the change in him after going to the Amish farm and finding God also was heart warming.
I do think that younger readers could benefit a lot from reading this book, but honestly I think all book lovers would enjoy this. I can't wait to read the other books in the series personally. I felt like this book has a little something of everything: humor, heart break, adventure, drama, romance, etc. And there is an incredible ending that honestly had me on the brink of tears. I just couldn't put it down if I wanted to. For a 400 page book I found this to be a rather quick read just because I couldn't put it down. The end of every chapter had me wanting more, and each page turn had me anticipating the adventures I would find on the next page.
I learned a lot from this book not only about the Amish but about buggy and draft horses as well. I really enjoyed the whole experience of reading this book, and highly recommend it to any reader out there interested in Amish or those of you with a love for horses.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a BookCrash reviewer in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
When Lenny's step-father's Amish Grandpa says it may be a good idea for Lenny to come spend a summer on their Amish Farm they agree. However, Lenny is reluctant to leave his modern city life he is accustomed to.
After a few hiccups on the farm Lenny soon finds that he doesn't mind a more simple life. Especially when Grandpa issues him the duty of being "horse boy" for the summer. Lenny finds himself excited and proud to be able to work with the big draft horses on the farm, and starts to connect with other members of his Amish family. He soon starts to leave some of his bitterness and anger behind.
A neighbor girl pops up at the edge of a field one day and Lenny finds himself instantly attracted to her. As their mini romance starts to form Lenny finds that the Amish life isn't the burden he expected. From moonlit buggy rides, to volleyball matches with friends, lanterns hanging from tree limbs, adventures with horses, and an unexpected non-Amish neighbor who causes a few hiccups in Lenny's summer adventure this book has a bit of everything.
I have to say that I enjoyed this book much more than expected. The author does a fantastic job of pulling you right in with the words to where it becomes hard to even put this book down. The main thing I loved about this book is that the author weaves the words in such a way to where you can picture almost everything you are reading. Everything is so descriptive it would be hard not to find yourself sucked right into this story. I felt so bad for Lenny throughout this whole novel. I could not imagine the feelings or emotions he was struggling with, but seeing the change in him after going to the Amish farm and finding God also was heart warming.
I do think that younger readers could benefit a lot from reading this book, but honestly I think all book lovers would enjoy this. I can't wait to read the other books in the series personally. I felt like this book has a little something of everything: humor, heart break, adventure, drama, romance, etc. And there is an incredible ending that honestly had me on the brink of tears. I just couldn't put it down if I wanted to. For a 400 page book I found this to be a rather quick read just because I couldn't put it down. The end of every chapter had me wanting more, and each page turn had me anticipating the adventures I would find on the next page.
I learned a lot from this book not only about the Amish but about buggy and draft horses as well. I really enjoyed the whole experience of reading this book, and highly recommend it to any reader out there interested in Amish or those of you with a love for horses.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a BookCrash reviewer in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
July 15, 2014
About the Book:
Lenny happened to notice his blurry reflection on the windowpane. He knew it was his image; nevertheless, he couldn't recognize his own face. Those almond-shaped eyes and dark-brown hair belonged to him, yet, inside, he felt disconnected from his past, having never known his own father. Grandpa had insisted, "Leonard, needs to come spend a summer at the home-place ..." A teenage boy, struggling with his identity, reluctantly leaves his modern, city-life behind and enters the slow-paced, mysterious world of the Amish. Grandpa teaches Lenny to farm with draft horses, a tranquil experience that seeps into his soul, changing his perspective. A neighbor girl appears while he is working in the fields, weaving a romance in the fabric of his summer. Lenny discovers that everyday on an Amish farm is an adventure. Thunderstorms rumble above, as a fragile relationship, between an Amish family and their non-Amish visitor, begins to unravel. Daybreak in a cow pasture, plowing with horses, enchanting moonlit buggy rides, and picturesque sunsets are all part of life, Under the Heavens.
My Review:
Teenagers these days don't have it very easy, these days. Partly because they tend to focus on the world but I believe more so because this evil world can get to them and pull them under quicker than they can blink. Under the Heavens is a story about a young teenage boy trying to see where he fits in to this strange often times scary world. So when it is suggested that this young boy by the name of Lenny, go spend the summer with his grandpa---he is sent there. He is sent there for a way to focus and gain perspective and hopefully for his grandpa to teach him what is more important in this life.
This story is a tad different than most Amish stories in the fact that it begins with a young man that is not Amish and he his sent to his Amish grandfathers farm. But soon after arriving in this calm and anything but boring place, love comes around the corner and Lenny sees imaginary hearts floating in the air for this young girl. Grandpa is able to get through to Lenny about the world and how God is at the center of it all.
The Amish lead extraordinary lives centered around simplicity and God and I adore that about them!
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Lenny happened to notice his blurry reflection on the windowpane. He knew it was his image; nevertheless, he couldn't recognize his own face. Those almond-shaped eyes and dark-brown hair belonged to him, yet, inside, he felt disconnected from his past, having never known his own father. Grandpa had insisted, "Leonard, needs to come spend a summer at the home-place ..." A teenage boy, struggling with his identity, reluctantly leaves his modern, city-life behind and enters the slow-paced, mysterious world of the Amish. Grandpa teaches Lenny to farm with draft horses, a tranquil experience that seeps into his soul, changing his perspective. A neighbor girl appears while he is working in the fields, weaving a romance in the fabric of his summer. Lenny discovers that everyday on an Amish farm is an adventure. Thunderstorms rumble above, as a fragile relationship, between an Amish family and their non-Amish visitor, begins to unravel. Daybreak in a cow pasture, plowing with horses, enchanting moonlit buggy rides, and picturesque sunsets are all part of life, Under the Heavens.
My Review:
Teenagers these days don't have it very easy, these days. Partly because they tend to focus on the world but I believe more so because this evil world can get to them and pull them under quicker than they can blink. Under the Heavens is a story about a young teenage boy trying to see where he fits in to this strange often times scary world. So when it is suggested that this young boy by the name of Lenny, go spend the summer with his grandpa---he is sent there. He is sent there for a way to focus and gain perspective and hopefully for his grandpa to teach him what is more important in this life.
This story is a tad different than most Amish stories in the fact that it begins with a young man that is not Amish and he his sent to his Amish grandfathers farm. But soon after arriving in this calm and anything but boring place, love comes around the corner and Lenny sees imaginary hearts floating in the air for this young girl. Grandpa is able to get through to Lenny about the world and how God is at the center of it all.
The Amish lead extraordinary lives centered around simplicity and God and I adore that about them!
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
December 31, 2014
Under the Heavens by Thomas Nye is book one in the Amish Horses Series. Within the pages of this book you will read about Lenny a young teenage boy who is struggling with his identity. Lenny was conceived from a one night stand and his mother went on to marry a former Amish man. She is not able to tell Lenny very much about his father due to the circumstances and Lenny struggles with knowing where he belongs. Lenny is sent to his stepfather's Amish family for the summer. Since Lenny never knew his own father the grandpa (Lenny's stepfather's dad) insisted that it would be good for him. While there Grandpa and Lenny form a tight bond and the grandpa begins to teach Lenny about horses. It soon becomes Lenny's responsibility to care for the horses on the farm. Lenny meets Leah, an Amish neighbor and a romance develops between the two of them. Lenny begins to see that life on an Amish farm is not as dull as he thought it would be.
I have some mixed emotions about this book. First, I think the author is a great story teller and does a lovely job of painting a picture with words. He gives the reader a glimpse into the everyday life on an Amish farm and his writings come from his own experience with the Amish. The main focus is on the horses. As a young girl I loved reading books about horses, but I'm not as into them as I used to be. I felt like the book is more suited for a younger age group, say junior high age, but the books is also about 400 pages long and I think a younger person would tire of it before they reached the end. I felt like the story line was too slow paced.
Another thing that I had a difficult time with is when I started reading I thought Lenny was around nine years old and then when I figured out that he was a teenager I found it difficult to accept since it seemed as he was being portrayed as a younger character. The author also kept referring to him as the "city boy" and it was repeated so often that I found it odd and a little annoying.
On a more positive note, the book does give you a sense of longing for a more simple life. It gives you an appreciation for nature and the beautiful world that God has created for us to enjoy. I liked it enough to be interested in the next book in the series and would like to find out more about what happens in Lenny's life.
I have some mixed emotions about this book. First, I think the author is a great story teller and does a lovely job of painting a picture with words. He gives the reader a glimpse into the everyday life on an Amish farm and his writings come from his own experience with the Amish. The main focus is on the horses. As a young girl I loved reading books about horses, but I'm not as into them as I used to be. I felt like the book is more suited for a younger age group, say junior high age, but the books is also about 400 pages long and I think a younger person would tire of it before they reached the end. I felt like the story line was too slow paced.
Another thing that I had a difficult time with is when I started reading I thought Lenny was around nine years old and then when I figured out that he was a teenager I found it difficult to accept since it seemed as he was being portrayed as a younger character. The author also kept referring to him as the "city boy" and it was repeated so often that I found it odd and a little annoying.
On a more positive note, the book does give you a sense of longing for a more simple life. It gives you an appreciation for nature and the beautiful world that God has created for us to enjoy. I liked it enough to be interested in the next book in the series and would like to find out more about what happens in Lenny's life.
August 8, 2014
"Under the Heavens" by Thomas Nye is the first book in his Amish Horses Series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nye is an extremely gifted writer, and I found myself sharing some beautiful quotes from this book with family and friends on several occasions.
Being a fan of Amish fiction, I was excited to try this new series. Many of the Amish fiction books I have read in the past have a style and voice that I have become accustomed to, but Nye brings a fresh new perspective to the genre. It didn't feel like all the other Amish books I had read, and that made it even more interesting to me.
Although the book does focus at times on relationships between the Amish family members, the majority of the book focuses on the main character Lenny who leaves modern society to live with his Amish relatives for the summer. His Grandfather puts him to work on the farm and teaches him the art of farming with draft horses. At first very intimidated, Lenny second guesses himself and lacks confidence, but with the help of his wonderfully invested Grandfather, he overcomes his fears and blossoms into an expert horseman. His relationships with the individual horses are very endearing to the point that the horses themselves become much loved characters for the reader.
There are all sorts of twists and turns throughout the book which add both levity and drama, and more sweet moments between Grandfather and Grandson than can be counted. "Under the Heavens" is a heartwarming, thoughtful and worthwhile read. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction, or Christian fiction in general.
A quick note about the cover: My copy arrived looking very dark and foreboding (darker than the photo above), but that does not at all represent the wonderful contents of the book. I think it was a printing issue.
Being a fan of Amish fiction, I was excited to try this new series. Many of the Amish fiction books I have read in the past have a style and voice that I have become accustomed to, but Nye brings a fresh new perspective to the genre. It didn't feel like all the other Amish books I had read, and that made it even more interesting to me.
Although the book does focus at times on relationships between the Amish family members, the majority of the book focuses on the main character Lenny who leaves modern society to live with his Amish relatives for the summer. His Grandfather puts him to work on the farm and teaches him the art of farming with draft horses. At first very intimidated, Lenny second guesses himself and lacks confidence, but with the help of his wonderfully invested Grandfather, he overcomes his fears and blossoms into an expert horseman. His relationships with the individual horses are very endearing to the point that the horses themselves become much loved characters for the reader.
There are all sorts of twists and turns throughout the book which add both levity and drama, and more sweet moments between Grandfather and Grandson than can be counted. "Under the Heavens" is a heartwarming, thoughtful and worthwhile read. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction, or Christian fiction in general.
A quick note about the cover: My copy arrived looking very dark and foreboding (darker than the photo above), but that does not at all represent the wonderful contents of the book. I think it was a printing issue.
January 8, 2018
Not exactly what I normally find when I grab an Amish book. The story is built around a young boy visiting his step-grandfather and learning to do things the Amish way with horses. His mom and step-dad are former Amish so he has grown up English. He learns more than how to handle horses while visiting that summer.
Time to grab book 2.
Time to grab book 2.
July 8, 2017
My brother's book. He does a great job of building a story, suspense, and a fantastic finish. Great book if you are interested in history and farming.
February 28, 2017
Excellent
Excellent read making the reader feel like they're in the story watching everything. Truly addictive once you start reading you can't put it down
Excellent read making the reader feel like they're in the story watching everything. Truly addictive once you start reading you can't put it down
May 16, 2014
The Synopsis:
"Lenny happened to notice his blurry reflection on the windowpane. He knew it was his image; nevertheless, he couldn't recognize his own face. Those almond-shaped eyes and dark-brown hair belonged to him, yet, inside, he felt disconnected from his past, having never known his own father. Grandpa had insisted, "Leonard, needs to come spend a summer at the home-place ..." A teenage boy, struggling with his identity, reluctantly leaves his modern, city-life behind and enters the slow-paced, mysterious world of the Amish. Grandpa teaches Lenny to farm with draft horses, a tranquil experience that seeps into his soul, changing his perspective. A neighbor girl appears while he is working in the fields, weaving a romance in the fabric of his summer. Lenny discovers that everyday on an Amish farm is an adventure. Thunderstorms rumble above, as a fragile relationship, between an Amish family and their non-Amish visitor, begins to unravel. Daybreak in a cow pasture, plowing with horses, enchanting moonlit buggy rides, and picturesque sunsets are all part of life, Under the Heavens."
My Review:
This book was interesting. I am not a huge fan of Amish Fiction, but every now and again I find myself reading one and most of the time I enjoy them. This book however, I didn't care for. It seems like every time the author said something about Lenny, it was always about "their city-boy cousin" and it got annoying after a while. Also, Lenny is supposed to be a teen, I assumed 14 or 15, yet he acted like he was 11 or 12. I feel like he as a character was underdeveloped and I didn't enjoy reading about him at all. But, the storyline was very interesting and I don't hate the book, so maybe this book just wasn't for me. If you like Amish Fiction a whole lot, you might like this book, but for those who don't read it often, there are other Amish books that I would recommend over this one.
"I received this book from Crosslink Publishing/ Book Crash Blogger Review program for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are my own."
"Lenny happened to notice his blurry reflection on the windowpane. He knew it was his image; nevertheless, he couldn't recognize his own face. Those almond-shaped eyes and dark-brown hair belonged to him, yet, inside, he felt disconnected from his past, having never known his own father. Grandpa had insisted, "Leonard, needs to come spend a summer at the home-place ..." A teenage boy, struggling with his identity, reluctantly leaves his modern, city-life behind and enters the slow-paced, mysterious world of the Amish. Grandpa teaches Lenny to farm with draft horses, a tranquil experience that seeps into his soul, changing his perspective. A neighbor girl appears while he is working in the fields, weaving a romance in the fabric of his summer. Lenny discovers that everyday on an Amish farm is an adventure. Thunderstorms rumble above, as a fragile relationship, between an Amish family and their non-Amish visitor, begins to unravel. Daybreak in a cow pasture, plowing with horses, enchanting moonlit buggy rides, and picturesque sunsets are all part of life, Under the Heavens."
My Review:
This book was interesting. I am not a huge fan of Amish Fiction, but every now and again I find myself reading one and most of the time I enjoy them. This book however, I didn't care for. It seems like every time the author said something about Lenny, it was always about "their city-boy cousin" and it got annoying after a while. Also, Lenny is supposed to be a teen, I assumed 14 or 15, yet he acted like he was 11 or 12. I feel like he as a character was underdeveloped and I didn't enjoy reading about him at all. But, the storyline was very interesting and I don't hate the book, so maybe this book just wasn't for me. If you like Amish Fiction a whole lot, you might like this book, but for those who don't read it often, there are other Amish books that I would recommend over this one.
"I received this book from Crosslink Publishing/ Book Crash Blogger Review program for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are my own."
July 29, 2016
Don’t be fooled by the cover.
This book is not nearly as dark and foreboding as the cover makes it seem. I know it gave me more than a little pause…
After reading it, I realize the story is not particularly my taste but it is a very intriguing concept.
Thomas Nye has taken his love of horses and his fascination with Amish culture and shaped it into a story that will definitely surprise you.
To be completely honest, I am more than a little frightened of horses due to a rough experience in my younger years and that may have affected my view just a little.
But if I can read it, with my issues, anyone can! Anyone who would enjoy a story about looking at Amish culture through the eyes of a somewhat angry young man who lives “fancy”, that is.
And all the information about horses – well, any horse lover would just eat it up.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
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