A Happy Heart

Rachel Yoder — Always Trouble Somewhere #5

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

With the arrival of spring comes happiness and fun. Not so for eleven-year-old Rachel Yoder, who springs into nonstop trouble that turns her from a smiling, laughing girl into a sour-faced grouch. Extra chores, a trip to the eye doctor's office for glasses, and a little white lie make things go from bad to worse for Rachel and her family. Will Rachel ever learn the secret to true happiness?

Genres: Amish, Middle Grade, Childrens, Christian Fiction, Fiction

154 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2008

About the author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Reviews

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story talking about being happy despite the ups and downs of life

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a negative about the book, as the characters are real enough to make me feel for them. But Jacob (Rachel's brother) REALLY annoys me! His non-stop teasing of Rachel is getting on my nerves. His parents told him several times not to call her a "little bensel", and he constantly does it. I know this is fictional, but one of the things I've always admired about the Amish is how obedient and disciplined their children are. If anyone is begging for a spanking, it is him. He even egged on the other schoolchildren to make fun of Rachel for wearing glasses! Another thing I never understood is the stigma against being a tattletale. I took no pleasure (or at least I tried not to) in getting my classmates in trouble when I was a kid, but after I asked them to stop making fun of me, if they kept doing it, I would tell a teacher. I had a teacher dismiss what I was saying, so I recorded them and then told the principal that the teacher was doing nothing to deter the mocking children. It may make you unpopular with some, but why would you want to be popular with classmates who make fun of you?

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brunstetter Betters #5
Rachel Yoder #5
Fifth book in the series deals with Rachel needing to get specs and bullying behaviour from boys in particular her brother who never seems to get in the trouble he deserves.
Anyway an engaging and relatable read from a good series.

[Dee]

BOOK # 5 OF 8 2nd BOXED SET OWN ON KINDLE

[Alea Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been fun re-reading this series. The books are getting a little repetitive, but still funny, lighthearted books!