Katy's New World

Katy Lambright #1

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Katy has always enjoyed life in her small Mennonite community, but she longs to learn more than her school can offer. After getting approval from her elders, Katy starts her sophomore year at the public high school in town, where she meets new friends and encounters perspectives much different than her own. But as Katy begins to find her way in the outside world, her relationships at home become restrained. Can she find a balance between her two worlds?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Amish, Christian Fiction, Christian, Teen, Ebooks

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2010

About the author

Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer told her kindergarten teacher that someday people would check out her book in the library. The little-girl dream came true in 2006 with the release of Waiting for Summer's Return. Kim's titles now exceed 1.5 million copies and are available in six different languages. A former elementary school teacher, she now enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Kim's passion lies in writing stories that point the reader to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. When Kim isn't writing, you'll find her traveling with her retired military hubby, spoiling her granddarlings, petting the cats, quilting, or--as time allows--participating in community theater. You can learn more about Kim's writing and speaking ministries at her website, KimVogelSawyer.com.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“Katy has always enjoyed life in her small Mennonite community, but she longs to learn more than her school can offer. After getting approval from her elders, Katy starts her sophomore year at the public high school in town, where she meets new friends and encounters perspectives much different than her own. But as Katy begins to find her way in the outside world, her relationships at home become restrained. Can she find a balance between her two worlds?”


Series: Book #1 (of four) in “Katy Lambright” series.


Spiritual Content- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7a at the beginning; Prayers; Quite a few Scriptures are mentioned & quoted; Talks about God, His doors & the world; ‘H’ are capital when referring to God; Jewel has a bit of an attitude against “bible thumpers” she’s been placed with; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of the Mennonite faith; Mentions of a Baptist minister & faith; Mentions of Church, church going & Christians; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of a Bible study; A couple mentions of Amish beliefs; A couple mentions of youth group; A couple mentions of sin; A couple mentions of heathens; A mention of being like Christ; A mention of a nun.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘shut up’, two ‘duh’s, two ‘suck’s and six ‘stupid’s; Mentions of Sarcasm, eye rolling, attitudes; Mentions of possible rude names being cut off; Mentions of gossip & jealousy; Mentions of skipping school (Jewel convinces Katy to skip with her); Mentions of Katy’s mom who left when she was young; A couple mentions of cussing & not cussing; A couple mentions of stealing money; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of a beer can; A mention of butchering hogs (no details).


Sexual Content- a ‘sexy’; A mention that Jewel doesn’t know her father; A couple mentions of periods; A few mentions of Jewel’s mom’s many boyfriends and the one who doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself (no details); Mentions of boys & boy crazy girls; Mentions of kisses, stolen kisses & kissing;
*Note: A mention of a girl’s tight shirt showing the curve of her bosom; A couple mentions of underwear; A couple mentions of stripping naked & dancing in the streets (Jewel throws out the idea, none of them do it); A few mentions of a misunderstanding of a girl thinking a hope chest is when a girl hopes her chest gets bigger; Mentions of girls’ attributes, modesty & encouraging men not to look lustfully at a girl; Mentions of tight & low cut tops, tight jeans, and clothing that have printed phases on them to bring attention to a girls’ attributes.

-Kathleen “Katy” Lambright, age 16
P.O.V. of Katy
203 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
At first I wasn’t a fan of Katy—she seemed a bit too focused on herself & how she was feeling, but by the end I ended up liking her better. I look forward to reviewing the rest of the series, as they do get better. ;)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second Kim Vogel-Sawyer book and I really liked both of the books I read. I’m looking forward to finding more by her.

I liked Katy, and I admired her for finding the strength to be different, both in her Mennonite community and with the public high school kids. I did not like her best friend in the beginning, but she grew on me at the end.

I’m interested to see how the series develops.

[Angelc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest from Zondervan Books.

Katy is the only teenager in her Mennonite community who wants to extend her education past the required 9th grade. She is given special permission to attend the public high school, but will she be able to keep her faith while exposed daily to "worldly" things and experiences? Katy's mother left the Mennonite faith when she was little, and that meant she left Katy and her father too. Katy worries that by being exposed to "worldly" things, she'll follow in her mother's footsteps, hurting her father and grandparents.

"Katy's New World" is a great story for young teens. Katy is high school, but this book is geared more to younger teens and tweens and their issues. At first, I was skeptical about this one because it seemed a little cliche, but once the characters were developed, I was really drawn in. Katy's relationships with her old friends, her new friends from her new school, and her father are carefully written and realistic.

At her new school, Katy realizes that not all "worldly" things are bad. She quickly makes friends with Shelby, the daughter of a preacher. Sometimes, Shelby proves to be a better friend to Katy than her friends from the Mennonite community. Katy struggles trying to balance her two worlds, and the result is that she feels like an outsider both at school and in her community.

Katy overcame challenges to her faith and she does make mistakes. However, she learns from her mis-steps and in result she makes a choice, a decision, instead of blindly following along with what she is told to do.

This was a great book for tweens, with rich characters and honest feelings about fitting in that all young people feel.

reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Katy's New World is about a Mennonite girl who longs to continue her education past the tradition of 9th grade. She receives the permission of the church elders to do so, but the bigger question is will she be able to balance the two worlds?

MY REVIEW:

The author, Kim Vogel Sawyer, has written a contemporary story of a teen girl caught in the middle of two very different worlds. Or are they really that different?

I enjoyed the simple storyline that explored the differences, and yet the similarities, of life between the "worldly people" and the Mennonite community. The characters are easy to relate to and are dealing with ordinary problems that a teen girl faces. It's an easy-to-follow plot that holds a few unexpected twists and turns and is full of obvious and underlying lessons. I appreciated the way the Sawyer dealt with the reality of trying to fit in and other harder topics in a manner appropriate for teen girls to be reading. This book will not only be a light and enjoyable read, but also one that encourages and teaches through it's entertainment.

It's a book I would let my daughter read without hesitation and a series I look forward to following.

* * * * *
This review copy was provided courtesy of Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and strictly those of Mandy and no compensation was made in any way.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*. I’m hoping the other books in this series will be better. This was just boring, but I have high hopes. That is all! 💫

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendships Are A Blessing

I have read a lot of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and enjoyed every one. This one really touched my heart, and I'm so happy to have a lot of special friends, that mean a lot to me, like the young Mennonite girl, Katy in this book. A truly good read!

[Susan Hollaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was written by my 14-year-old daughter and is her very first book review.

I was excited about the release of Katy’s New World, the first in the Katy Lambright Series, by Kim Vogel Sawyer. It sounded like an excellent book and I wasn’t disappointed! The book is not only well written, but is totally engaging. I didn’t want to put the book down after I started reading it. I give this book “a two-thumbs up“ and recommend it highly.

In Katy’s New World Katy struggles to keep her roots as a Mennonite and yet fit in with her new friends at school. Life is full of ups in downs as Katy learns about the “outside” world and struggles to keep old and new friendships alike.

More about the Book
After the deacons of her Old Order Mennonite church approve her request to extend her education past her community’s ninth grade norm, Katy Lambright starts her sophomore year in public high school. Unsure of what to expect and mindful of the deacons’ warning of becoming too worldly, Katy begins her journey into higher education. Immediately, starting with her ride on the bus, Katy realizes that school as she knew it is about to change in a drastic way. Her safe, secure world seems so far away.

Katy is overwhelmed at the size of her new school and the number of students. They outnumber the population of her entire Mennonite community. At home everyone knows each other. Here, she knows no one.

But on her first day at the orientation for new students, Katy is assigned Shelby Nuss, her escort for the first week to help her settle in. They quickly become friends and soon Katy invites Shelby to spend the night at her home. Wanting to include her lifelong best friend, Annika, in the fun, she invites her to join them. As the visit that Katy hoped would be a success ends in disaster, she starts to realize that her two worlds are planets apart. On top of all of this, some of her extended family is against the idea of her extending her education, especially in the outside world. After all, she’d heard the whispers of her fellowship, “Would she be her mother’s daughter through and through?”

Along the way Katy learns that Jewel, a girl that never seems to be nice, is coming to live with Shelby and her family as a foster child. Jewel seems resentful and bitter. Can Katy reach out to her or will her effort to reach out end in disaster also?

Throughout the book, Katy struggles and tries to overcome the obstacles that land in her path at nearly every turn. To make matters worse, she makes a huge mistake that could cost her the dreams she’s had for so long. Can Katy balance both worlds, or must she pick one? Will she lose all that is dear to her? Can she decide where she belongs?

Kim Vogel Sawyer, is a best-selling, award-winning author and inspirational speaker. She makes her home in Kansas with her husband. Please visit Kim’s Katy Lambright website at www.katylambrightseries.com . You can also visit Kim at her main website www.kimvogelsawyer.com.

[Amydeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the main character in this book. These are the kind of books I read as a youth and could have downed one of these a day! The relatablity to Katy was high, and the desire to fit in is something I think every girl deals with through her teen years.

I loved that Katy had self-control in this book; often we get examples of girls with run-away mouths and I really appreciated that about this main character. I think she does a better job than most adults do, but that’s the joy of fiction isn’t it? We can dream for wonderful kids like these — oh wait my kids are wonderful! ;p (I Know that probably doesn’t convince youth to enjoy this book, but from a mom’s angle it really works for me!) That being said, Katy wasn’t perfect and had her own quirky little flaws that made her lovable. I loved the story and Kim’s writing style.

Anyhow,

Kim provided some great characters and situations in this book that made it interesting. Kathleen, or as known to her dad as Katy-girl, goes through a lot of teen issues such as peer pressure and trying to fit in. I think the whole Mennonite twist really made the story work well, and gave me a bit more insight into the community. I was assuming they were more like the Amish, but they are a bit different. Kim was wise enough to even point that out in the book in a few areas which I really thought was smart!

I would gladly let me daughters read this book (when they’re old enough). I think they will be able to glean a lot from it, as well as enjoy it for just the joy of reading! :)

***Special thanks to Bridgette Brooks of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katy's New World is an older book written by Kim Vogel Sawyer and is the first book of three. I was given this series by a friend so I thought I would go ahead and read them. This first story involves Katy and her approved transition to public high school. She encounters things that intrigued her but causes strain within her family. Has she struggles to find an equal balance between the two worlds Katy must face several decisions.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with four stars because it is really geared to young girls not adults but I highly recommend it to younger readers.

[Terry]

My daughter asked me to get a book we could read together, and I chose this. She enjoyed the different incidents the girl struggled with. She liked how the girl learned some lessons. She liked that the girl made new friends and made the best out of her new circumstance. She liked the book and said she felt like the girl could be a friend."Read more in our review!

[mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice

I have read a few of these bocks they are a quick read and chance to see how mennonites live and their religious beliefs it is very refreshing to read.

[Evelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not great - not as good as other Amish books

[Linea Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author does not disappoint.

[IvySphere · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katy's New World is YA Mennonite fiction (as opposed to Amish romance). The Mennonites are religious cousins to the Amish, and like the Amish, the Old Order Mennonites eschew many modern conveniences, have strong community ties and dress in a manner most modern Americans would consider odd. Katy has finished ninth grade at her Mennonite school in rural Kansas, but she wants to go to the pubic high school. No other child from their community ever has, but the elders allow Katy to go, warning her not to be conformed to the ways of the world.

Of course her modest dress and prayer cap make her stand out and earn the titters of some kids. A Baptist minister's daughter befriends her and draws her into her circle of friends. Katy is torn between her new life and new friends and her forever best friend and life in her Mennonite community. Can she fit in both places?

Belonging is an important thing for most teens. Katy realizes she is different than the kids she grew up with, but she isn't rejecting the Mennonite lifestyle. I know this is a 200 page YA novel, and that fact limits the amount of character development but I thought the characters in this book were on the shallow side. Katy had some depth to her; we see it reflected in the poetry she writes and we see her struggle to bridge her two worlds. However her friend the minister's daughter is pretty much too good to be true, and the problem child in the circle of friends isn't really. This is the first book in a series so maybe the characters will be more fully developed as the series goes on. It was a pleasant quick read, though honestly I doubt my teen daughter would care for it. She doesn't plow through books like her mom does, but actually prefers more substance when she does read.

First Wildcard will tour this book next week. Stay tuned to read the first chapter.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katy's New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer


This is the first book in Kim Vogel Sawyer's Young Adult Amish fiction series, the Katy Lambright Series.

In Katy's New World we meet Katy Lambright, who is a young girl, a devout member of her Mennonite community. The only difference between Katy and other members of her community is she desires to go further in school than Mennonite schools usually go. So, Katy gets special permission to attend a nearby Englisch school, but not without worry from her community.

High school is a tough enough time without being automatically viewed as an outsider or "different" like Katy is. She has to learn to navigate a world filled with technology, loud sounds, judgmental people who whisper about her, and more.

Will Katy survive this huge change? Will she find a way to make friends or will she remain an outcast? And will the ways of the Englisch world change her, and threaten her status in her Mennonite community?

Read Katy's New World to find out!

While this may be classified as young adult fiction, I really didn't feel like the work was juvenile like I have with other young adult fiction. I think the series accurately portrays what a huge change it would be to go from an enclosed Mennonite world to the open Englisch world. I think changing high schools alone at that age would have been awful, but to come from such a unique background would only compound the difficulty.

I really felt like I could understand Katy and her struggles. It was also cute how naive she was, but made sense because of the sheltered background she came from. It made her very believable, and very sweet.

While it may be a young adult series, I think any Amish fiction lover would enjoy this book and this series!

4.5 out of 5 stars!

[Kathleen L. Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katy Lambright Series book one.
This was a departure in my personal reading as a book targeted for young adults. I am a historical fiction lover at heart, but this quick read captured and held my attention for many reasons. The ever-popular Amish and Mennonite fiction has so far eluded my reading shelf, but I admit, I've been curious. This is about a young Mennonite girl, Kathleen Lambright, who has been given special permission from the deacons of her congregation to attend public high school beyond the ninth grade norm of her community. Right away, Sawyer depicts teen angst at its finest, as Katy leaves her familiarity and ventures into what no one else in her community has ever done with the leadership's blessing--enter the world.

Adding to the conflict of Katy's awkward adjustments to school bells and the snickering and tittering of those around her, her community doesn't understand her longing for learning. Her best friend's jealousy over her time away and of her new friendships leaves her between two worlds, and the criticism of her aunt and others who think she will repeat a family scandal grieves her heart. But through it all, Katy faces her changing landscape with courage, determination, and a lovably imperfect character that manages to triumph in the end, rather like an Anne of Green Gables in a bonnet. I found myself endeared to this realistic young heroine to the point that I would like to follow her on her next journey, which looks like an addition to her close-knit family may be brewing.

Engaging, warm and full of human insight, the writing matched the character. A wonderful read for young and old.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books by Kim Vogel Sawyer but this is the first YA book of her's that I've read but it won't be the last. Even though it is a book about a young Mennonite girl I think a lot of teens will be able to relate to what she has to deal with in this book. Some of the themes include, making new friends, fitting in, and standing up for your beliefs while accepting people whose faith may be a bit different from yours.

Katy Lambright, the main character has to grow up in a single parent home since her mother abandoned her and her father and later died when Katy was very young. Even though farm life and working at her family's quilt shop keeps her busy she still longs for a higher education that is not typical for a Mennonite teen. When she is given permission to attend a public high school she must learn to deal with being the outsider among not only the students in school but her own friends in the Mennonite community who are having a hard time understanding Katy's desire for more learning.

I think Kim Vogel Sawyer does a really wonderful job in making Katy easy to relate to even though she is Mennonite. The secondary characters including her new friends at school are pretty realistic too! At first they treated her like an outsider but once they got used to her and realized that maybe she wasn't so "different" after all, they came around. The ending of this book seemed a bit abrupt but I realize that this is just the first book in a continuing series so hopefully everything plays out for Katy and her friends and family.

[Christy Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katy's New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer is the first book in the Katy Lambright series about a Mennonite girl attending a public high school. I just have to get this off of my chest before I get into my review: I don't think that this book will actually appeal to the audience the author and publisher is hoping for. While bonnet fiction is extremely popular right now, I don't see teenage girls who listen to Ke$ha and Lady Gaga being interested in a Mennonite girl's life. That said, it's the kind of book that moms really want their daughters to read and girls roll their eyes at and ignore. However, if the girls could be convinced to crack the covers, inside they will find a completely enjoyable read. Katy, although Mennonite, is going through the same worries and insecurities that so many teenage girls suffer. She worries about fitting in and pleasing her parents. She feels overburdened by her father's expectations and flustered by the attention of boys. She wants to stay true to who God wants her to be, but she hasn't exactly figure out who that is yet. I loved reading about Katy's love of language and poetry and her desire for to know more and be more than her community expects. I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on the giveaway part of this site. I am so glad I did! I might never have picked this if I had seen it at the bookstore, and I would have missed an amazing find.

The book was a great insight into the Mennonite life style. I learned a lot about the Mennonite's through the course of the book, and since I enjoy learning about different religions this was great. This was my first taste at a Mennonite story, and I am hungrey for more, I cannot wait to go find some more books with Mennonite charectors.

The main charector is beleviable, and I really liked the way that Sawyer wrote her. The book is perdictable, but at the same time the charectors and Mennonite life style is so interesting, you really don't care that its an easy read.

I would recomend this book for junior high kids, I don't know that many high school kids would enjoy it.

My only complaint is about the charector Shelby. She was unrealisticly nice. Not even a preachers christian child can be that nice all the time, she never gets upset! She drove me crazy, I just kept wanting her to snap at someone or something so that she didn't seem so inhumanly perfect.


Overall, a great read, and I can't wait to read book 2.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: KATY’S NEW WORLD
Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 978-0-310-71924-3
January 2010
Genre: Inspirational/young adult

Katy Lambright is Mennonite, and her schooling is supposed to end when she finishes ninth grade, but Katy has special permission from the Elders to attend a public high school in Salina, Kansas, to finish her high school education.

Many of the community is unsure about this decision, after all, Katy’s mother abandoned her to the world and they are worried that Katy might be drawn away too.

As Katy begins to make friends with girls in school, her friendship with her best friend Annika becomes strained. Will Katy be able to mend that relationship, or will Annika become a former best friend?

KATY’S NEW WORLD is the first in Ms. Sawyer’s new series for girls, and this is a winner. I instantly related with Katy, with her unsureness in a strange world, and yet not fitting in with her old world. Like all teenagers (and some adults) Katy longed for a place where she belonged.

I enjoyed reading this book and hope to read the rest of the books in this series. If your favorite girl is between the ages of 12 – 16, she will enjoy reading KATY’S NEW WORLD. Don’t miss this book. $9.99. 203 pages.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book! It's not life-changing literature, but it was a good, wholesome, enjoyable read. The target audience is clearly pre-teens/young teenagers, and I think this is a wonderful book for girls in that age group. Katy is a strong, independent girl who is able to hold on to her values. I love her fiesty nature! I also really like that there is nothing overtly sexual in this book. I do think it's not appropriate for my 8 year old (yet), but I am putting it aside for her to read in a couple of years. I know she will love it!

My one criticism of this book is that it doesn't seem consistent with true Old Order Mennonite culture. I am not Mennonite, but my husband's parents - and his entire extended family - are Mennonite (reformed, not Old Order), and my understanding is that Old Order Mennonite's differ from the Amish only in the color of the buggies they drive. I didn't think that Old Order Mennonites drove cars or had electricity in their homes. So, that bothered me. Other than that, this is a wonderful book for young girls!

[Jennifer Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet book that I bought on a whim because it was on sale for the Kindle. And now I'm addicted to Katy and her world. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. It is such innocent, wonderful reading. I hope to find copies in paperback for my classroom for the students that are into or want to know more about religion.

Katy is a very brave young girl who loves learning so much she obtains permission from her Mennonite group to attend a public high school. This has never before been done in her community. Not only does she have to navigate the already rough waters of high school, she does so as someone who is very different from the other students in the way she lives, dresses, and worships. I could not put the book down and wanted to know what Katy would do next.

I had read one of the author's adult books before, and it was just as wonderful. The author creates complex characters and situations that really make the reader think and ask "what if I was in the same situation?" I liked that the book came with questions at the back for the readers. It will help everyone get more out of the story.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katy Lambright is starting a new chapter in her life. A chapter usually not a part of a young Old Order Mennonite girl, but one started with permission from the church. She is going to attend public high school. Katy has an inquisitive mind, with a great eagerness to learn more than she learned in her one room school. However public high school brings with it, its own issues. Fitting in, is really not an option since it is important to not be a part of the world. Making friends is not easy, but she does manage to make friends with a young girl whose father is a Baptist minister, they really seem to understand each other. However that also brings the jealousies that come when old friends feel left out.

I really enjoy Kim Vogel Sawyers books, and this one was no exception. She made Katy totally believable, not an overly self-righteous young woman, but a young teenager who struggles with parental issues, with embarrassing moments, and with making right decisions.

This book was provided by Christian Bookworm Reviews for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review. 208 pages 4 stars.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katy's New World is a delightful and fun read. It lures you in from the beginning and you find yourself so caught up in Katy's World that you don't want to put the book down.

Ms. Vogel does a wonderful job showing the two groups, the Mennonites from which Katy comes and the public school kids. She also does a great job showing how both societies can mix and how sometimes they don't but people with the same beliefs don't always agree too.

I like Shelby as her "worldly friend". Shelby is a Baptist minister's daughter so she shares some beliefs with Katy and she definitely shares the ideas of taking care of others and being nice.

The brief look into Katy's world is intriguing. I don't know much about Mennonites so it was interesting to read about them. I also look forward to reading about several story arcs that were developing in the book as the series continues.

A very light-hearted look at high school. There are problems and lessons, but it mainly focuses on Katy and what she is learning about life. Katy's New World is a great way to pass an afternoon reading.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard enough being on the outside of a normal group of people, but take a girl in her sophomore year, make her old order Mennonite, and put her in a new school - a secular school when all she's known is the Mennonite school in her community. Katy wants to fit in, but she struggles with what she's grown up learning, what is right, and wanting to fit in.

Katy's struggles with being the new girl make this for an interesting read. She not only has problems with her new school, but now doesn't completely fit in with her community that she grew up in. Katy struggles with trying to find her place and ends up making some choices that not only make some people angry, but gets her into trouble.

This is a great read for teens through adults. It gives great insight to being different and wanted to be accepted. Highly recommended!!

[s0nicfreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several times I have began reading a book that seemingly had nothing to do with religion only to have God shoved down my throat near the end. This book, surprisingly (I thought I'd have God shoved down my throat the whole time), did not do that. I'm not Christian but I do love and strive to emulate the Menonites' self-sufficient way of life. Katy is a normal girl from this way of life with flaws she must overcome. Her family realizes that she must learn to overcome these flaws on her own, that she must ultimately make her own choices in life. In this book we join her on a journey of overcoming some of those flaws, growing up, and learning to be friends with outsiders while still maintaining her values. Too many people with values not as strong as the Mennonites don't see that young people need to and can learn to do these things if they are let out of the bubble.

[Jamie Fieldhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book as my first goodreads giveaway and was really excited to get my hands on it and start reading. I am a middle school teacher constantly on the lookout for books to recommend to my students - and I found one in Katy's New World.

The book centers on Katy's attempt to reconcile her desire for an education with her community's commitment to working at home. While the book was a bit predictable (Katy gets into just the slightest bit of trouble and alienates both her community and her school friends in her attempt to balance her obligations) I still found it an engaging read and hard to put down. I am anxious to see what is in store for Katy Lambright as the series progresses.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, ok I totally picked this one up because I almost peed my pants when I saw the cover. Seriously, just look at that doe-eyed Amish girl who gets permission to attend a, wait for it, public high school and the supposed to be popular girls behind her. giggle, giggle. Some librarian at Moon has a wickedly funny sense of humor.

But really the book wasn't bad. The characters are all really sweet and Katy is a total good girl who isn't even partially tempted to watch Tv at her first English sleepover. It was kind of refreshing to read about such a goody two shoes, but you know you're in trouble when the most climatic scene is when Katy aggressor to skip school so a troubled foster girl can go visit her mother. Cute.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Any preteen Christian girl would adore this book. I could totally relate to Katy's embarrassment at standing out from the crowd at her new school and her friendship issues. Although she's Mennonite, I think her struggles would appeal to many girls of a similar age. Definitely one I'll be recommending to friends with preteen daughters. I'll be looking out for the rest in the series. My only complaint would be that the issues with Jewel seemed to be wrapped up a bit too conveniently, I felt it might have been more realistic if everything hadn't gone smoothly at the birthday party. But overall, 9/10