Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites

"Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites" by Anna Balmer Myers is a story that centers on Amanda Reist, a girl coming of age in a close-knit Mennonite community, where she navigates the simple pleasures and complex expectations of her upbringing. We meet Amanda alongside her brother Philip, as they spend carefree days together and share a strong sibling bond reinforced by a warm, familial environment. Their widowed mother works hard to provide a stable and loving home, but the peace is disrupted by Aunt Rebecca, whose adherence to strict Mennonite traditions introduces tension that challenges young Amanda and sets her on a path to discovering where she belongs within her family and culture.