Review of The Little Amish Matchmaker
by Linda Byler
Simon can’t stop thinking about the pretty Amish teacher at the local one-room school. But he’s ignored the sparks between them because he’s so shy.
So Simon’s little brother, Isaac, takes matters into his own hands. He’s determined to give his brother the best Christmas present ever—a date with his favorite teacher.
Amish novelist Linda Byler brings her tender humor and skillful observation of family relationships to this holiday story. “I love Isaac’s self-confidence and scheming as he prods his reluctant older brother,” she says knowingly about her characters.
Byler takes her reader straight into the Amish world as Isaac is both charmed and annoyed by his too talkative, but quite bright, Mam. He can barely tolerate his little nieces and nephews, who substantially outnumber the grown-ups when the whole family gets together. And he loves his humble, circumspect Dat, although his father isn’t always pleased by how well Isaac sweeps the forebay in the barn.
As anticipation for the Christmas program at the schoolhouse builds, Isaac cares for troubled Ruthie who stutters miserably when she practices her poem. And he wonders how much he’ll have to help his brother Sim act on his growing affection for Teacher Catherine!
So Simon’s little brother, Isaac, takes matters into his own hands. He’s determined to give his brother the best Christmas present ever—a date with his favorite teacher.
Amish novelist Linda Byler brings her tender humor and skillful observation of family relationships to this holiday story. “I love Isaac’s self-confidence and scheming as he prods his reluctant older brother,” she says knowingly about her characters.
Byler takes her reader straight into the Amish world as Isaac is both charmed and annoyed by his too talkative, but quite bright, Mam. He can barely tolerate his little nieces and nephews, who substantially outnumber the grown-ups when the whole family gets together. And he loves his humble, circumspect Dat, although his father isn’t always pleased by how well Isaac sweeps the forebay in the barn.
As anticipation for the Christmas program at the schoolhouse builds, Isaac cares for troubled Ruthie who stutters miserably when she practices her poem. And he wonders how much he’ll have to help his brother Sim act on his growing affection for Teacher Catherine!
Linda Byler has written a very cute story about the younger brother matchmaking his brother, Sim, with his teacher, Catherine. Sim and Catherine seem quite stubborn and uncooperative. Will Isaac finally give up on them ever getting together or will he remain persistent to the end?
I enjoyed seeing the one-room Amish school children preparing for their annual Christmas play and program for their families. It was very touching for Isaac to be so concerned about Ruthie and her stuttering problem. He shows a very compassionate heart...not something you always see in children that age. It was refreshing to witness the assistance he and his friends gave her.
This is a very quick read at only 88 pages. It can easily be finished in one sitting. One thing of interest that I noticed was the women wearing a kerchief to bed at night instead of their kapp. This was done so that if the woman felt the need to pray all during the night, her head would be properly covered. Many books show the females brushing their hair out at night for their husbands and leaving it uncovered. I wonder if that differs for the various Amish districts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Linda Byler is in fact Amish, she originally self-published but her series of books have started to be released by Good Books. She is the only Amish person currently in the genre to my knowledge.
I received a free digital copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher: Good Books in exchange for my honest review.
Interesting! And just in time for Christmas! Thanks!
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