Book Review of Sacrifice by Beverly Lewis

This book truly is entitled properly "Sacrifice," as that is exactly what it is for Leah most of all.

At the beginning though, the twins Mary Ruth and Hannah are both of courting age now and are dating the Stolzfus boys, Elias with Mary Ruth, and Ezra with Hannah. Mary Ruth especially is so much in love with Elias, and when the doctor's son Robert comes to town, a tragedy occurs. On one very dark night after the singings, Robert doesn't see the horse and buggy and runs them down in his car causing a deadly accident. Elias dies at the hospital, and Mary Ruth completely goes to pieces. Robert is studying to be a minister and he is simply sick all over about this, even though pardoned by the People.

It is a long time before Mary Ruth comes around, and when she gets back into living again, wants to attend high school against her Dat's wishes naturally. Mary Ruth is so hurt and everything though, she doesn't care what her Dat thinks, and goes ahead anyway to live with the Englishers she babysits for, and begin her high school career. Abram is furious over his daughter doing this, and bans her from the rest of the family. Ida the mother, has a secret fit, but must abide by her husband's wishes.

Leah is becoming in love with Gideon, the smithy's son. They have plans to marry later, but all that will change when Ida is pregnant with their fifth child, hoping for a boy this time around, and another tragedy befalls the family.

On Christmas Eve, Ida is having severe pains and getting ready to deliver the baby. Leah and Hannah were out during most of this time, and stopped on the way back from church services to see Mary Ruth at the Nolt's. When they finally get back, they discover their mother in dire pain, and as the birth progresses, Hannah has to seek immediate help for their mom with the midwife as she is bleeding quite profusely. Sadly, Ida is beyond help and dies right after getting to hold her son Abe only one time. The whole thing falls on dear Leah's shoulders now, as she feels responsible for her 2 year old sister Lydiann, and Abe now.

Leah knows she cannot possibly marry Gideon at this time or maybe never, is she is now responsible for mothering two kids. She is very committed to both children and like her aunt Lizzie, will be a maidel for a very long time.

Interestingly enough, Ezra, Hannah's love, has gone into the English ways, and the two have grown further apart. Gideon though has taken an interest in Hannah, and the two fall in love and will marry in this book, having their own children.

Abram has serious regrets and begins to soften more in this book as time goes along. He welcomes Mary Ruth back into the fold again, and his other oldest and long lost daughter Sadie comes back into the picture again. Leah is not ready to welcome Sadie back with open arms from all the hurt and betrayals in the past. There is a lot of pain between those two, so it seems it will take awhile to truly make amends.