Amish Reading List

Thank you to everyone who took the time to express interest in a list of Amish books. I never get tired of recommending good books, and in this case, I love to recommend books that are authentic and are more reflective of Amish reading habits rather than the current crop of popular light romance books that take place in an Amish setting. While Amish women do read many of the same Christian fiction books that you do (they get borrowed from their local bookmobile or library), I wanted to show my readers what books you might actually find on bookshelves in Amish homes. This list is by no means complete, but is a good place to start if you are interested in real Amish literature.

So without further delay, here are some of my recommendations:

Tobias of the Amish and it s sequel Emma: A Widow Among the Amish by Ervin R. Stutzman (true stories)

Anything by author Jerry S. Eicher, such as Sarah, Rebecca's Promise, etc. (novels)

Finding the Way, by Barbara Yoder

Eyes at the Window, by Evie Yoder Miller (fiction based on a true event)

Growing Up in an Amish Jewish Cult series by Patricia Hochstetler (a much talked about book series in some Amish communities right now.)

Rosanna of the Amish, by Joseph W. Yoder (Who also wrote Fixing Tradition.)

Amish Soul on Ice by John M. Keim (autobiography)

Just Plain People: Tails and Truths of Amish Life, by Eli R. Beachy (If I recall, this author got in trouble for writing a little too much of the truth...)

House Calls and Hitching Posts by Dorcas Sharp Hoover. (true)

Levi's Will, by W. Dale Cramer (fiction with some events based on the author's family.)

The Unwanted Son and The Forsaken Child, both by Benuel M. Fisher

Margaret's Print Shop by Elwood E. Yoder (historical novel)

The Mist Will Lift by Ruth Sauder (Old Order Mennonite novel)

Nobody's Kate by Carol Duerkesen and Maynard Knepp (novel)

No Strange Fire by Ted Wojtasik (novel based on true event)

Trials and Triumphs by Barbara Chupp (true story of a woman left alone to raiser her family.)

Sunshine and Shadow: Our Seven Years in Honduras by Joseph Stoll (about an attempt to start an Amish community in Honduras).

Choice Stories for the Family (formerly titled Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle) (Stories and poems for families, lessons teaching obedience, kindness, and affection to brothers and sisters.)

Shelter Me Safe, by Sheryle Lehman (a young girl's journey of faith through difficult times...based on true events.)

Home Life on the Prairie, by Susan Hochstetler (An account of an Amish family's move from a community in Montana to Oklahoma in 1985)

The Cost of the Crown by Claudia Esh (novel taking place during the Reformation)

Increase my Faith by Maureen Huber (Faith building stories for all ages)

Ben's Wayne by Levi Miller

Dr. Frau: A Woman Doctor Among the Amish by Grace Kaiser

A Separate God: Journal of an Amish Girl by Lucinda Streiker-Schmidt

If you have a difficult time finding any of these books or would like more information on any of the titles, just contact me and I will try to help.

Plainly speaking, if you are used to reading the Beverly Lewis type-Amish fiction, many of these books may bore you, or you just might not find them as interesting. Books that are written by plain people for plain people usually contain extensive family connections and historical events that have meaning to few people outside Amish circles. If you read this list and still can't find anything that peaks your interest, I'd encourage you to check out anything by Carrie Bender, such as the Miriam's Journal series. If you like Carrie's books you might also like books by Mary Christner Borntrager such as Ellie or Rebecca or Rachel (and so many others.) And don't miss the Buggy Spoke series by Linda Byler.

Also, as research for writing her book Plain Truth, Jodi Picoult lived with an Amish family and I think it shows in the details of her story. There is also a new author, Cindy Woodsmall, who wrote a trilogy called Sisters of the Quilt. As an outsider who writes about Amish and Mennonites, she also seems to do a better than average job.

***Some great comments on this post. I wish they would have transferred from my old site!***