Book Overview
A unique and gripping Amish romance set in the South at the turn of the century. It was the early 1900s when Obadiah (Oba) and Merriweather's (May's) parents died tragically, leaving them orphans at ten and eleven years old. When none of their nearby relations volunteer to take them in, they are set on a train to Arkansas to go live on their Amish aunt and uncle's cotton farm. Once there, it didn't take long to discover they would be treated cruelly, no matter what they did. May, always anxious to be a godly young lady, took on more and more responsibility, trying desperately to keep the peace and convince her older brother not to run away. But when they became teenagers and Oba received one especially cruel beating, he disappeared, leaving May to shoulder even more responsibility while navigating the dangerous and lonely world she'd been placed in. When she encounters Clinton, a young black man, on the road one day, she sees a kindness in his eyes that she's been thirsting for. He is immediately drawn to her, too, but quickly reminds her that he is black and she is white. In that time and place, there is no chance of starting a friendship. But still, they find themselves meeting discretely, spending more time together than is proper, finding joy and solace in each other's company. When things go from bad to unbearable at the farm, May realizes she must escape from her aunt and uncle. If only she knew where Oba had gone Can she turn to Clinton for help? Where is God when she needs Him most?
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1680997092
ISBN13:9781680997095
Release Date:May 2021
Publisher:Good Books
Length:336 Pages
Weight:0.79 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.4" x 8.4"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Indomitable Spirit
Published by Sally Mander , 3 years ago
BANISHED by Linda Byler
Oba and May Miller are from Ohio, when their parents die tragically, they are sent to live and work with their aunt and uncle in Arkansas on an Amish cotton farm. That is basically the banished part of the title. Other family members in Ohio didn't want to take care of them at ten and eleven years old. The children found themselves abandoned by everyone and everything they ever knew. Little did they know, they would descend into Hell and back during their time in Arkansas.
Their uncle is a staid, upstanding member of their community in Arkansas. He unfortunately for Oba also has a sadistic side and beats Oba regularly and abuses both of the children, continuously. Some members of the community feel like there is something going on, but since there are no other witnesses, they chalk it up to teenagers having a hard time fitting in and basically ignore their feelings.
Their aunt is in poor health, she starts to make Mary do all of the work of the house and garden as she directs from her willow chair and continues to get fatter and fatter.
Finally, Oba can take no more, he hates to leave May but knows if he doesn't leave, either his uncle or himself will end up dead. Follow along with their story and see where Oba and May end up.
This was a nice novel, some of it harsh but with the indomitable spirit of Oba, he overcomes. May has hard decisions herself, that she will have to deal with.
Highly recommend.
Heartfelt gratitude to #netgalley for the complimentary copy of #banished I was under no obligation to post a review.
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