A World Away

Gr 9 Up–In this coming-of-age story with a cultural twist, Eliza, 16, yearns to break free of the constraints and predictability of her plain life as an Amish teen in Iowa. There are wonderful people in her life–loving parents, best friends, and Daniel, who would like to be more than a friend. Still, a restless energy drives her to see and know something different. For her rumspringa (an Amish teen’s chance to explore the outside world), Eliza is able to convince her parents to allow her to work as a nanny outside Chicago. She sees modern conveniences such as electricity, cell phones, and computers for the first time and experiences putting on makeup and worrying about what to wear. She soon meets Josh, who appreciates that she is not a cookie-cutter personality like other girls. Although he is a conscientious young man, he arranges for them to attend a party where they both drink too much. Eliza becomes ill and in his rush to get her home, Josh drives into a garage door. Both teens accept that they made mistakes and pay for the damages. Surprises about Eliza’s family and her perpetual state of wonder at the unfamiliar world she has landed in keep the story moving forward. Eliza learns about an aunt she never knew she had and her mother’s own experience on her rumspringa. Ultimately, she reflects on what she has seen and who she misses and comes to the decision to return to her community. This novel is an easy read that provides a window into another way of life.–Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY