The Celebration

The Celebration by Wanda E. Brunstetter                Audio Book: 12 hours, 3 mins      Paperback Book: 320 pages               

I enjoy reading stories about the Amish and Wanda E. Brunstetter never disappoints.   A sweet story about an Amish couple who are fostering two children whose parents were killed in a car wreck and of whom no other living relatives are known.   Interesting concept because I never considered that Amish would ever adopt “English,” children but they do in this book.     Lyle and Heidi Troyer are the Amish couple and as a way of introducing the two foster children to other local children, Heidi decides to teach a cooking class for kids.    It is a fun class but surprising, many parents stay to take the class with their kids instead of just dropping the kids off at the weekly activity.    There are so many side stories with all the families involved and the interactions of the students in the class (think the Breakfast Club for the under 12 set), adventures ensue, friendships and frenemies form, romance blossoms in the adult set, heartbreak, heartmending, prayer, tragedy and joy, kids and animals.    The book will keep you interested all the way to the end and is an enjoyable read.    I found out this is book 3 in the Cooking Class series so I will likely check out the other titles, too, because Brunstetter’s writing is calming and comforting kind of like snuggling up in a patchwork quilt on a rainy day with a mug of hot chocolate.   Very pleasing.    I would recommend Brunstetter’s books to anyone who enjoys reading/learning about the Amish lifestyle,  and anyone who wants an easy enjoyable read when you want something pleasant to fill your thoughts and turn on that projector in your head to carry you away with the story without a lot of heavy fare to contend with.   Good book