Books › The Shunning
The Shunning
406 pages
A quiet, heartfelt exploration of faith, family secrets, and the painful unraveling of a sheltered life.
What it feels like
Set against the quiet, traditional backdrop of a Pennsylvania Amish community, this novel offers a steady, emotionally resonant reading experience. The mood is initially tranquil and reverent, reflecting a world where time seems to stand still, but it gradually shifts into something deeply heart-wrenching as long-buried family secrets come to light. The prose is earnest and grounded in domestic details, focusing on the internal and spiritual turmoil of a life suddenly unspooling. It explores the heavy weight of tradition, the shock of betrayal, and the complex journey of adoption and identity. This is a perfect fit for readers who appreciate gentle, faith-based domestic fiction that balances profound emotional pain with the enduring promise of hope.
- Mood
- quiet
- traditional
- heart-wrenching
- reflective
- Tone
- earnest
- reverent
- melancholic
- hopeful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- hidden family secrets · crisis of identity · the weight of tradition · betrayal and forgiveness · adoption and belonging
- The writing
- Simple, heartfelt, and grounded in the quiet details of domestic life and deep religious conviction.
- The arc
- Moves from the quiet comfort of a sheltered, traditional life through the devastating shock of betrayal, ultimately reaching toward a painful but hopeful new beginning.
- Who it's for
- Readers who seek gentle, emotionally resonant domestic fiction centered on faith, family secrets, and the Amish way of life.
Content notes
- family betrayal
- adoption revelation
- emotional distress
About the book
In the quiet Amish community of Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania, time has stood still while cherished traditions and heartfelt beliefs have flourished. But a secret lies buried that could shatter the tranquility its inhabitants have grown to love.When Katie Lapp stumbles upon a satin infant gown in the dusty leather trunk of her parents' attic, she knows it holds a story she must discover. Why else would her Amish mother, a plain and simple woman who embraces the Old Order laws, hide the beautiful baby dress in the attic?On the eve of Katie's wedding to widower Bishop John, startling news staggers out of her anguished parents, and nothing prepares Katie for the devastation their confession brings. Feeling betrayed, Katie watches as the only life she has ever known begins to unravel, leaving in its wake a furrow of pain and a future of hope. - Publisher.
Description from Open Library.
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