Escape from Heart

Rating:
Summary: A classic in the making....
Review: I am more than touched by this drama of the spirit that surpasses its simplistic setting. Stark delicately weaves into her characters the vibrant colors that would not otherwise be found in the somewhat bleak landscape of the Mennonite colony. I applaud her role as storyteller and educator as I have spent many years studying various facets of American culture and find the task of presenting a studied people in mere words and paragraphs a near impossible task. This classic tale is one for all ages as the search for our own freedom, and the strength to use it, grows with age.

Rating:
Summary: A classic in the making....
Review: I am more than touched by this drama of the spirit that surpasses its simplistic setting. Stark delicately weaves into her characters the vibrant colors that would not otherwise be found in the somewhat bleak landscape of the Mennonite colony. I applaud her role as storyteller and educator as I have spent many years studying various facets of American culture and find the task of presenting a studied people in mere words and paragraphs a near impossible task. This classic tale is one for all ages as the search for our own freedom, and the strength to use it, grows with age.

Rating:
Summary: A Breath of Fresh Air
Review: Lynette Stark's Escape from Heart is a breath of fresh air. It is surely a book many middle school students will enjoy. Young women especially, will connect to many of Sarah Ruth Heart's struggles as a young woman. I-N-D-I-V-I-D-U-A-L-I-S-M is Sarah's theme. The quest for it defined her and set a wonderful example for teens. I also found that reading into the Mennonite way of life is an interesting peek into other cultures and beliefs. I am anxious to read Lynette Stark's future books.
Mrs. Jones, Eastview Middle School, Illinois

Rating:
Summary: Sure to be a classic
Review: What a delight! For the young reader, the story is poignant, yet purposeful; for the sophisticated reader, the novel abounds in literary technique, most heavily in symbolism. Because of the subtle nature of the symbolism, it is not distracting to the younger reader--true marks of a literary craftsman.