Enter
INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Dual-Time Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
    • March Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Sandra Broome
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Jeanette Durkin
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes >
      • Heather L. Jones
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Lauren Nel >
      • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Tina Williams
      • Ewurabena Wilson
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Dual-Time Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
    • March Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Sandra Broome
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Jeanette Durkin
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes >
      • Heather L. Jones
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Lauren Nel >
      • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Tina Williams
      • Ewurabena Wilson
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood

Book Reviews​

10/31/2017

0 Comments

Northkill

 
Picture
Author: Bob Hostetler/
J.M. Hochstetler
Genre: Historical Fiction/Amish


Jakob Hochstetler and his family came to America in 1738, seeking sanctuary from religious persecution in Europe and the freedom to live and worship according to their Anabaptist beliefs. Along with other members of their church, they settled in the Northkill Amish Mennonite community on the Pennsylvania frontier between civilization and Indian country. Eighteen years later, while the French and Indian War raged, their home was attacked by a party of Delaware and Shawnee warriors. Facing certain death with his wife and children, Jakob made a wrenching choice that would tear apart his family and change their lives forever.

Northkill is closely based on an inspiring true story well-known among the Amish and Mennonites and documented in many publications and contemporary accounts preserved in the Pennsylvania State Archives and in private collections.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Reviewer: Leona G.  (Review written by Jen G, Leona’s mom)

Romance Content:  This book contains scenes containing Amish courtship scenarios as often portrayed in Amish fiction books.  These include attraction between teenage boys and girls, holding hands, and one kiss.  There is also a somewhat veiled discussion on the marital relationship.
​
Recommended age range: I personally do not feel that this book is appropriate for a teenager that has committed to a Biblical courtship.  Also, some of the Indian scenes are fairly graphic for young people to be exposed to.

This book is a well-written fictional account taken from a historical event in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War.  It follows the lives of one Amish family as they struggle to survive in that wild land surrounded by Indians.

The central theme of the book is the father’s conviction of nonresistance and how that affects the entire family.  The author does a great job of showing different family member’s perspective; the reader is certainly drawn into the story, feeling what the characters feel.  The climax of the story is centered around an Indian raid, which is described very realistically and somewhat violently.

Overall, this book is interesting and informative, showing the reader who comes from a non-Amish background a different perspective of pacifist views.  The authors also give us insight into the religious beliefs of the main character, Jakob Hochstetler, in many different sections.  One example of this is when the book says, “All his adult life, he had struggled… to earn God’s favor and pardon by doing what was right.”

My main reservations on this book that lowered the rating are the small amount of romance and the level of detail in the Indian raid as described above.


Picture
Reviewer: Kelly Potts

Such horrors these original Pennsylvania Amish went through and yet kept their faith and their belief not to exact revenge. This is a heart wrenching story of family, community, strength of character, atrocious loss and centered in it all is God. The authors did not allow the reader to linger on the loss and grieve for Anna and the children, just as Jakob was not. The reader was dragged away with Jakob, Joseph and Christian wondering the same, “why would God allow this”. The family left behind as well as those dragged away by the natives, in my mind, miraculously look back to God’s plan and will. Such a heart wrenching ending that I simply must know how Jakob’s family saga ends.


Picture
Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

​I was mesmerized by this story of Jakob Hochstetler and his family who came to America in 1738 to escape religious persecution. They settle in the Northkill Amish/Mennonite community and build lives for themselves. The authors begin this story by letting the reader know beforehand what was going to happen. I knew because of the description of the book what to expect, but the details at the beginning threw me as I prefer not to know everything that is going to happen before I begin reading a book. That said, Northkill included so many detailed and surprising scenes that the "spoilers" at the front of the book did not ruin it in any way.

The writing was excellent, and I was immediately drawn into the story. Word of warning, the attack by the Indians, when it comes, may be a bit too much for some readers. While I don't condone violence in most books, this is a true story and was necessary to depict the horror of what happened to this family, who by the way are the ancestors of the authors.

I was a little confused in some parts because many of the characters had the same names and I was often left wondering who was who, but I suppose when you are writing a true story you can't exactly change the names of the characters. And at the end of the book, the authors once again included spoilers for the next one. I think it would have been better to add the first chapter of the next book, rather than a detailed account of what will happen.

However, I am so invested in this series that I don't care! I am going to purchase the second book because even though the author's told me what is going to happen next, I still want to read about it. That's how good this book is!

The one thing about Northkill that really spoke to me was Jakob's faith that God would provide for them and his belief in living the Scriptures he holds so dear. To love his enemies even after seeing his children and wife murdered most brutally is not something most people would even attempt to do. In fact, in the story his son, Joseph, struggles with this, but Jakob tries desperately to put it into practice. I am anxious to see how this all plays out in book two.

If you like historical fiction, you will most definitely want to pick up this book!

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed


    Categories

    All
    Action/Adventure
    Amish Fiction
    Anthology
    Bible Study
    Biblical Fiction
    Children
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church History
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporary Romance
    Cookbook
    Devotionals
    Dual Time
    Dual-Time
    Fantasy
    Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    Historical Romance
    Inspirational Fiction
    Marketing
    Marriage
    Memoir
    Missions
    Mystery/Suspense
    Poetry
    Prophecy
    Regency Romance
    Romantic Suspense
    Science Fiction
    Self Help
    Self-Help
    Social Issues
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Warfare
    Theology
    Thriller/Suspense
    Time Travel Romance
    Women's Issues
    Young Adult

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

    We are listed in The Book Reviewers Directory!

Services

Interviews
​Interview Submissions
Reviews
Our Reviewers
Advertise
For Writers
Book Submissions

Support

Contact


© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Disclaimer
FTC DISCLAIMER: All the books reviewed on this site are given to us for the express purpose of review. They are provided by publishers, publicists, authors and agents. None of our reviewers were required to write positive reviews and none of them were paid monetarily. All opinions are those of each individual reviewer. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”