A World Away Audiobook

" Well written and enough changes in the plot to keep you interested all of the way through. Love the Chicago references. "

" Amish teen Eliza isn't sure she wants to embrace her lifestyle any longer. Given the opportunity to visit the "regular" world and be a nanny to two children for the summer, she finds the idea appealing and is thrilled when her parents finally consent. Her impressions of the big world are tediously described and the book could have used a better editing job (it is way too long, at almost 400 pages); there is little descriptive writing and the author never transports us. Characters are stereotyped and boring and the relationship that Eliza forms with the children she is caring for is hardly believable given the lack of storyline to support it. These things said, the basis for the story is interesting (the idea of all young Amish people having a rumspringa, or chance to see how the other half lives for a few months, as well as a look at modern day Amish, are two refreshing and little-addressed topics) and teens should find Eliza and her conflicts appealing...if they pick this tome up, in the first place,and manage to get through it. Junior high, high school. "

" It was a decent book. I am not a super-fan of Amish stories but this one was fun. "

" Reminded me of when our family got a foreign exchange student. The goodbye was impossible, as Eliza's was. However she seemed much more heartbroken about leaving the kids than her beloved boyfriend. A good book makes me think and feel exactly like the main character. Me and Eliza didn't quit sync. I don't understand her decisions and the way she thinks. Maybe it's just me! "

" This book takes a somewhat more modern approach to Amish life for a young girl faced with deciding about her future. The author did a nice job of helping the reader see the situation from many perspectives. "

" Solid coming-of-age with Amish twist. Nicely done, decent characterization. Aside from the intriguing Amish element, i don't think it will be particularly memorable for me. Good for booktalking though. "

" First book in a long time that feels like something I would read for fun. It's not going to be a Truman but I know exactly who will love it at my school. "

" I listened to this in hopes of having a good new gentle read to reccommend in the Teen Room. No such luck. No twists - no turns - no great changes in the character. In other words -- boring! Why can't anyone write a nice clean gentle read for teens that isn't so darn dull. "

" I always like seeing through someone else's eyes. Nice look into being Amish. "

" Great story about a 16-year-old Amish girl who experiences her "rumspringa" by being a nanny in a Chicago suburb. Her decision about whether to stay in the English world or return to the Amish community was very moving. "

" I have been studying Amish culture for the last year. I have really enjoyed learning about a new group of people. This book did not disappoint. "

" Slow moving story about an Amish girl who goes to experience life in the big city for her rumspringa. Interesting getting a peek into the Amish life, but the events that kept the plot moving forward were too convenient and predictable to keep me 100% interested and invested as I read. "