Running Around (And Such)

Title: RUNNING AROUND (AND SUCH)
Author: Linda Byler
Publisher: Good Books
May 2010
ISBN: 978-1-56148-688-5
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Lizzie Glick is growing up Amish, and is unhappy when her father decides to give up his successful business and become a cow farmer. In spite of his family’s wishes, he sells their farm and moves to a community with few other Amish, and Lizzie wonders how she and her sisters will ever meet boys if there aren’t any.

But other things need their attention before boys. When Mam comes down with a terrible sickness and goes to the hospital, Lizzie is forced to help out to keep the house running. And when Emma (Lizzie’s big sister) is old enough to start running around, Lizzie is forced to get a job to help save money to start Emma’s hope chest.

When Lizzie turns sixteen, she learns that running around is more confusing than she thought it would be. How does she tell which boy likes her? And even more confusing, which does she like back?

RUNNING AROUND (AND SUCH) is the first book by this real-life Amish writer. I picked this book up, thinking that since I am writing about the Amish it might be beneficial for me to read. And there are some good parts, informative, mostly about the running around (toward the end of the book.)

Otherwise, all I can say is Oh, the drama! Lizzie, though in her mid-teens, is whiney, prone to crying and wailing, and selfish beyond belief. She tends to over-react to almost every situation. Since there are two other teen girls in the family there are several moments with more than one teen girls sporting attitudes. The writing isn’t exactly top-notch, there is a lot of telling, weak writing, and jumping around in time (going from current day to backstory without warning) which was quite jarring.

However, the book did get exciting toward the end, and I will be looking for book 2 (coming in October 2010) When Strawberries Bloom to learn more about Lizzie as she looks for her potential husband. Several Amish recipes and a glossary are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 343 pages.