The Shunning (1997) (edit title/settings)

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Katie Lapp: A 22-year-old auburn-haired Amish girl who has always resisted the strict ways of The Plain People. She is about to marry widower John Beiler, the People's Bishop, and become stepmother to his five children. Katie still has feelings for her first love, though, and the music they shared. A guitar he owned is something she treasures.
• Rebecca Lapp: Katie's mother, called Mam by her four children; married to Samuel. Rebecca has always been devout and obeyed the laws of the Plain People. But she carries a secret, shared by her husband.
• John Beiler: The Bishop in their community, he also does other work. He is looking forward to having Katie as his new wife.He is a patient man.
• Mary Stoltzfus: Katie's best friend, a few years younger; a person Katie has discussed many things with all their lives. Mary understands Katie, who has trusted Mary's decisions.
• Ella Mae Zook: Called the Wise Woman by most of the Plain People in this community; trustworthy. She is 80, has thinning white hair and hazel-gold eyes.
• Samuel Lapp: Katie's father, called Dat by his children; a strong-willed man, strict. A good husband and good provider.
• Mattie Beiler: Bishop John's sister-in-law, married to his older brother David. Mattie loves to gossip and will create problems to bring out the gossip.
• Benjamin: Katie's brother, one of three, all older (Eli and Elam, recently married are the others). He is closer to Katie, seems to understand her better.
• Daniel Fisher: Katie's first love, when she was 17. She still harbors love for him, but he was the victim of a sailing accident. There was a memorial burial (no body) in the cemetery, where she visits often. He taught her to love the music she constantly hears and hums, which is against the laws of Plain People, even though he was Amish himself at the time.
• Levi Beiler: One of Bishop John's boys; quiet, not seeming happy about the up-coming marriage.
• Annie: Elam's wife, Daniel Fisher's sister. She is to have their first child and if it's a boy will name it Daniel, after her brother.
• Elam: Katie's brother, recently married to Annie Fisher; they lived on Hickory Lane.
• Preacher Yoder: A silver-haired man, an important man in the church and community, as well as the owner and operator of the small Amish store.
• Katherine Mayfield: From a rich family in New York State, she was pregnant when a teenager.
• Laura Mayfield-Bennett: Katherine Mayfield's mother, who suggested the ride through Lancaster County to ease Katherine's mind the day her baby was born.
• Jacob: John Beiler's youngest son, anxiously looking forward to having Katie for his new stepmother; she can cook good!
• Lydia Miller: Second cousin to Katie through her mother's side, Lydia is Mennonite, married to Peter. Friendly and nice, they owned a car and a telephone as well as lots of life-easing things, and live about a mile down Hickory Lane.

Quotes edit see section history

• “Wear your Mamma's clothing, get your Mamma's life.”

  Dan Fisher

• “Lord have mercy-you're like no little girl I ever knowed! Like no other.”

  Mammie Essie

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Hickory Hollow: A small area, not found on a map, where Katie's Amish community lived. It has colorful names like Weaver's Creek, Hickory Lane.
• Samuel and Rebecca Lapp's home: Built in 1840 by Samuel's ancestor and a brick mason friend, it was a sprawling house with an addition on the east side. The enormous kitchen held a large black metal stove (wood-burning) in the center, a sink. There was a utility room just inside the back door. The family ate at a long sawbuck table, covered in a green checkered oilcloth; a gas lamp hung over it. The stairs (a ladder) to the unheated attic led up from the living room, where daily prayers were said. A cold cellar was below the house, lined with rows of cabinets holding canned goods. Bedrooms were upstairs
• Dawdi Haus: A connecting addition to the regular home, smaller, and built for Katie's grandparents, Mammi Essie and Dawdi David. It was sparsely furnished, with matching hickory rockers, a drop-leaf pine table and a tall pine corner cupboard, colorful rag rugs and no pictures, only an old calendar on the wall. An old deep purple and magenta crocheted afghan was on the sofa.

First Sentence edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Meinding: Ban, shunning
• Dar Alt Gebrauch: The Old Way
• Da Herr sei mit du: The Lord be with you
• Ferhoodled: Mixed up, confused

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by The Confession.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Beverly Lewis (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3562.E9383 S48 1996
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Literature & Fiction › Fiction
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Women's Fiction › Domestic Life
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary
• Books › Religion & Spirituality › Fiction