Levi’s Will by W. Dale Cramer

Levi’s Will tells the life story of a young Amish man who leaves his  community in disgrace and changes his identity to fit into the outside world. The saga follows Will from his stint as a migrant farm worker to his enlistment as a soldier in World War II through his marriage to the present day. The overriding theme of the book is Will’s struggle to make peace with his Amish past and more importantly, to find favor in his father’s eyes. Ultimately, the story points to God and forgiveness as the only true means to peace.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the way it explored Amish traditions, Levi’s struggle to be honest with his loved ones, and his difficulty relating to his own children because of the way he was himself raised.    The writing was compelling throughout, although the painful emotions that were exposed led to a somewhat depressing feel throughout much of the book.

Levi’s Will is actually based on a true story. It was first published in 2005 and is now being republished with an afterward describing the effects the publishing of the first edition had on his relations with his Amish relatives.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review purposes.