Mary’s Calico Hope (Book Review)

Note: This book review post is the precursor to a three-part interview with author Anne Blackburne. I’ll be posting a part each day, Monday through Wednesday this week.

Spiritual Themes / Scripture Connection

Difficulty is a miracle in its first stage…

Anne Blackburne, p. 37

This is my favorite quote from the novel, and I like what is has to say about strength and resilience. I think it also has a biblical precedence in verses like James 1:2-4:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

and also Gal. 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

There’s also a neat moment with a character reconnecting with God (something I enjoy reading about!).

What I Liked

I liked seeing the reemergence of characters, especially Lydia, from Ruth’s Gingersnap Surprise. I appreciate books that portray inter-generational friendships: demonstrating the wisdom that God brings through life experience.

Mary also receives council from her mother, and the two enjoy a close relationship. In a twist of convention, Mary lives in the dawdi house, which is typically reserved for grandparents, while her mother and stepfather occupy the main house.

Siblings also add a layer of interest to the story. Simon, Mary’s 6-year-old brother, is a sweet little boy, and I appreciated his compassion for his grown-up sister. I like that Blackburn chose to give Mary siblings who were quite a bit younger, but still very important to her day-to-day life.

Reuben also has a sibling nearby, as his seventeen-year-old sister comes for an extended visit. Eliza is sweet and fun-loving, and I could see her having her own book (although she didn’t inherit a kitten from Lydia, so that may not fit the scope of the series).

I also really liked seeing Bishop Troyer, again. We get to see a slightly (or more of a) different side to him, in Mary’s Calico Hope. Plus, since he has a decent-sized role in this book, it was fun to know a bit of his history, from Blackburn’s debut.

Representation

Mary uses forearm crutches to get around— not because of a recent injury but because of an accident that happened when she was a little girl. I like that the author chose to represent Mary in this way, since this is not a common representation in Christian fiction (and possibly fiction in general, but I don’t have a big frame of reference). Blackburn seamlessly integrates Mary’s movements into the story: naturally, without being distracting. As readers, we are aware of Mary’s challenges and the pain she experiences, but we are also very aware of her impressive strength and fortitude. I like that Mary is portrayed as brave, but in a realistic way. She’s overcome a lot of adversity, but she’s not fearless. Rather than being idealized, she’s a real and relatable character.

Content / Respectful Discussion

I’ve been enjoying this series, so I’m not sure if I read the book’s description before I requested it. I did struggle a little bit with the forbidden-love Amish/Mennonite romance. I haven’t read a lot of this sort of story, but my concern with this title was Mary potentially going against her convictions. With that said, the characters do seek to keep their relationship appropriate, even when they both want a romance. Plus, there’s a good deal of emphasis on looking to the Lord to see if He will make a way for the relationship to work (without violating the Ordnung).

Recommendation Status

The latest installment in the Heart of the Amish series is a sweet and hopeful romance. Recommended for readers who enjoy Amish fiction, as well as those looking for protagonists with diverse abilities. (And, the title is a punny nod to Mary’s feline friend, for those who like books with cats).