The Divide by Jolina Petersheim

Leora wrestles with the decision between having faith and taking action, Just how much will her shifting landscape change her?





Hey Readers,
I have a new book to add to your "Must Read List".
It is an interesting, thought provoking new book called The Divide by Jolina Petersheim.
I would recommend this book if you:

• Like Post Apocalyptic stories  
• Wanted to read a book with suspense, romance and faith.
• Read the first book,  The Alliance
• Want to read a Mennonite story that is unlike ANY Amish/Mennonite story you have ever read.

So let me tell you a bit about the story.
The Divide by Jolina Petersheim  is the gripping conclusion of the Alliance. It is the story of  Leora Ebersole  a young Mennonite girl  who is living in a very difficult time.  There was an EMP attack that destroyed anything that ran on electricity and has left the world in chaos. The Mennonites were not as affected by the attack because they lived off the land and there lives did not revolve around electronics ( such as cars, cell phones, refrigerators, stoves, grocery stores, etc..) But when the people on the outside ( Englischers) discovered that they had food, they raided and attacked the Mennonite community, The Mennonites were given a choice, fight or run. Because the Mennonites are against any violence, they decided to leave their homes and find a new place to live.
 *WARNING*  Possible Spoiler alert if you have not read the first book, because this book begins where the last book left off.
It has been 6 months since they left their homes and already they are facing extreme hardships. Winter is upon them and they do not have enough food.  They are finding it harder to keep their faith but they know that God will take care of them and sustain them. Then tragedy strikes the community.  Several members have gotten sick and died. Leora is really having a hard time accepting that this is what God wants for her and her family and many times she second guesses their decision to run.  But everyday she gets up and helps were she can and then goes to the front gate  to see if her Englischer friend Moses Hughes has returned but she fears that he is dead.  When her Grandmother dies, she is devastated and decides to go with her brother and venture outside the community to see what's left of their home.  When they arrive , They are heartbroken when they see what is left, The Englischers had burned their home down and trashed their fields. The only good thing that came out of her trip was that she discovered that Moses had been severely injured, But was alive and was a part of a militia camp several miles away.  Leora is torn between searching for Moses ( whom she fell in love with) or returning to the community. After a couple of minutes, they decide to go back to the community but before they can get home, they are met with opposition when a solider with the ARC (The Agricultural Resurgence Commission) tries to take them to a work camp. Forced to make a horrible decision, Leora decides to use violence to guarantee hers and her brothers freedom. When she gets back to the Community, she tries to pretend that nothing happened but her actions weigh heavy on her heart.  As the days continue and several more of the members die due to the sickness,  Leora is having a even harder time holding onto her faith and the things she was taught since she was born. Surely, God does not want them living like this, But what should she do?
Should she go and find Moses? Should she stay and marry her friend Jabil, who has asked for her hand and has patiently waited for her?
But then they discover an even greater threat, The ARC are convinced that the Mennonites are the key to learning to live off the land and want to capture them and make them work at a work camp. Can Leora, Moses and the Community protect its members without violence or will they perish by the hand of the enemy?

You will have to read the book to find out! ( I can't give away everything that happens in the story)


So what did I think? 
First this is a continuation of the story started in The Alliance by Jolina Petersheim and I would not recommend reading this book as a stand alone because you should know what happened before so that you will be able to understand the events that occur during this book, I still like the characters, how they have to stick together in order to survive and how even though at times, both Leora and Moses question and wrestle with their faith, they did not give into the lie that God did not care about them.
 I also liked way the Author describes the scenery and landscapes in the book.  But what I did not like was all the violence and bloodshed in the book. No it was not graphic but it was more then I wanted to read about. I do understand that we cannot be naive and if an event like this happened, that there would be violence but still, I did not enjoy reading those parts. Overall, It was a great conclusion to an interesting story.  I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. ****


If you would like more info on this book or the first book in the series, Here is the link:
http://www.jolinapetersheim.com/books/







Happy Reading :)

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.