Anna's World

This book is written with the Tween reader in mind, yet as an adult, I found it enjoyable. I always like a book that can teach me things and this one did just that. I have known about Shakers and their wonderful woodcrafts but I never knew they were versed in herbs and what they could do for medicine. I also didn't know they were Separatists in that they did not live as husband and wife or that they took in orphans. Anna Coburn, age 14, is left by her father with the Shaker Community after her town suffered a horrific flood. She doesn't want to be there with all the rules the Shakers have. Life is dull to Anna. She makes friends with another young girl, Sally who is a monitor in the Shaker school. Yet, there are some things that happen in the community like Henry David Thoreau speaking at their school and this catches Anna's interest. Sally talks Anna into helping her to run away so she can marry the boy she loves and Anna's father finally sends a servant to get her. Her father has been able to start a new business in Boston and has married and is now able to have Anna with him. Anna goes willingly but soon finds Boston is not the town or the life for her. ANNA'S WORLD tells of life in the late 1840's, the war with Mexico and the lifestyle of the Shakers. It is written in easy to understand language. It is a good book for the Tween in your life to learn about this period of history in America.

I am 71 years old and don't often read books from this genre. I read the book in one setting as I couldn't seem to put it down. Not only is it well written but the characters are believable. I connected with Anna right away. I too was removed from my family and placed with a religious group (in my case Catholic nuns) and the authors depiction of Anna's response to this event is so very real. All of the information about Shaker society in the 1840's was a bonus. Well done. I recommend this book to people of all ages.

Coleman, Wim and Pat Perrin/ "Anna's World", Chiron Books, 2009. Shakers in America Amos Lassen "Anna's World" takes place in 1840's America in a Shaker community. When Anna's father's business is destroyed by a flood, he is forced to move to Boston and she, at 14 years old, is sent to live in a Shaker community. Her life there is totally restricted--too little fun and too much work. She is able to bend the rules and get involved in mischief and she discovers that the storekeeper is stealing from members of the community. Anna is not happy there and to her it is bad enough maturing but dealing with the issues with which she finds herself faced is not for her. When she is finally reunited with her father, she becomes a member of the Boston upper-class and she finds she has new responsibilities. The country also seems to be coming apart. What is so interesting here is learning about the Shakers and the ideas that we get in the book are quite troubling. In the late 1840's America was a nation that was torn over the issue of slavery as well as over war with Mexico. Anna did not want to get involved in such issues. We watch as she comes of age. This is one of those rare novels of coming of age that is also historical. The characters are wonderfully drawn and I found that I regarded Anna as someone I really knew--she seemed that real. This is a wonderful reader that indeed has something to say.

I read Anna's World because I was sitting at the counter of my favorite coffee shop, and the owner had a copy of the book in a display rack. Although I often read young adult literature, it's usually fantasy, so I wasn't sure I'd like an historical novel about a Shaker community. But I had heard of the Shakers and wanted to find out more about them. I certainly did not expect to read the book from cover to cover without stopping. Anna is such an interesting and feisty character that I was with her all the way. She reminded me that the best way to insure that life will always be interesting and exciting is by remaining curious and open minded. My thanks to the authors.

At 77, I am hardly a "young adult", but I found Anna's World fascinating. I learned a lot about the Shakers while engrossed in the gripping story.