Katy's Decision

Gr 6—8—Katy's friend Shelby has come to stay in her small Mennonite community during summer vacation, and Katy has plans for them, including spending a lot of time with her horses. But things change when an accident forces the girls to take over managing her aunt's fabric shop. While it appears that Katy has important decisions to make, particularly about returning to the local public high school, her religious beliefs and family dictate what she will do. Readers unfamiliar with Mennonite culture will like the interactions between the young teens in Katy's small town and her friends who come to visit. When Bryce shows up in his father's sports car, the other boys are apprehensive about welcoming him, but cars are a great conversation starter and soon the ice is broken and the teens seem to learn more about one another's way of life. Caleb, whom Katy thinks of as a brother, matures in this book and is forced to come to terms with his feelings about her when city boys and another Mennonite show an interest in her. The story starts with background details that quickly bring readers up to speed in the series. A world without television or computers might seem alien to today's generation but daily life is anything but simple. Katy's Decision stands on its own as an eye-opening, inspirational story about compassion, family, and coming-of-age.—Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH