If you're looking for a good book to read, but are turned off by the fact that this features Amish characters, don't be! Instead of the usual bland-as-bread romances, this is a fresh take on a tired story. Will runs away at 19 from his father's Amish community and creates a new life for himself, eventually marrying and having two children. Eventually, the two halves of his life intersect and it forces him to come clean about it.

This is a captivating story unlike anything else. It takes tired cliches: illegitimate children, rebellion from an Amish lifestyle, the resultant banishment, reconciliation with family, etc. and presents them in a new way that is excellently written.

The book flips back and forth between 1985 (written in present-tense) and different points in Will's life (written in past-tense) and that's the only part that is a bit confusing. Otherwise, it's amazing. ( )

I'm very glad I picked this up at the church garage sale, even though I had not heard of this author. It is a very well written story of a run-away son who, after many years, attempts reconciliation with his stern, tradition-bound elderly father. It also includes his experience in the Army during World War II, his romance with his future wife and his relationships with his own sons, especially with his exceptionally gifted but rebellious second son.

I couldn't help but compare this with The Chosen by Chaim Potok, which I recently read. Both books deal with similar themes: a stern, tradition-bound father and an exceptionally gifted but rebellious son.

Levi's Will is an almost new used hardcover book, in excellent condition. ( )

For me, this was an in-depth look of a prodigal son returning to the Old Order Amish and the real difficulties that he must face. It was almost like a diary of Will Mullet, who ran away from his Amish way of life and become an Englisher. The way this was written seemed so real and so sad in many different levels. A boy leaves home, becomes a man and strives to make sense of his life. It was not a happily ever after story, but filled with sorrow and pain, but I loved the way forgiveness was shown by Will and how that freed him from the guilt of his past. I thought the book was summed up with Will's realization that, "No man could keep the Law; his only hope lay in the grace of God. The wrong Will had done and all the roots that had grown from it, all the lies had told and all the harm that had come to those he loved because of it, all of it was covered by the grace of God." This was my first book by this author and I thought he wrote a story that seemed so real that it shouldn't be in the fiction section. ( )

Levi is Amish raised and in his family, his father is LAW. When he does something to go against their ways rather than face up to his father, he runs away and begins a life outside of the structured life he has known. His younger brother, Tobe, decides he as well wants a different life and goes with him. Levi soon realizes if he is to be in the 'English' world he must act the part. For him, there is no turning back, as he has already been baptized in the Amish order so this means banishment for leaving. Tobe, however, has not been baptized, so there is no ban on him. Levi encourages Tobe to return and sets off to begin his new life.

Excellent book!!! Although it is Christian fiction, there is no preachy feel to it. I was captured by Levi's story and found myself emotionally wrapped up in his journey. I learned quite a lot about the Amish that I hadn't known. There really wasn't a part of this book that I could find any fault with. From beginning to end it was a late-night page turner. ( )

Loved the book, complex story - wonderful!