Anna's World Paperback – October 29, 2008

As described. Thank you.

As an adult writer who dabbles in on-line reviews, I am often told that I should be paid for my work. Now, I am certainly not arguing this point. I can think of nothing better than to be graciously paid for the achievement of putting thoughts through pen to paper. Writing enables one for all time to capture an elicited emotion like an elixir in the sentimental little bottle that the unnamed narrator in Du Maurier's  Rebecca  refers to that once uncorked would allow one to conjure and relive a favorite moment from the past. My reviews are collected then like bottles of tincture on a shelf--they hone my skill of exposition and simultaneously act as a record of what I have seen, read and more importantly what my brain dwelt upon at that moment in time. I can, so to speak, decanter what had passed through my mind and juxtapose it with a specific time reference--personally or universally historic--in terms of milestones in creative development. It's a choice.In this context, `getting paid' becomes the least important aspect of the entire operation. The frustration and joy of creating such a record surely surpasses any remuneration; the wonder of being followed and read a delightful side benefit. Nevertheless, the age-old discussions revolving around whether or not the actual satisfaction of doing a job one loves should be payment enough will continue with or without my opinions. The question reduces to whether or not anything of merit should be attempted without the promise of monetary compensation. What then makes an endeavor, any endeavor worthwhile? Said in another way, should innocent ideals that promote happiness and wellbeing be scrapped because they do not reach for or glean materialistic glamour and status in the everyday world? For me, the posing of this question and all its implications seems to be the theme of the young adult novel by husband and wife team Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin entitled "Anna's World."Anna, a young girl recovering from typhoid fever in 1845 Massachusetts, recovers at a Shaker village while she awaits the return of her father, a small town shopkeeper who must rebuild his livelihood in the wake of the natural disaster of flood. Unsettled due to her alien and austere surroundings, Anna finds it difficult to assimilate into the Shaker community of celibate brothers and sisters who believe that work and the sharing of the real time fruits of labor would insure the construction of a veritable paradise on earth. For her, the rules stifle and the day that her father will come and take her away cannot come soon enough.However, as each day passes she realizes what many adults still have not discovered in our modern day. To live means to change and grow--the desire for a routine scenario of which other people approve and in which one feels safe and secure means only stagnation and an emphasis on mundane problems and issues that indeed link us to the miseries of the world, but do not allow us the infinite license to create and shape our own lives by nurturing the needs of the soul. A world that does not change affords us the ability to control that world, but in the same instance does not allow growth. Paradoxically, the absence of growth suggests the absence of fully living.When Anna returns to her life with her father, she finds that her Shaker life has infused her with a desire for simple joys that are not forthcoming in wealthy Bostonian society. Authors Coleman and Perrin masterfully build on Anna's half-constructed view of the world with a marvelous juxtaposition of what really matters and what matters naught as seen through Anna's growing sensibilities. Well done!The pages of Anna's World describe the everyday life and morals of the Shaker community. It touches upon the transcendental lifestyles of the great minds of the time--most notably by the presence of civil disobedient Henry David Thoreau of Walden Pond fame. There is a modern corollary between today's military operations in Iraq and those of that period's Mexican War that the author's present quite nicely from the burgeoning awareness of the young protagonist. But most of all it serves its readers well with its delightful message of a young woman's coming to terms with what will make her happy in life in spite of the past's expectations and those of other people who do not understand the wonder of simple joys.Bottom line: Anna's World is a fast and fascinating novel that will definitely enchant young readers. Although rich as a descriptive simulation of a community of men and women that still exist (although just barely) today and evocative of a memoir of the history of a young America from the vantage points of not only the young girl but prominent personalities of that time, the story's main strength is in its presentation of a lovely coming of age tale that focuses on living life to the fullest extent with an eye on the needs of the soul. Parents should be aware of an anti-war sentiment that echoes the current Afghanistan/Iraq conundrum. However, no matter what side of the issues your sentiments lay, Anna's World's true value is in the empowering of the young protagonist to make good choices that reflect her growing integrity and nobility. Highly recommended.Diana Faillace Von Behren"reneofc"

What a wonderful story this is. It is very insightful concerning the maturation process of this young woman but it is also very exciting and thrilling. Anna has many adventures, some of them really quite dangerous. The story covers the time in her life from 1845 and 1846 with an epilogue in 1888 to bring us up to date on what happened later in Anna's life. Anna had been weak and slow to completely recover from her encounter with "the bad water". Many people in her small community died from typhoid and the store which Anna's father owned was ruined by the flood waters. Consequently he sent 14 year old Anna to a nearby Shaker community so that she would have shelter and care while he worked out what he would do to earn a living. This story is about the changes that take place in the life of this young woman as she finds herself living in a world completely foreign to her.Because of her age Anna is treated as a woman by the Shaker community, not as a child. The rules for living among the Shakers are numerous and Anna has a hard time adhering to many of them. She is always waiting for her father to send the letter which will say that he is coming to take her away from the community and into his new home. In the meantime Anna begins to notice that not everything the Shakers do is hard or unpleasant for her and she slowly begins to find her place among the people who live there.I liked the character of Anna. She is a very mature 14 year old woman and has a gentle nature who, while being somewhat stubborn, was always presented by the authors as someone willing and eager to learn. For me the key to my enjoyment of this book was that Anna had a thirst for knowledge of all kinds and she never stopped learning throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the insertion of Henry David Thoreau as a character whose discussions with Anna made profound changes in her way of thinking. It was interesting to see that person interjected into this novel to explain why Anna began to understand large world concepts which she wanted to have a hand in changing. This is a story of a young woman who learns that faith and belief will change your life if you open your heart and mind to listen to God's calling for you individually.I like to be aware of books available for my grandchildren to read. I also like to have books available for them in my home. I think that this book would probably be best for Young Readers slightly older than my two granddaughters, who are 8 and 9 years old. But I will certainly discuss the story with them and have the book available for them to read on their own. I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before one or both girls want to read about Anna's World.I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.