A People Apart (A Nick Harris Book) - Hardcover

Kathleen Kenna

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1895897599 ISBN 13: 9781895897593

Publisher: Somerville House, 1995

Synopsis

Old Order Mennonites live in closed communities, rejecting much of modern life. Many still use horse-drawn equipment on their farms; their style of clothing has changed little in the last 100 years. They strive for lives of peace, humility, and simplicity. Yet, as Kathleen Kenna and Andrew Stawicki show, their lives are not simple or easy. After years of attending barn raisings, religious services, and events in private homes, the writer and photographer befriended members of several Mennonite communities, who agreed to be interviewed and photographed.

About this title

About the Author

Andrew Stawicki's affecting, well-chosen black-and-white photographs, which reflect the graceful tranquility of the community as its people work, play, and worship. Even the book design is well thought out. Warm white pages and a spacious layout welcome browsing, and the fetching photographs, looking every bit as if they were taken decades ago, invite children to stay and read.

Kathleen Kenna who "attended a Mennonite church as a child," shows great respect for the Mennonite way.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-8. It may be simple inquisitiveness about the black-and-white photo on the dust jacket that impels children to pick up this book. But Kenna and Stawicki provide much more than a curiosity seeker's view of the Mennonite community. Their photo-essay is a heartfelt, understanding profile of a rarely photographed people who live a life in which time seems to have stood still. Kenna, who "attended a Mennonite church as a child," shows great respect for the Mennonite way--its selfless dedication to community, its discipline, its striving for peace--but she also acknowledges the ongoing battle, the contradictions and pressures, that come with "being in the world, but not of the world." Letting the people often speak for themselves, she introduces some Old Order Mennonites who talk about their history, traditions, growing up, and daily lives. We learn how they feel about what they do and how they feel about who they are. In perfect accord with the text are Stawicki's affecting, well-chosen black-and-white photographs, which reflect the graceful tranquility of the community as its people work, play, and worship. Even the book design is well thought out. Warm white pages and a spacious layout welcome browsing, and the fetching photographs, looking every bit as if they were taken decades ago, invite children to stay and read. Stephanie Zvirin

About this edition

• Publisher: Somerville House
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 1895897599
• ISBN 13: 9781895897593
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 64