The Orchard

by Beverly Lewis

Publisher:

Bethany House

, 2022

Overview

"She realized there was peace right here in the midst of this heavenly sort of place, despite the unpredictable storm churning around her family."

For generations, Ellie Hostetler’s family has tended their Lancaster County orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. Yet when Evan’s draft number is called up in the lottery for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their Englisher neighbors threatens too close to home.

As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment to Sol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie’s attraction to Menno, she finds herself drawn to Sol’s steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, it feels as if everything in Ellie’s world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Can she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike any they could have imagined?

"This [book] serves as a reminder of why Lewis continues to top bestseller lists."--Publishers Weekly

"The Orchard is a peaceful, heartwarming romance novel set amid the quiet solitude of an Amish family’s orchard during the Vietnam War."--Foreword Reviews starred review

From the Back Cover

"She realized there was peace right here in the midst of this heavenly sort of place, despite the unpredictable storm churning around her family."

For generations, Ellie Hostetler’s family has tended their Lancaster County orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. Yet when Evan’s draft number is called up in the lottery for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their Englisher neighbors threatens too close to home.

As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment to Sol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie’s attraction to Menno, she finds herself drawn to Sol’s steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, it feels as if everything in Ellie’s world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Can she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike any they could have imagined?

"This [book] serves as a reminder of why Lewis continues to top bestseller lists."--Publishers Weekly

"The Orchard is a peaceful, heartwarming romance novel set amid the quiet solitude of an Amish family’s orchard during the Vietnam War."--Foreword Reviews starred review

Product Details

• Title: The Orchard
• Author: Beverly Lewis
• Publisher: Bethany House
• Print Publication Date: 2022
• Logos Release Date: 2022
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781493439102, 9780764237539, 0764237535, 1493439103
• Resource ID: LLS:9781493439102
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T23:42:25Z

About Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis is a Christian fiction novelist and children’s author of over 70 books. She was born Beverly Marie Jones, and is a former schoolteacher and musician. She started playing the piano at age 5, and began writing short stories and poetry when she was 9 years old. Much of her writing focuses on the Anabaptist heritage and the Old Order Amish. Her maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, was born into an Old Order Mennonite Church, which interested Mrs.