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Books: Kingdom of Simplicity

'Kingdom' come

The insular sect of the Amish has always appeared mysterious and otherworldly, if not idyllic, to "outsiders." It took the tragedy of Oct. 2, 2006, when a lone gunman blasted into a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and killed five girls (ages 6 through 13) then himself, for the rest of the world to view the religious society as a community with awe-inspiring values of forgiveness and reconciliation, even in the face of humanity's worst. In Kingdom of Simplicity, Mill Valley author Holly Payne (The Virgin's Knot, The Sound of Blue) expounds upon this theme with the authority of someone who's not only experienced trauma (she was struck by a drunk driver 15 years ago and couldn't walk for almost a year), but also had to confront her own feelings of redemption (the driver later sent a letter asking Payne for her forgiveness, which she didn't respond to—until she wrote this book).

Written from the perspective of Eli Yoder—who, as a young Amish boy, was unable to forgive the driver who killed his five sisters, despite the teachings of his upbringing—the story follows his path from anger to shame and ultimately, acceptance, as he leaves home and attempts to find his place, within the Amish family and beyond.

Eerily, Payne had already written most of her story prior to the Oct. 2 shootings. But having lived in Lancaster County for 18 years, Payne adeptly illustrates the complexities of a seemingly simple but in reality, complex and compassionate society, as well as the pastoral countryside they reside in, and how just one community can change how we see the rest of the world.—Samantha Campos

'Kingdom of Simplicity' by Holly Payne. 286 pages. $16.95. Visit www.kingdomofsimplicity .