Let's see...I sorta kinda forgot to write this review so we'll see what I can recall. Had I read this book when I was 8 or 9 or so, I probably would have loved this book. I'm not sure exactly what age group this book and others by this author are aimed for but everything was so simple, it seemed geared towards young preteens or so. Examples of why it seemed that way? First of all, the writing is very simple and not meant for someone with an extensive vocabulary who likes to learn big words. It's very much 'See Jane run' and although I say that, it's not meant to be offensive to the author or anyone; there's nothing wrong with it, I just have a hard time with books that are really 'easy' reads and not challenging. Another reason, the main character although she's 16 or so (If I remember right), she acts really young and sort of inexperienced (especially for talking like she'd done SO much with all the friends she had and such). I found her to be quite annoying as she'd say how she wanted to go home from the hospital, yet was too lonely at home. Oxymoron much? And that was explained every other chapter or so. The other characters were...ehh...okay I suppose. I found most of them to be a bit cliché. The little crush/romance aspect is a prime example of that. 'Star-crossed' lovers, hate each other at first (well, fight anyways), then fall in love anyways and find a way to be together despite the things keeping them apart. The angel things was to be expected and predictable, due to the title, and how MC, Leah, was all wondering and questioning faith and angels after the roommate girl told her the story. The storyline was kinda boring, even with the 'mystery' of the angel and question of whether Leah would survive or not. I just didn't find it to be captivating, and this sort of story usually isn't to me (predictable :p). So overall, I wasn't too impressed by this book(if at all) but I suppose I'll give the author another chance since her books do look good and some are newer than this one.
Synopsis: "Happy Holidays! Bah humbug. "Happy" is not the way Leah Lewis-Hall would describe herself at the moment. She's spending her twelve days of Christmas in an Indianapolis hospital, while her mother is thousands of miles away on a honeymoon with husband number five. Leah went to the doctor with nothing more than a broken finger, but he ordered her to undergo some tests. Now she's stuck in the hospital, alone. Then Leah meets her hospital roommate, a young Amish girl named Rebekah, and her big family. Cynical sixteen-year-old Leah has never known people like this before. From Rebekah's handsome brother, Ethan, who can barely look Leah in the eye, to her kind older sister, Charity, the Amish family captivates Leah with its simple, loving ways. When Leah receives frightening information about her condition, her new friends show her that miracles can happen. And that sometimes angels appear in the most unexpected places."My Review: It has been so many years since I originally read this book but it still has quite the impact years later. While it is clearly written for Middle-grade to YA audience it still has a certain appeal to adults. It is refreshing to read a clean book with touches of realism, romance, emotions and even religion without going overboard on any one. Not one sub-plot got carried away but only added to the main storyline. I enjoyed the changes in the characters and their own personalities. This is definitely a book to be kept on the shelf.
What do You think about Angels Watching Over Me (1996)?
I have finished Angels Watching Over Me by Lurlene McDaniel. I really enjoyed this book. It made me very sad, but also happy. If you are willing to shed a few tears, I would recommend this book to you. Little Rebekah was so sweet, I felt so bad for her. I am definitely going to read the rest of the series. One thing that I thought was weird was that Leah knew so little about the Amish, since there is so many shows about them, but I suppose when this book was published, there was not so much media dedicated to them.
—Isabelle Ley
In Angels Watching over Me by Lurlene McDaniel, Leah Lewis-Hall, the protagonist, deals with various pains over her body and because of these pains, she ended up in the hospital (almost the entire setting of the book). Without her mother being by her side because she is in Japan for a honeymoon with her fifth husband, Leah meets and becomes friends to a Amish girl named Rebekah and her siblings, Charity and Ethan in addition to Molly, their nurse. When Leah was hospitalized, she learns the differences and similarities of the English and the Amish culture meanwhile falling in love with Ethan but cannot be together. On top of all issues that Leah tries to cope with, she discovers that she has bone cancer. Something that I like about the book is that while I was reading it, the mood was really sad to the point where the reader has extreme sympathy for Leah. Leah has to deal with issues that some teenagers or even adults do not have to deal with like cancer and facing the decision of going into chemotherapy. Reading this book and comparing the issues that she has to deal with makes you think that the issues that we have do deal will are rather minor. For example, normally, children, teenagers or adults do not deal with life or death everyday. They may think that their situation might be the end of the world. However, something that I do not like about the book was how McDaniel ends the book with a letter because it does not really tell what might be her next decisions with her family.
—Jessica
McDaniel's romantic novel on audio gives the Young Adult listener a window into the life of the Amish. Leah, sixteen-years-old, has just recently moved to Indiana with her mom and new stepdad. The parents are on their honeymoon in Japan when Leah winds up in the hospital because of a broken finger. She is befriended by her five-year-old Amish roommate, Rebekah. Leah soon learns about the Amish ways and culture through Rebekah's sister, Emily, and brother, Ethan. Leah and Ethan eventually fall in love. Their relationship and a "visiting angel" help to get her through the diagnosis of bone cancer. This inspirational story shows what happens when two worlds collide, the Amish and the "English", and how love and faith can help conquer life's challenges. The narrator, Kate Forbes, lends a pleasant voice while reading the story.
—Tamara Kammerer
