From Plain to Plane

My Mennonite Childhood, a National Scandal, and an Unconventional Soar to Freedom

By: Patty Bear

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Hardcover | 23 February 2021

At a Glance

Hardcover
460 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 3.02

Hardcover

$42.90

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Patty Bear grew up among the "Plain People" amidst bountiful farmlands, black bonnets, and black cars. It was a world unto itself, both bucolic and beastly, with traditions and beliefs from the old world deeply rooted in the fertile soil of Central Pennsylvania.

Insulated by a culture that steadfastly kept its distance from outsiders and the march of progress, as a little girl she anticipated following in her mother's footsteps. But in 1972, at the age of eight, her father sparked religious controversy and ignited a scandal rare in the Mennonite community. Abruptly subjected to the chaos that surrounded the ritual practice of shunning, Patty, her mother, and five siblings were swept into a tornado of absurd accusations and public humiliation, forced to hide and endure publicity that headlined prominent national newspapers for almost a decade.

With her childhood and adolescence overshadowed by domestic violence and her father's abusive rhetoric, as well as persistent teaching by the Church that women were designed for subjugation and obedience, Patty's assumed image of her future gradually shifted-leading her to heed the call of her wild soul and the whispers of her Guides toward a bold quest for freedom she never imagined possible.

Industry Reviews

"This candid memoir set in a Mennonite childhood concerns the lasting damage of early traumas, but also recovery from them . . . an inspirational account of transcending limitations and succeeding despite the odds."

-Clarion Reviews

"The author tells her story in fluid, open prose that captures both the naïve worldview of her younger self and the observant eye of the woman she became . . . the tale of a girl raised under incredibly odd circumstances that ultimately feels quite universal, touching on the weight of community, the flaws of parenting, the messiness of family, and the drive to achieve more than what is expected."

-Kirkus Reviews

"Patty Bear's captivating memoir, From Plain to Plane, recounts her tumultuous childhood as a member of the Reformed Mennonite Church and her remarkable triumph over troubled circumstances . . . a gripping story-one sure to resonate with anyone who believes in the power of the underdog."

-BlueInk Review

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