The Outcast

By: Jolina Petersheim

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Rachel Stoltzfus never imagined she’d be the talk of her Old Order Mennonite community until whispers stir the moment her belly swells with new life. Unmarried and refusing to repent by naming the partner in her sin, Rachel feels the wrath of the religious sect as she is shunned by those she loves most and eventually forced to leave - driven out by her twin sister’s husband, the bishop.

But secrets run deep in this cloistered community, and the bishop is hiding some of his own, threatening his conscience and his very soul. When the life of Rachel’s baby is at stake, choices must be made that will bring the darkness to light, forever changing the lives of those who call Copper Creek home.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2013 Tyndale House Publishers (P)2013 Oasis Audio

Critic reviews

"A must-read that will draw you into a secretive world of sin and senselessness and leave you with the hope of one set free." (Julie Cantrell, New York Times best-selling author of Into the Free.)

full story not the norm for amish fiction

I would not recommend for young readers but I would HIGHLY recommend to someone who likes Amish/Mennonite fictions this story has all the elements kept me totally glued thru the whole book full of relationships and conflicts mercy and redemption this is NOT a boring book

Wonderful

Oh my - what a wonderful book! The characters become friends - the twists and turns are unexpected - the story of hope and forgiveness ! Love this author !
The narrator was unbelievable - the different characters were all unique ! Just loved it !
Can’t wait to read another book by Jolina

Good read but...

A little weird with the storytellers. Amos is one person telling the story, and he's....dead. Which was, a bit different. And he's got some very strange accent that sounds like he's from Tasmania or an unidentifiable country.

Rachel is the other story teller, who is delightful to listen to. Tavia Gilbert is an excellent narrator, so I give her 5 big stars for her performance. I guess the story being told by the dead man wasn't my cup of tea. Overall, it's a good book, and I highly recommend this author.... I read her book "The Midwife" and was blown away. So, you've got a great author, great reader, could be a little more believable, but, that's fiction :)

Overall... 4 Stars :)

The Outcast

Would you consider the audio edition of The Outcast to be better than the print version?

I enjoy the audio much more than the print as it adds extra depth to the story.

What about Tavia Gilbert’s performance did you like?

The narrator did an excellent job reading and voicing the characters. My favorite character she voiced was Ida Mae.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was easy to listen and follow. The narrator did an excellent job with the Amish accents.

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to hearing many more books narrated by this artist.

Powerful story, amazing narrator

Would you consider the audio edition of The Outcast to be better than the print version?

Yes. Tavia Gilbert does an amazing job narrating. She added to the experience.

What did you like best about this story?

Powerful story about forgiveness.

Which character – as performed by Tavia Gilbert – was your favorite?

All of them!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried. The story and the narration were a perfect combination to bring out emotions.

Any additional comments?

I went searching for more books by Petersheim and more books narrated by Gilbert.

excellent story and narrator

If you could sum up The Outcast in three words, what would they be?

engaging, touching and compelling.

What other book might you compare The Outcast to and why?

The scarlet letter

Which scene was your favorite?

When Amos talks to his son and helps him to see that he is also to blame for what happened with Rachel.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes couldn't stop listening until it was finished.

Redemption

It was excellent. The cultural differences were interesting and the story was intriguing. It’s also nice to listen to a good story without hearing curse words. It’s clean yet genuinely well written and it’s’ entertaining.

Predictable

A good story with a weak & predictable ending. Too much of a happy ever after.

Decent story, annoying narrator!!

Would you try another book from Jolina Petersheim and/or Tavia Gilbert?

This book is based on a relatively interesting storyline (ie. Amish scarlet letter); however, it is likely much more enjoyable read rather than listened to. The narrator has an odd cadence to her voice which made the narration sound choppy and unpleasant in my opinion. The chapters where she takes on the male character's voice as narrator and uses a Pennsylvania Dutch accent are actually much more pleasant audibly. At any rate, you get used to it, but it certainly tempered my overall opinion of the audio version. The story itself I found to be entertaining and well written. It fell short of true literary grit as an "Amish Scarlet Letter", was rather predictable in many ways, but it makes for a worthwhile read.