Kayla tries hard to deny her attraction to Jamie. But when he meets Kayla Dienner, he is smitten. He barely has time to eat at the family table, never mind find someone to date. Along with his volunteer work at the local fire department, running his Amish farm keeps Jamie Riehl busy. Kayla Dienner has suffered her fair share of heartache, which is why she vows to protect her heart at all costs. And is it his imagination, or is Lena starting to spend more time with him than she’s spending with Samuel? Torn between following his heart and the fear of tearing his family apart even more, John’s struggles seem to only get more complicated, even as that glimmer of hope fans into flame. Recovery seems far off, but he nurtures a glimmer of hope that God has not forgotten him. Determined not to continue burdening his family, John begins to discover a quiet inner strength, even as his body falters. With all his health issues, John figures he’ll be lucky if he makes it through rumschpringe at all he doesn’t dare hope to date anyone as lovely and smart and fun as Lena is. When John’s older brother Samuel begins dating Lena Zook-John’s eighth grade teacher-he tries to be happy for them, but it’s hard not to feel jealous. The Amish family that was once so tightly knit is unraveling before John’s eyes. Minor disagreements turn into angry fights and old hurts surface amidst uncertainty and exhaustion. John’s parents and brothers try to help him, but as weeks turn into months with no real sign of improvement, the illness begins to take its toll on all of them. By the time he is finally diagnosed with Lyme disease, his body is failing and his spirits are nearly at rock bottom. After weeks of feeling exhausted, depressed, and achy, he has no idea what’s wrong with him and begins to wonder if he’ll be miserable for the rest of his life. But those struggles are nothing compared to the battle he is about to fight. As a teenager, he knows he’s overweight and is sure he’ll never be popular like his brothers are. Sensitive Subjects: Resources for TeensĪ hopeful story of unexpected love in the midst of illness, pain, and family conflict John is the youngest of seven boys and is constantly overshadowed by his big brothers who seem to all be stronger, smarter, and better looking than he is.

Restless hearts by marta perry