Abner's Dilemma

📘 About This Book

With the comforts of their Bavarian homes far behind them, ten year-old Abner and his friends are among the Brethren refugees challenged once again to trust God. They must wait on the eastern banks of the Susquehanna River until Thomas Penn signs a treaty with the Susquehannock Indians. This treaty will allow them to safely go forward to their promised lands in York County, Pennsylvania. Daily Abner's family and friends anticipate the signal to move on, yet almost a year passes. As they continue to hold on to their dreams, Abner's father struggles to provide for his family, and Abner learns the value of hard work. Widow Schneider continues to harass Abner with her mean ways while Abner learns the value of forgiveness and keeping his mouth shut. Fear of poverty, sickness, war, Indians, and the possible cruelty of bound servitude hound them as they wait. The joys and sorrows of life and death flow one day after another as lives are challenged with the blessings and struggles of surviving in the New World. The Proverb, "He who does not work does not eat," applies to life in this land of opportunity. The land is beautiful but demanding, and all sojourners are expected to give their all when faced with the pressures of this new life. Yet, hope and dreams fill their hearts for their future since they are believing that God will never leave nor forsake them.

📖 Summary

Abner's Dilemma by Janet L. Dempsey is a compelling historical novel published in 2013 that spans 330 pages, immersing readers in the trials and triumphs of early American refugees. The narrative follows ten-year-old Abner and his companions as they leave the familiar comforts of their Bavarian homes behind, embarking on a harrowing journey as part of the Brethren refugees. Now stationed on the eastern banks of the Susquehanna River, Abner and his community face a profound test of faith as they are challenged once again to trust God. Their immediate future hangs in the balance, entirely dependent on external forces beyond their control. They must wait patiently by the river until Thomas Penn officially signs a treaty with the Susquehannock Indians. Only through this crucial agreement will the refugees be granted the safety and passage they need to finally move forward toward their promised lands in York County, Pennsylvania. As the days turn into weeks, Abner's family and friends maintain a hopeful vigil, daily anticipating the long-awaited signal to pack up their belongings and move on. However, reality proves far more testing than they initially imagined, and almost a full year passes by the banks of the river. This prolonged delay forces the community to continuously hold on to their dreams despite mounting hardships and uncertainties. Within this crucible of waiting, family dynamics are strained and reshaped. Abner's father fights a relentless daily struggle to provide for his wife and children under increasingly difficult circumstances. Through watching his father's unwavering perseverance, young Abner begins to truly understand and internalize the deep value of hard work. Beyond the structural hardships of camp life, interpersonal conflicts also test the young boy's character. Widow Schneider, a bitter member of the community, continually harasses Abner with her mean ways, creating a persistent trial for the child. In navigating these difficult interactions with the difficult widow, Abner is forced to mature rapidly, learning the vital life lessons of forgiveness and the wisdom of keeping his mouth shut rather than escalating conflict. Throughout this lengthy encampment, the community is haunted by a heavy shadow of anxieties and fears. The constant threat of poverty, the looming specter of sickness, the potential outbreak of war, the deep-seated fears regarding the local indigenous populations, and the overall instability of their transient lifestyle weigh heavily on everyone. Yet, through all of these gripping challenges, the narrative highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the strength found within family relationships and communal bonds. Dempsey's novel paints a vivid picture of historical endurance, offering readers a window into the emotional and physical landscapes of early settlers who had to lean heavily on their faith and each other to survive the unknown.

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