I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirkby

Titles and book covers are the first things that grab my attention. I Am Hutterite sparked my curiosity upon first sight when I was browsing Thomas Nelson's site, www.booksneeze.com. I had never heard the term before. After reading other reviews, the book description, and a quick Google search, I decided I was interested enough to learn more.

I Am Hutterite is a detailed memoir by Mary-Ann Kirkby. She shares her own true story of the Hutterite culture. She describes her ancestors, the close-knit and often isolated community life on the colony, & the impact when her father did the unthinkable and left.

First, let me provide a brief history of the Hutterite faith. It began in the 16^th century when an Austrian hatmaker led a group of Anabaptists to a new kind of Christian community. Their vision of a society was unity, shared property, adult baptism, and an overall belief in community life. The Hutterites established their first colony on North American soil near South Dakota. It is still recognized and in operation today. Some communities moved to Canada during WWI. Mary-Ann’s home colony is in Manitoba, Canada. Today, the approximate population is 45,000 Hutterites on 400 colonies.

Mary-Ann was very detailed in telling her fascinating true story. There are some points that were too descriptive, but overall every passage was essential. I finished the book knowing what a Hutterite is, which was why I chose it in the first place. I recommend this book to those who are open to learning about different cultures and lifestyles.


Rating: ♥♥♥

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”