Family Life

09.22.12 | Trudi Cook

JOSIAH FOR PRESIDENT,  a novel by Martha Bolton

Book Review by Trudi Cook

WHAT IF….?

So many good fiction stories begin with that question.  What if – an Amish man were elected President of the United States?  What if a campaign was run with honesty and integrity, if a candidate always answered reporters’ questions with truth without considering what the impact might be on the polls?  What if our nation returned to a common sense approach, and only spent the dollars it had to spend? 

Josiah for President takes on those questions with a humorous look at the write in campaign of Josiah Stoltsfus, an Amish farmer from Lancaster County, PA.

The story begins with former Congressman Mark Stedman as he withdraws reluctantly from his Presidential race, his lifetime dream.  He truly wants to turn the country around, from high unemployment, political apathy and discouragement.  But he didn’t get the poll numbers and he’s heading home to Wisconsin when a few interesting interchanges with his GPS land him in a ditch on a remote farm in Lancaster.  He becomes friends with Josiah, his rescuer and his respect for Josiah’s way of life grows as they have many illuminating conversations.  As Mark finally returns home, he is being pressured by his party to endorse his former opponent; a man he knows will be a terrible president.  He finally ends up in front of the microphones to endorse someone…and surprises himself when he announces Josiah.    What follows is a story that holds your attention and in true Martha Bolton style, provides some great giggles along the way.

I was intrigued by the idea of Josiah for President, and knowing it was written by the humorous Martha Bolton only added to my anticipation!  I wasn’t disappointed.  You will be entertained but you will also be challenged; you may even begin to come up with a few more “what if’s” of your own.  As the country heads quickly towards another Presidential election in a climate similar to the setting in the story, being provoked to think more deeply can only be a good thing.  I wonder if maybe that’s what Martha had in mind all along?!

(I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan in exchange for my fair and honest review.)

Christian Fiction, Copyright 2012, ISBN 978-0-310-31872-9