CALM Before THE STORM, by Janice L. Dick, Herald Press, 2002

As a Canadian of Mennonite descent through my mother, I am drawn to books such as CALM Before THE STORM, about the history of events that caused this people group to disperse around the world.

This summer, when we visited relatives in Saskatchewan, my stepson handed me this historical novel and its sequel in a thrift store.

CALM Before THE STORM takes place in the Ukraine, which in 1914, was the Mennonite settlement area that had been granted by Catherine the Great, to farmers from Germany and Holland. She allowed them special privileges in turn for developing the land.

By this time, my own ancestors had already fled from Russia. It was interesting to me to learn how the situation gradually worsened. The special privileges Mennonites had been granted allowed them to prosper, while the Russian citizens remained oppressed.

I’m grateful that my own ancestors foresaw the dangers and came to Canada early on. Unrest brews in this story. Yet I can see why many were reluctant to leave, with ties to family members who were unable to travel.

Mennonites, as a whole, took a stance of non-violence. So, while most of them didn’t take up arms, they participated in the war as medics.

I particularly liked the last chapters, in which one of the main characters invites weary soldiers into her home and feeds them.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Learn more about this book and others by Janice L. Dick at:

https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Calm_Before_the_Storm