Mattie

By M. Ann Rohrer

Book Description:

Follow Mattie in her quest to find faith and love on the eve of the Mexican Revolution. After experiencing insurmountable trials, including escaping a killer and calling off her wedding, Mattie's faith in God is shaken. In the throes of bitter disappointment, dark despair, and agonizing heartbreak, Mattie emerges a woman of faith. Recognizing God's hand, she experiences peace, happiness, and enduring love.

Mattie is based on the life of Martha Ann Sevey Wood, the author’s grandmother.

My Opinion:

What an extraordinary life Mattie had. Maybe that’s true for everyone who lived through the Mexican Revolution, especially those like her who remained in the Mormon colonies or returned shortly after the 1912 Exodus. Several times I thought an event had to be fictional. Then I’d read the associated footnote in the FACTS section at the end of the book and discover Mattie really did go through that terrifying experience.

Mattie excels as a biographical novel, and anyone interested in the history of the Mormon colonies will benefit from reading it. As a story of finding faith, I found the novel less convincing. The promise is there in the beginning pages, and Mattie certainly had to work at her faith in order to call upon it to endure all that she did, but the novel glosses over the years when she supposedly struggled the most.

Those interested in Mattie may also want to read The Fourth Wife, which is a biography, not a novel. Mattie and Julia Abegg Call lived in different colonies but had similar heart-pounding experiences that push them to their limits.