a crime memoir

“This book had me reading it to the end in almost one sitting! A very well written memoir, capturing the author’s life growing up in her Amish community, how she escaped and the obstacles she faced.” – Lindsay Gibson, author of Just Be: How My Stillborn Son Taught Me to Surrender

How far would you go for freedom, love, and safety?

The true story of an Amish girl who escaped in the middle of the night at age 15, so she could go to school

Amish Girl in Manhattan is the tale of a girl whose childhood was so crushing that she literally escaped in the middle of the night at age 15, without telling anyone goodbye.

She left the only world she had ever known, crash-landing into one that didn’t speak her language, wear her clothes, and understand her problems.

She gave up everything—family, security, community—in the hopes that one day her dreams might come true.

“Torah’s tale is one of immense trials followed by towering triumphs.

Less a book and more a confession from a close friend.

Riveting, inspiring, empowering.”

– Brian Young

author of Healer of the Water Monster

"Absolutely a must-read"

Absolutely a must-read. It is an easy yet well-written read that deals with incredibly complex themes. . . . As someone who has read quite a few books and memoirs dealing with themes of trauma and overcoming obstacles, I have to say this memoir has it all.

I found this book and the author’s personal journey to be so inspiring and empowering, as she describes and reflects on her escape from a terrible situation at a young age as well as her entrance into a culture (and even a language) quite different from her own.

Her journey from Amish upbringing to graduating from one of the most elite universities in the USA is amazing.

Highly, highly recommended, and my congratulations to the author for her success and hard work in processing so many traumas allowing her to be able to share her story in written form with us!

Melanie Jones, Reader Review

"Wow! Jaw-dropping story!"

Wow! Jaw-dropping story! Each time I sat down to read a few pages, I found myself wondering what I would find next. And each page that I turned was more sensational than the one before.

At the moment, I am struck with how my perception of the Amish and your childhood are such sad conflicts. I am also dumbstruck with all that you have achieved, and your path along the way as you juggle burdens from your childhood. You amaze me.

MW, Reader Review

"Highly recommend . . . inspiring true life story about succeeding despite all odds"

Congratulations to Torah for being able to process her traumatic childhood experiences enough to be able to write a memoir. This is a very inspiring and engaging story about how the author, a 15-year-old female, managed to escape from a terrible situation.

Despite being uneducated at the time her escape and not speaking English as her first language, she then goes on to graduate from one of the most elite universities in the USA.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for inspiring true life stories about overcoming trauma, self-empowerment (especially female empowerment), and succeeding in life despite all odds.

Keerthi Vemulapalli, Reader Review

"This book kept me riveted until the end"

This book is awakens one to the awful potentials of the closed Amish community

This book kept me riveted until the end. The emotional lows that she went through were so painful and traumatizing that I could empathize with her pain and hope now she can live a better life.

Tina, Reader Review

This book is to let you know that you don’t have to be extraordinary to be Extraordinary.

If you read it, you’ll find a part of yourself in my story.

It’s for you if you’ve ever felt foreign in the body or culture you were born in.

Or if you’ve dedicated your life to answering the questions:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
Why don’t my parents love me?
Why does bad shit happen to me?
Will I ever be happy and loved?

– Torah Bontrager

Amish Girl in Manhattan (a true crime memoir)