Chapters Seven and Eight Summary

In Chapter Seven, Nomi describes Main Street as being dead. There is a water tower with a blinding light on one end, a statue of Jesus in the middle and a billboard at the other end that says: "SATAN IS REAL. CHOOSE NOW." The street has two unproductive fields on either side of it. Nomi feels that the Americans who visit the city believe the street is strange. The tourists visit the village to see evidence of a simpler time. The major feature is a museum village that depicts the life of the old Mennonites.

Nomi recalls a conversation that she had had with her typing teacher about what she wants out of life. She indicates to him that she wants to be able to live and be herself and not be judged by the church for...