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| Authors: Don & Susie Van Ryn, Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak
Creator: Mark Tabb
Publisher: Howard Books
Category: Book
List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $10.65
You Save: $11.34 (52%)
New (52) Used (25) Collectible (3) from $8.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  115 reviews
Sales Rank: 1052
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.7 x 1.3
ISBN: 1416567356
Dewey Decimal Number: 617.4810440922
EAN: 9781416567356
ASIN: 1416567356
Publication Date: March 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new and never read. Hardcover book with dust jacket. Satisfaction guaranteed.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Compelling Story!! May 22, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I wanted to read this book because I couldn't imagine a family going through this. As I read it I couldn't help thinking of each family, one mourning and the other estatic, because I knew their lives would change when they got the news that the identities had been incorrect. It is hard to put yourself in their place.You can't.This experience, hopefully, has changed the way people are identified at the scenes of accidents.I hope that today all the families involved have found some peace.
 An amazing story of the power of faith, hope and grace May 20, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I'm a man and I'm 35 and I admit that I found myself tearing and choking up from the prologue to the very last chapter. The emotional impact of the book starts right at the beginning and never lets up. If you aren't familiar with the story of the Van Ryn and Cerak family, then prepared to be amazed. It's a story that even the most twisted novelist could not have imagined. The story of the mistaken identity isn't the most amazing thing about this book. The faith that the Van Ryn and Cerak families have in God while living through the most umimaginable pain possible is incredible. This book is a witness to the incredible power that God has to guide people through times of tragedy and to shine a light of hope on even the darkest of situations.
Late one night when a van of students and staff at Taylor University were returning to campus, a truck crossed the center median and hit the van. There were nine people in the van and five died. The loss of life was tragic for all involved, but the night of the wreck was only the beginning for two familes. The Van Ryns get a phone call that their daughter, Laura had been in an accident and was in critical condition at the hospital. The same night, the Ceraks get a call that their daughter, Whitney, did not survive the crash. Both familes cooperated on writing this book, and the reader learns in dramatic detail about the chaos and confusion as family members and the entire campus community try and find out what happened. Each family's story is covered in alternating chapters. We follow the Ceraks as they plan Whitney's funeral and grieve for their loss. We follow the Van Ryns as they never leave Laura's side, and pray for a speedy recovery. Through both families, we are given details of an incredible outpouring of love and support and prayer that friends, families and strangers provide. The grace with which the families deal with this tragedy in inspiring.
At the time of this book's release, the families did a lot of interviews on shows like Today, Oprah and Dateline. If you saw those shows, you'll know how incredibly blessed these families are. Their faith in God is incredible and both familes thought the best way to use this tragedy for good would just to tell their story and let others learn about their faith in God.
The Van Ryns were told Laura had lived but would be slow to recover, so they did not pay attention to all the minor details that would have proven that Laura was in fact Whitney. But their minds didn't work that way. They loved Whitney as their own daughter, they suffered just as the Ceraks had when they found out Laura was dead. Yet through all the pain, both familes relied on God.
I could go on forever about how inspirng and touching this story is. For readers who may not be Christians, or may have had tragedy in their own life, you will enjoy this book as well. The faith of the two families will show you the peace that comes with being able to trust in God and will give those who have suffered a guide on how to rely on God in the toughest times.
 Life Happens May 20, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A very emotional and inspiring read, although there were times I was sidetracked by the religious references. I understand that both families used their faith to get them through this devastating time, but I didn't realize that was going to be the basis of the story when I started.
That said, though, this is a really good story. I recommend reading it along with Jacquelyn Mitchard's ALL WE KNOW OF HEAVEN, which, although not drawn specifically from this story, shares several similarities and is a wonderful book.
Story of tragedy and faith May 18, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a story that gives hope and is inspiring.
The only criticism that I would give it is that it does not answer the most important question of the story and that is whether or not the people in the van wore their seatbelts. I think not since the occupants were thrown from the van upon impact.
While the families involved have a strong Christian faith, which is really the basis of the story, I felt that when describing the victims, it was too heavily saturated with talk about their faith, for instance at the funeral, they could have talked more about what the person was like rather than only focusing on their strong love of Jesus and their faith at the exclusion of talking about what the person was all about in other ways, for instance their personality, talents, likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc...
Overall, though I would recommend it, even though it was sad, it was very uplifting.
Good read May 15, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
What trials and pain these families have been through. Losing loved ones is never easy, but the faith these people show is wonderful and heart-warming. Definitely a book that will produce tears and hope.
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