Search - Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

My brother-in-law is a senior at Taylor University and knew all of the victims of this horrible tragedy. That said, this book is a very poignant look at an identity mix-up that had jarring consequences for each family involved. It's a rather short read, especially if you know all of the details, but offers insight that the television crews and cameras failed to capture.

Even questions that most people have asked about this story since it broke: "TWO families didn't know the identity of their own daughters?!" and "One girl had a belly-button ring and the other had a different eye color; they didn't even look alike. How could this have happened?" and "Was the Van Ryn family in denial about the true identity of the girl they were taking care, even after the hints Cerak gave, because they didn't want to face the knowledge their own daughter had died?" are mostly answered in this book. Some of the answers given by both families seem a bit naive at times, but ultimately come off as believable.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good, true story. While God is mentioned and both families are Christian, the book appeals to those beyond a religious audience. I highly recommend this.

(On a sidenote: I know that the two families are devout Christians, and though I know it is none of my business, I am wondering if they are all profiting from the book and media attention? As a Christian, I can't imagine profiting from such a tragedy, unless to cover medical care. Nonetheless, it's still a great read.)

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.

WOW! This book was amazing! I remember following this story as it was happening and was appalled by the turn of events in these two families lives. This book is a must read. The reader really gets to know these two families and the horrific experiences that they lived through. Highly recommended.