Alone

Orphaned on the Ocean

By: Richard Logan, Tere Dupperault Fassbender

Narrated by: Johnny Heller, Jo Anna Perrin

Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

A tanker steaming through the deep Northwest Providence Channel of the Bahamas comes across a shocking sight: a lone dinghy carrying Captain Julian Harvey and the body of a young girl. They are all that remain of the ketch Bluebelle, a handsome 60-foot sailing yacht chartered by the Duperrault family of Green Bay, Wisconsin. But their happy family vacation went terribly wrong when, according to Harvey, a violent and unexpected squall smashed the giant main mast, killed Harvey's wife and the others, and sank the boat. Harvey found the child floating dead and, as far as he knows, he is the only survivor. Or is he?

Four days later, just as Captain Harvey is testifying at a Coast Guard hearing about the tragic accident, amazing news of another survivor arrives. Eleven-year-old Terry Jo Duperrault has been found barely alive on a flimsy cork-and-canvas float with no food or water. Harvey takes the news calmly, finishes his testimony, and leaves...to commit bloody suicide.

This is the chillingly detailed inside story of what really happened during that trip and the decades-long courage of the sole survivor of a murderous crime.

©2010 Richard Logan and Tere Duperrault Fassbender (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A genuinely harrowing, wrenching and deeply memorable account of survival against all odds." (Ron Franscell, best-selling author of The Darkest Night)

Slow

Not much meat, slow start. Some good research done on a couple chapters; felt like they were stuck in there to buoy the otherwise short newspaper clipping.

Tere is my hero.

♡
I felt every emotion she didn't have the opportunity to feel. I hope only for her happiness.

Wonderfully written and narrated. Thank you

This book about Mrs. Fassbender is a fascinating story of a young survivor In many aspects of life and she is alive to tell the story. As she mentioned. In this story she could have been strung out on drugs or other thing trying to found happiness but she Maintains thru bad marriges and heartache, there was and is a purpose for het survival....I wish her all the blessings and peace she desires and needs I het life

Thank you for sharing your story!

I thought it was going to be more

What the little girl went through was truly tragic. I was looking for a little more depth into the story. However this story is very heavy on the pre story and the aftermath.

I have really avoided this book for years and I'm sorry I did....

This book was extremely "disturbing" and "intriguing " I cannot believe the inner strength this girl endured. It's a horrifying and deeply disturbing memoir , written about Terry Jo Dupperault (age 11 ), with the participation of her psychologist Richard Logan. This book details the 1961 incident that left her (Terri Jo) stranded for 4 days ,alone on a raft in the middle of the Atlantic, and tragically taking the lives of her entire family as well as family friend that were on the family's boat, "The Blubell". This all talks place on the off the Coast of Miami Florida and more specifically , the Islands of The Bahamas. Very quick read and very interesting. The story will stick with you long after your finished.

Inspiring Heartbreaking & Incredible

I absolutely love this book! A story I hope will never be forgotten! Her brave story made me weep, laugh, and beam with pride for how much she has over come!! 💗

Interesting...

t started out as a family vacation on the high seas, nearly 50 years ago, and ended with the tragic loss of an entire family — except for one little girl. Alone recounts her incredible tale of survival. I thought the book was very interesting and well written.

Where there is a will there is a Tere.

Inspiring and gripping tale. Let your elephant be heard! Superbly read by Heller. thankyou Tere!

Great Retelling of a Tragic Story

I don't recall hearing of this story. What a tragedy and nightmare -- the result of a sociopath's greed. I can't imagine surviving what Terry Jo did. I'm glad she chose to share her story. The book was well-written, and I always enjoy Johnny Heller's narration. However, a mistake was overlooked, resulting in a consistent mispronunciation of Eglin [Airforce Base]. The "G" comes before the "L" - EGlin. I overlooked it, and continued listening. :)

A Lesson In Resilience

While the book left me with more questions than answers, it became apparent the the intention was to tell the reader a story of strength, hope, resilience and survival. By the end, I was impressed and amazed by Terre’s life and her lessons and legacy.