Mistaken Identity

Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

By: Don Van Ryn, Susie Van Ryn, Colleen Cerak, Whitney Cerak, Newell Cerak

Narrated by: Lillian Thayer

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Part 1: Reunion or Farewell?
The story begins as Colleen and Newell Cerak first learn the doubtful, then shocking news that their daughter, buried five weeks earlier, may still be alive. It continues with Colleen's drive to the hospital with the dental records, amidst desperate calls to Newell, overseas on a mission, and finally the reunion. Forming a backdrop to the reunion are the faces of the Van Ryn family, strangers to the Ceraks, who are just coming to terms with the harsh reality that the girl whose bedside they have been posted at for five weeks is not their daughter after all - and that their own daughter, Laura, has already been buried under the name of Whitney Cerak.

Part 2: Five Weeks or a Lifetime?
Part 2 begins the night of the accident and continues up through "Laura's" arrival in the emergency room. The rest of this section centers upon the five weeks when the Ceraks believed their daughter to be dead, and the Van Ryns cared for a girl that was not their own. Woven into these chapters are the back stories of both families and their daughters, including the key questions of how each of these individuals reached a point at which they could respond to this tragedy as they did. A strong element of this story is how the families came to faith and how that faith developed to the point where they could trust God through the unthinkable. The characters all take on full dimensions in this part, and listeners will identify with and feel a strong affection for them. In this section, both families are still separated, traveling down two different arcs. These arcs come together in the night first described in chapter one. Finally, this section will explore the unfolding drama of the Van Ryn's growing doubts that the girl in the hospital is their daughter.

©2008 Susie Van Ryn; 2008 Newell Cerak; 2008 Don Van Ryn; 2008 Colleen Cerak; 2008 Whitney Cerak (P)2008 Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Great

This book was very compelling. I watched the 60 minutes report on this and just had to get the book/audiobook on this story. It was very well written.

Awesome book!!!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it is nice to listen to a book.

What did you like best about this story?

That all are Christians. All the love!!

What about Lillian Thayer’s performance did you like?

She has a wonderful voice!!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I don't know anything about this.

Heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time

This book is a testament of God's unwavering love. The Van Ryn's are absolutely beautiful people. To have their beautiful daughter (sister, niece, granddaughter, etc..) taken from then and still managing to remain COMPLETELY selfless just goes to show how God's Love can work through and within one another...even in your darkest hour..He remains forever faithful.

Great book!

I have listened to this book numerous times. Being from Michigan this story was in the news quite a bit. Both of these families have great amounts of strength and courage. I have and would again recommend this book to my friends.

Fantastic Read

I really loved this book, I cannot imagine how these two families made it through emotionally aside from God's mighty love. This book also had, I believe, a conformation in it for me. it is something I thought I should do, but never did it. God is amazing how He reveals things. I had been looking for a good book to listen to and I stumbled across a story that mentioned this book. I bought it immediately. The strength and courage to move on and beyond is amazing to me. It is such a testimony of people's faith in God and how we should rely on Him at all times. We should never give in to the grief, but to continue to hold on to Him. We do not know what His plan is for us, and we must keep clinging to Him. He is our strength and perseverance. He is our guide through this life, we just need to hang on through the good and the bad. Because there is free will, there will always be evil. Because there is human life, there will be human death. They payoff in the end will be an everlasting joy in the presence of the Lord with no pain, evil, wrongdoing, or anything else Lucifer could come up with to corrupt God's masterpiece. I believe this book has led many to God for His comfort to make it through the best and the worst times.

One of the best books I’ve read in a while

Love how this amazing story was told thank you those who shared their heartfelt stories in these pages!

Mistaken Identity

This story is truly awesome. The narrator does an excellent job!!!!!!!! This is one of the best books I have in my library and I have quite a few really good books in my library. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!!!!!

Beautiful testimony, lives well lived

Testimony of how we all should be living, sad yet beautiful to those who know Jesus and those who don’t or are curious about him. Shocking story, makes us all more aware of life and tragic death or death and life in itself. Especially Jesus, some things we will never know why, but look at all those lives touched and made stronger servant for or God our father!

Fascinating story, lots of "GOD" talk.

OK. This is a very interesting story. I had heard condensed versions before on mystery and true crime podcasts. The story here is told well by a good narrator, especially considering that the families are not authors.
BUT, in my opinion there is too much GOD talk. I guess now that I know the families are evangelical Christians, it makes sense. And their experience WAS deep. Maybe it is common in midwestern, small town communities. But I find it hard to believe people talk like this constantly. If that bothers you, it will bother you. If not, then it won't.
Good story, ok book.

God’s grace is amazing

This is a beautiful story of two families’ testimonies during a very difficult situation. I was moved to tears at times and encouraged by their trust in the Lord.