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| Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope | 
 enlarge | Authors: Don & Susie Van Ryn, Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak
Creator: Mark Tabb
Publisher: Howard Books
Category: Book
List Price: $21.99
Buy Used: $5.04
You Save: $16.95 (77%)
New (64) Used (70) Collectible (3) from $5.04
Avg. Customer Rating:  130 reviews
Sales Rank: 3209
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: Hardcover in dust jacket. Cover corner deeply creased. Light DJ wear. Clean. Binding sound. Free USPS Delivery Confirmation. Satisfaction guaranteed.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Hard to put down July 27, 2008
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
I was a bit concerned after reading some of the reviews about this book. As a non-Christian, I was worried that it would be too religiously based. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a great book. I read the entire book in two days! At times, it did seem to be a bit heavy on the religious aspects, but overall I think it is worth the time to read. It was amazing that people were able to have such an enormous amount of faith at such a trying time in their lives. Although it was mentioned several times that some people became Christians after reading the blogs, I did not find this offensive. Everyone has the right to believe as they wish. I did not feel like the emphasis was on "converting" anyone in this book. I have already passed this book on to a friend.
 An amazing story of the power of faith, hope and grace May 20, 2008
5 out of 9 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.
 A Remarkable Story June 2, 2008
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
Well, I am two minds about this book. First, it is simply an amazing story that manages to be both distressing and uplifting at the same time. Two girls who resembled--but didn't know--each other were in a horrific accident together when their Taylor University van was struck by a truck that crossed over the center divider. Laura Van Ryn died and Whitney Cerak lived, but they were misidentified as each other . . . and neither family detected the error. So the Ceraks buried Laura and grieved for her as their own, while the Van Ryns spent five weeks at Whitney's hospital bedside, willing her back to life. It was only as she was emerging from her coma and the effects of a traumatic brain injury, that Whitney was able to print her name and the truth finally emerged. While it seems impossible that this mistake could endure for so long under such close scrutiny, it obviously did happen and the book helps to make some sense of this. But in the end, the two families traded places, and the Ceraks literally had their daughter "back from the dead" while the poor Van Ryns who had been heroic throughout this ordeal suddenly had to come to grips with the loss of theirs. Whitney, in the end, recovers much of her former self, but not all; she remains a changed person. Although her comments in this book are relatively few, they are certainly thought-provoking.
Second, however, the reader should be forewarned that ALL of the principals in this story are evangelical Christians, with Taylor University (a religious school) being the common link. So the two girls and both their families, all the other victims, all their friends and significant others, etc. are of this persuasion. Accordingly, on almost every page there is some mention of God, Jesus Christ, prayer, scriptures, Bible study, Bible camp, and so forth. While you appreciate deeply that it was their faith that sustained them through this terrible trial, if you are not of the same ilk, you may be put off. Indeed, the families explain the crash as "God's will," noting that as their incredible tale was spread worldwide many people following the news and the Van Ryns' (and later Cernaks') blog converted to Christianity. And they say that all the victims would have happily chosen to die to promote this spread and strengthening of faith. While that may be going a bit too far, it is undoubtedly true that these two families' belief in a heavenly afterlife gives them solace in the face of the unthinkable and that their strong religious community gave them the support to get through it all. All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I could have done with a little less of the creed.
Amazing Story April 18, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
I am a Taylor University Alum, and was a freshman at Taylor when this tragic accident happened. My heart and soul goes out to both of these amazing families. This book made me cry for joy and for sadness. This book was good for my soul. Their story is a testament to the fact that good things can come out of a tragedy.
 Mistaken Identity June 11, 2008
4 out of 12 found this review helpful
This book was a very touching story covered up by a tragedy. It's a novel mainly of two families who mourn for each other as well as their own family as they learn that some of their loved ones are dead and then alive again. It's a constant twist of emotions, much like an emotional rollercoaster. Although I would not say that it was well written, granted that the authors are no where near professional writers, it was difficult to grasp. The emotions portrayed in the novel were not realistic enough for me. There were several scenes that would have called for some very emotional and angry attitudes/dialogues, and in the book it was all toned way down and very very calm. I suppose I gave this a one star review because I really wasn't that pleased with the way it was written, I had expected something more factual based and not so much sugar coated. The book was very religious and it was obvious that the purpose of the book was to have others follow in the steps of Jesus Christ. When reading the book in a miracle perspective, and leaning more towards the religious aspect, it was a wonderful novel and I would recommend it to everyone. It was obvious the God played a huge role in the lives of these two families. Over all, if you'd like to read something religious and uplifting, I completely recommend this novel. If you would like to hear the facts of how the hospitals messed up and the more realistic version, I would definitely not recommend this novel.
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