Best of
True-Story

1996

Where Children Run


Karen Emilson - 1996
    Boleslaw Domko quickly works his way into their lives and their mother’s bed.Where Children Run opens with one of their earliest memories—the day Domko throws their infant stepsister against the wall. In this first-hand account, the twins recall years of neglect, starvation, and enslavement; horrific beatings and candlelit nights spent in the nearby St. Thomas Lutheran Church. Neighbors intervene, but their efforts provide only temporary relief as the children’s mother—also living in fear—refuses to press charges.The brothers vow that if they survive, they will someday expose their tormentor and members of their mother’s religious organization who turned a blind eye to their suffering. This is their story—told with stark honesty and in heart-wrenching detail.First released in 1996, Where Children Run is a timeless, unforgettable story of survival; and a powerful testament to the strength and adaptability of the human spirit.

Enough To Make A Cat Laugh


Deric Longden - 1996
    Aileen rarely trips over the cats, but they are always in danger of being mistaken for a cardigan.

Rosewood Like Judgment Day


Michael D'Orso - 1996
    of color stills from the movie.

The Owl Pen


Kenneth McNeill Wells - 1996
    When Ken and Lucille found an old abandoned log cabin up in medonte township, Ontario, they were delighted.

Selena: Como la flor


Joe Nick Patoski - 1996
    Selena Quintanilla was a vibrant musical performer, wildly pouplar in the growing field of Tejano music. But her rising star suddenly fell when she was murdered at the age of 23.At the time of her death, Selena was poised to break into the mainstream music scene. But as she enjoyed professional success beyond her wildest dreams, her personal life had more than its share of troubles. There was family tension surrounding her marriage to guitarist Chris Perez, and mounting pressure between her and the manager of her fashion boutiques, Yolanda Saldivar.Bestselling author Jo Nick Patoski recounts both the ups and downs of Selena's life, as well as her stunning transformation into a sensual Latina superstar. Most of all, he pays tribute to the life of this one-of-a-kind talent and a young life cut short by murder, but one that will never be forgotten.

The War Never Ended: Memories of Holocaust Survivors


Simon Hammelburg - 1996
    When living in Los Angeles, the author received phone calls from 1200 people in reaction to a campaign raised to help American Jews and other individuals file claims for property they had lost during the Nazi regime in what would later be Eastern Germany. Many of these phone calls were unrelated to the issue of filing the claims. On many occasions someone simply needed to talk to a complete stranger who lent a listening ear and understood. The conversations were usually long monologues about experiences in concentration camps like Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, even Sobibor. The victims talked about their escapes from the hands of the Nazi's, and about their harsh return after the liberation.When the process of filing claims was finished, the author found himself in the possession of a wealth of information, not only about the experiences of Holocaust survivors but also about the post-war generation. The personal, moving and candid witness statements and memories were all transcribed and verified, and provided shocking insights into the psychological aftermath of the first and second generation Holocaust victims.It was felt important to make these stories and memories accessible to a larger audience, especially to young people. The author Simon Hammelburg is a holocaust educator, lecturing in Europe, the United States and Israel. We should never forget what happened during World War II, and how this impacted generations to come. For countless people the war never ended.In this book, the memories of Holocaust survivors and their children have been intelligently woven into characters that play a role in the main storyline; the main character, himself a child from Jewish parents who both survived the Second World War, is trying to come to terms with the loss of a beloved one, Daisy, by traveling back to the place where they first met and were happy together. The book ends with the Kaddish for Daisy, attended by a circle of dear childhood friends, all of them from emotionally damaged and traumatized families. In their youth, they used to escape their homes on Sundays to meet at their Clubhouse from Ichud Habonim, a worldwide Zionist organization. The clubhouse served as a safehaven where they could be children and have fun.Although the tone of the book is generally serious, the author managed to give the book a gentle touch with his dry humor. In The War never Ended - Memories of Holocaust Survivors, Simon Hammelburg shows the trauma’s of his parents’ and of his own generation without ever becoming sentimental. They have been given a voice in an intelligent and natural way. The book is of rare literary quality with some great dialogues; once you start reading, you cannot put it down until you have read the very last page.The War Never Ended – Memories of Holocaust Survivors has been dedicated to Dr Flo Kinsler (1929-2013), a Los Angeles social worker and psychologist specialized in Holocaust trauma’s.

Srebrenica: Record of a War Crime


Jan Willem Honig - 1996
    "A chilling testimony to the evil that executed—and the bungling that coud not pevent—an 'ethnic cleasing' massacre, the single worst atrocity in Europe since World War II."—The New York Times Book Review.

Buddy: The First Seeing Eye Dog


Eva Moore - 1996
    My First Hello Readers use basic words to reinforce phonics and sight vocabulary. The books at this level offer punch-out flash cards plus six additional pages of skill-building activities. Levels 1 - 4 combine a greater vocabulary and longer sentence length. Each book has an introductory letter from an education specialist guiding parents on how to help their children learn to read. Grades 2 - Grades 4.

Baseball, Snakes, and Summer Squash: Poems About Growing Up


Donald Graves - 1996
    From formidable lessons learned from a bully, and facing parents after breaking curfew with his brother, to math woes and misadventures with his independent Scottish terrier, Rags, the poet's convincing voice gives the reader a generous, spirited perspective of growing up. Black-and-white illustrations add an appealing visual element to this coming-of-age collection.

Little Rainman: Autism--Through the Eyes of a Child


Karen L. Simmons - 1996
    Temple Grandin, this children's book paints a picture of what life is like for children with autism. Unique illustrations accompany a child's voice as he explains the different ways he thinks, sees, hears, and feels. This book is great for reading to children with or without autism to encourage acceptance and understanding. Written by Karen Simmons-Sicoli, mother of a son with autism, this was one of the first books of its kind and it continues to be a classic in the autism community.

Complete Surrender: A Biography of Eric Liddell Olympic Gold Medalist and Missionary


Julian Wilson - 1996
    His story however goes far beyond the restrictions of a two hour movie that in any case was not entirely accurate with the truth of the detail of Liddell's extraordinary but tragically short life. Julian Wilson's vivid biography recounts not only the highs and lows of his athletics career including his controversial decision never to run on a Sunday, but also his life after the Olympics as a missionary in war torn China. It was here that is unassuming and selfless character won him many friends despite the severity of the conditions he had to endure toward the end of his life.