This is a touching book about two families caught up in a tragedy that no one should ever have to live through. It is not about the gory details so much as it is about how their Christian faith got them through. Due to all the religious references throughout, those who do not share their intense Christian faith might be disappointed by this book. It doesn't really dwell on the complex feelings that surround the death of a loved one. Their faith is so strong that they don't have time to dwell on much else. And I realize that everyone reacts to death in a different way. Right up front, you need to know that this is only the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' experience.

There are some technical writing/grammar issues here and there and yet I found the story so amazingly powerful that I was able to ignore that. The way the book was set up was near-perfect. I've read books like this before that sort of wander all over the place but this was very straight-forward and to the point. It begins with the phone call where the Ceraks learn that Whitney is still alive and then it goes back in time to the night of the accident. From there on out, it switches back and forth between the two families as they explain what life was like for them after April 26, 2006 (the day of the accident). The alternating family viewpoints don't always match-up time-wise, but I found the book to be fairly easy to follow. I found the final page of the final chapter to be a moving end to a well-told story of faith and hope amidst unimaginable heartbreak. The final chapter was followed by an epilogue, written by Whitney.

Yes, there were times when I wondered if the family members were relating back to the reader what they were feeling exactly at each moment in time. I kind of wondered if some of what they claimed to be feeling at the time was really what they were feeling as they wrote the book, a year or so after the fact. I can't even begin to imagine what an experience like that must have been like, so I don't want to pretend like I do. All I know is that there were times when I wondered, "Is that really how it happened or is that only how she remembers it now that she's had time to think it over?" I'm not saying this to criticize them. I'm sure they did the best they could to describe what it was like. It couldn't have been easy. Far from it. I just say that because I want to warn people that it might seem unbelievable at times. And it is a story that is unbelievable anyway, though we know these events are what happened. For the most part, I thought they did a very good job describing what it was like to go through the things they went through. But like I said before, it must be hard to describe exactly how it felt and everyone deals with tragedy differently anyway. I think the emotional heart of the story remains intact, even though the book seems to gloss over the complexities of the grieving process. I think it's possible they didn't want to get into the nitty-gritty of everything they were thinking, and you know, if that's the case, that's fine. I respect that. The important thing is that they are trying to make the best of a horrible situation. For that alone, I admire them. I think if you're looking for an honest look at the grieving process, you might question this book. I think what you have to do is take this not as a blueprint to follow precisely so much as an offering of hope and a challenge to reach out to others even when its hard. As Christians do believe, no one is perfect and all anyone can do is try their best.

I don't agree with those who complain about all the religious references. I understand where people are coming from. But remember, this is the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' story, as they lived it. Not as the reader wishes it to be told. In a day and age when the gut reaction is to sue the pants off anyone and everyone, it is refreshing to read a book like this where the two families had every reason in the world to feel bitterness and anger and yet chose hope over blame. That is really what makes this book the powerful story that it is. It was faith that allowed them to do that. Yeah, you could argue that non-Christians are capable of that too, but they're not writing about a non-Christian's experience. They're writing about their own. Better to write fully about their own than to spread themselves thin and try to write about everyone's. And there's no reason to indulge in all the little sensationalistic details for the sake of satisfying the public's curiosity. And if they'd toned down the faith angle so as to appeal to a larger audience, that would have been dishonest. It's faith that got them through this so why should they pretend otherwise? It's easy enough to keep your interviews neutral when you only have to give a basic summary of what happened. But when writing an entire book, it's a little harder to do that. To be honest, I don't think they could have even really explained how the mix-up happened, beyond giving us the answers that everyone already knew. I think it's one of those things that you just live through and you'll never fully understand how or why it happened. So all we can really say is that it's something that can and should be avoided in the future. And it was very touching to see how these two families saw it as an opportunity to grow in their faith and bond with someone they might not have otherwise. And they used this as an opportunity to reach out to others. They didn't have to. Nobody forced them to write this book. They chose to. They weren't obligated to write it in any way but the way they did. They only had a responsibility to be as truthful about their own experience as they could be. They included everything they could reasonably be expected to include. It's just that you can't please everyone, nor should you try to.


I gave it a four but it's more of a 3 1/2. I would recommend it, but I realize there are probably lots of people who wouldn't really appreciate it. I can't claim it will be liked by everyone.

This is a touching book about two families caught up in a tragedy that no one should ever have to live through. It is not about the gory details so much as it is about how their Christian faith got them through. Due to all the religious references throughout, those who do not share their intense Christian faith might be disappointed by this book. It doesn't really dwell on the complex feelings that surround the death of a loved one. Their faith is so strong that they don't have time to dwell on much else. And I realize that everyone reacts to death in a different way. Right up front, you need to know that this is only the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' experience.

There are some technical writing/grammar issues here and there and yet I found the story so amazingly powerful that I was able to ignore that. The way the book was set up was near-perfect. I've read books like this before that sort of wander all over the place but this was very straight-forward and to the point. It begins with the phone call where the Ceraks learn that Whitney is still alive and then it goes back in time to the night of the accident. From there on out, it switches back and forth between the two families as they explain what life was like for them after April 26, 2006 (the day of the accident). The alternating family viewpoints don't always match-up time-wise, but I found the book to be fairly easy to follow. I found the final page of the final chapter to be a moving end to a well-told story of faith and hope amidst unimaginable heartbreak. The final chapter was followed by an epilogue, written by Whitney.

Yes, there were times when I wondered if the family members were relating back to the reader what they were feeling exactly at each moment in time. I kind of wondered if some of what they claimed to be feeling at the time was really what they were feeling as they wrote the book, a year or so after the fact. I can't even begin to imagine what an experience like that must have been like, so I don't want to pretend like I do. All I know is that there were times when I wondered, "Is that really how it happened or is that only how she remembers it now that she's had time to think it over?" I'm not saying this to criticize them. I'm sure they did the best they could to describe what it was like. It couldn't have been easy. Far from it. I just say that because I want to warn people that it might seem unbelievable at times. And it is a story that is unbelievable anyway, though we know these events are what happened. For the most part, I thought they did a very good job describing what it was like to go through the things they went through. But like I said before, it must be hard to describe exactly how it felt and everyone deals with tragedy differently anyway. I think the emotional heart of the story remains intact, even though the book seems to gloss over the complexities of the grieving process. I think it's possible they didn't want to get into the nitty-gritty of everything they were thinking, and you know, if that's the case, that's fine. I respect that. The important thing is that they are trying to make the best of a horrible situation. For that alone, I admire them. I think if you're looking for an honest look at the grieving process, you might question this book. I think what you have to do is take this not as a blueprint to follow precisely so much as an offering of hope and a challenge to reach out to others even when its hard. As Christians do believe, no one is perfect and all anyone can do is try their best.

I don't agree with those who complain about all the religious references. I understand where people are coming from. I understand some might find it to be false advertising or that non-Christians might want to know how any of this can apply to them. But remember, this is the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' story, as they lived it. Not as the reader wishes it to be told. In a day and age when the gut reaction is to sue the pants off anyone and everyone, it is refreshing to read a book like this where the two families had every reason in the world to feel bitterness and anger and yet chose hope over blame. That is really what makes this book the powerful story that it is. It was faith that allowed them to do that. Yeah, you could argue that non-Christians are capable of that too, but they're not writing about a non-Christian's experience. They're writing about their own. Better to write fully about their own than to spread themselves thin and try to write about everyone's. And there's no reason to indulge in all the little sensationalistic details for the sake of satisfying the public's curiosity. And if they'd toned down the faith angle so as to appeal to a larger audience, that would have been dishonest. It's faith that got them through this so why should they pretend otherwise? It's easy enough to keep your interviews neutral when you only have to give a basic summary of what happened. But when writing an entire book, it's a little harder to do that. To be honest, I don't think they could have even really explained how the mix-up happened, beyond giving us the answers that everyone already knew. I think it's one of those things that you just live through and you'll never fully understand how or why it happened. So all we can really say is that it's something that can and should be avoided in the future. And it was very touching to see how these two families saw it as an opportunity to grow in their faith and bond with someone they might not have otherwise. And they used this as an opportunity to reach out to others. They didn't have to. Nobody forced them to write this book. They chose to. They weren't obligated to write it in any way but the way they did. It wasn't false advertising. They only had a responsibility to be as truthful about their own experience as they could be. They included everything they could reasonably be expected to include. It's just that you can't please everyone, nor should you try to.


I gave it a four but it's more of a 3 1/2. I would recommend it, but I realize there are probably lots of people who wouldn't really appreciate it. I can't claim it will be liked by everyone.

This is a touching book about two families caught up in a tragedy that no one should ever have to live through. It is not about the gory details so much as it is about how their Christian faith got them through. Due to all the religious references throughout, those who do not share their intense Christian faith might be disappointed by this book. It doesn't really dwell on the complex feelings that surround the death of a loved one. Their faith is so strong that they don't have time to dwell on much else. And I realize that everyone reacts to death in a different way. Right up front, you need to know that this is only the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' experience.

There are some technical writing/grammar issues here and there and yet I found the story so amazingly powerful that I was able to ignore that. The way the book was set up was perfect. I've read books like this before that sort of wander all over the place but this was very straight-forward and to the point. It begins with the phone call where the Ceraks learn that Whitney is still alive and then it goes back in time to the night of the accident. From there on out, the story is told chronologically. I found the final page of the final chapter to be a moving end to a well-told story of faith and hope amidst unimaginable heartbreak. The final chapter was followed by an epilogue, written by Whitney.

Yes, there were times when I wondered if the family members were relating back to the reader what they were feeling exactly at each moment in time. I kind of wondered if some of what they claimed to be feeling at the time was really what they were feeling as they wrote the book, a year or so after the fact. I can't even begin to imagine what an experience like that must have been like, so I don't want to pretend like I do. All I know is that there were times when I wondered, "Is that really how it happened or is that only how she remembers it now that she's had time to think it over?" I'm not saying this to criticize them. I'm sure they did the best they could to describe what it was like. It couldn't have been easy. Far from it. I just say that because I want to warn people that it might seem unbelievable at times. And it is a story that is unbelievable anyway, though we know these events are what happened. For the most part, I thought they did a very good job describing what it was like to go through the things they went through. But like I said before, it must be hard to describe exactly how it felt and everyone deals with tragedy differently anyway. I think the emotional heart of the story remains intact, even though the book seems to gloss over the complexities of the grieving process. I think it's possible they didn't want to get into the nitty-gritty of everything they were thinking, and you know, if that's the case, that's fine. I respect that. The important thing is that they are trying to make the best of a horrible situation. For that alone, I admire them.

I don't agree with those who complain about all the religious references. I understand where people are coming from. I understand some might find it to be false advertising or that non-Christians might want to know how any of this can apply to them. But remember, this is the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' story, as they lived it. Not as the reader wishes it to be told. In a day and age when the gut reaction is to sue the pants off anyone and everyone, it is refreshing to read a book like this where the two families had every reason in the world to feel bitterness and anger and yet chose hope over blame. That is really what makes this book the powerful story that it is. It was faith that allowed them to do that. Yeah, you could argue that non-Christians are capable of that too, but they're not writing about a non-Christian's experience. They're writing about their own. Better to write fully about their own than to spread themselves thin and try to write about everyone's. And there's no reason to indulge in all the little sensationalistic details for the sake of satisfying the public's curiosity. And if they'd toned down the faith angle so as to appeal to a larger audience, that would have been dishonest. It's faith that got them through this so why should they pretend otherwise? It's easy enough to keep your interviews neutral when you only have to give a basic summary of what happened. But when writing an entire book, it's a little harder to do that. To be honest, I don't think they could have even really explained how the mix-up happened, beyond giving us the answers that everyone already knew. I think it's one of those things that you just live through and you'll never fully understand how or why it happened. So all we can really say is that it's something that can and should be avoided in the future. And it was very touching to see how these two families saw it as an opportunity to grow in their faith and bond with someone they might not have otherwise. And they used this as an opportunity to reach out to others. They didn't have to. Nobody forced them to write this book. They chose to. They weren't obligated to write it in any way but the way they did. It wasn't false advertising. They only had a responsibility to be as truthful about their own experience as they could be. They included everything they could reasonably be expected to include. It's just that you can't please everyone, nor should you try to.


I gave it a four but it's more of a 3 1/2. I would recommend it, but I realize there are probably lots of people who wouldn't really appreciate it. I can't claim it will be liked by everyone.

This is a touching book about two families caught up in a tragedy that no one should ever have to live through. It is not about the gory details so much as it is about how their Christian faith got them through. For that reason, those who do not share their intense Christian faith might be disappointed by this book. It doesn't really dwell on the complex feelings that surround the death of a loved one. Everyone reacts in different ways. Right up front, you need to know that this is only the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' experience.

There are some technical writing/grammar issues here and there and yet I found the story so amazingly powerful that I was able to ignore that. The way the book was set up was perfect. I've read books like this before that sort of wander all over the place but this was very straight-forward and to the point. It begins with the phone call where the Ceraks learn that Whitney is still alive and then it goes back in time to the night of the accident. From there on out, the story is told chronologically. I found the final page of the final chapter to be a moving end to a well-told story of faith and hope amidst unimaginable heartbreak. The final chapter was followed by an epilogue, written by Whitney.

Yes, there were times when I wondered if the family members were relating back to the reader what they were feeling exactly at each moment in time. I kind of wondered if some of what they claimed to be feeling at the time was really what they were feeling as they wrote the book, a year or so after the fact. I can't even begin to imagine what an experience like that must have been like, so I don't want to pretend like I do. All I know is that there were times when I wondered, "Is that really how it happened or is that only how she remembers it now that she's had time to think it over?" I'm not saying this to criticize them. I'm sure they did the best they could to describe what it was like. It couldn't have been easy. Far from it. I just say that because I want to warn people that it might seem unbelievable at times. And it is a story that is unbelievable anyway, though we know these events are what happened. For the most part, I thought they did a very good job describing what it was like to go through the things they went through. But like I said before, it must be hard to describe exactly how it felt and everyone deals with tragedy differently anyway. I think the emotional heart of the story remains intact, even though the book seems to gloss over the complexities of the grieving process. I think it's possible they didn't want to get into the nitty-gritty of everything they were thinking, and you know, if that's the case, that's fine. I respect that. The important thing is that they are trying to make the best of a horrible situation. For that alone, I admire them.

I don't agree with those who complain about all the religious references. I understand where people are coming from. I understand some might find it to be false advertising or that non-Christians might want to know how any of this can apply to them. But remember, this is the Van Ryns' and the Ceraks' story, as they lived it. Not as the reader wishes it to be told. In a day and age when the gut reaction is to sue the pants off anyone and everyone, it is refreshing to read a book like this where the two families had every reason in the world to feel bitterness and anger and yet chose hope over blame. That is really what makes this book the powerful story that it is. There's no reason to indulge in all the little sensationalistic details for the sake of satisfying the public's curiosity. And if they'd toned down the faith angle so as to appeal to a larger audience, that would have been dishonest. It's faith that got them through this so why should they pretend otherwise? It's easy enough to keep your interviews neutral when you only have to give a basic summary of what happened. But when writing an entire book, it's a little harder to do that. To be honest, I don't think they could have even really explained how the mix-up happened, beyond giving us the answers that everyone already knew. I think it's one of those things that you just live through and you'll never fully understand how or why it happened. So all we can really say is that it's something that can and should be avoided in the future. And it was very touching to see how these two families saw it as an opportunity to grow in their faith and bond with someone they might not have otherwise. And they used this as an opportunity to reach out to others. They didn't have to. Nobody forced them to write this book. They chose to. They weren't obligated to write it in any way but the way they did.

Believe it or not, I came to this book through a TV show. What's really ironic about that is I don't even have TV. My boyfriend and I run a bookstore, and most of our time, energy, and focus is caught up with books and the day-to-day needs of our business. Why bother paying for TV when most of it is junk, and we don't have time anyway? We do, however, like "House", and so we rent the DVDs. I saw an episode from Season 4 -- I believe it was the opening episode -- about two young women who worked in an office building that collapsed. I won't give everything away, but suffice it to say, their identities were mixed up. I talked to a friend about how much that episode touched me, stayed with me, had me reflecting on it for days. She suggested this book.

The story seems unbelieveable, as many people have said -- more like a storyline for a TV show or a movie than something that could really happen in real life.

I hate to join in the "circus-for-free" syndrome that we seem to have, almost helpless to turn our eyes away from the accident scene, the smoke pouring out the windows of the burning building, the crumbled buildings and bodies left in the wake of the latest disaster shown on the news. Nevertheless, this story was so compelling. I had to known more about what transpired, what the families went through, how the mix-up happened. I believe and respect that the only reason these families agreed to write their blog, do some media interviews, and eventually do this book was the opportunity to share their faith.

I grew up in the church, but I have often stayed on the perimeter, uncomfortable with so many things done and said in the name of Christianity. I am often uncomfortable with stories as heavily evangelical as this. In this case, I was so proud of the Van Ryns and the Ceraks. They are living their faith, and sharing it beyond "the shadow of the valley of Death", being content in all things because of the One who strengthens them, tested like Job. I was not "turned off" this story by how much they told it by faith. I was deeply touched.

i got this book to learn more about this tragic accident and how whitney is dong not but it didn't fufil my expections it was reallg good adn really detaild but almost too much in some areas this book is defintley for evangelicle christans because their is a lot of prayers adn refernces to the bible so be prepared for that. i have osay that i am not one to read books fast and a person that can't put a book down and this is one of the few i couldn't put dowm i read it in 2.5 days

The story line of this book is fascinating and intriguing. It evokes many strong emotions as you walk through the events these families lived through. One is drawn into the theme right from the beginning and the book holds your attention throughout. As I read about Laura in the hospital and how many times people questioned many things that did not add up, it baffled me as to how this family could have been so blind to not have recognized that this girl was not theirs sooner. They seemed to be in some kind of fog or deluded state even though they claim to be such strong Christians throughout. Several inferences were made about the discrepancies of the girl not being Laura such as a mysterious navel piercing none of her family knew of, the bag of clothes and type of shoes not being hers that were given to the family very early on and were never questioned. Even when Laura began opening her mouth they noticed her teeth were not the same but continued to remain ignorant. Understandably, she was bandaged and injured when they first saw her, but as she healed and her face became more recognizable, those closest to her seemed to be out to lunch somewhere, still not perceiving all those signs that it was not Laura. It really becomes ludicrous that these people could be so ignorant and prolong this ordeal in such an odd way. The family of Whitney did not go in to identify her body either, so all these behaviors seem a bit askew in the real world. I do not comprehend this kind of behavior given my own personality and curiosity about things. Even Aunt Ruthann, a distant relative seemed to know right away, so how could the closest family members not recognize that this was not their daughter after being with her day and night constantly for five weeks? I will quote the one section that was most profound: "Ruthann scrunched up her face like she had bitten into something sour. I don't care what anyone says, that doesn't look like Laura to me." Even then nobody followed through on investigating this girl's identity time and time again. Their portrayed strong faith in God makes it seem like a bit of a travesty that he would put them through all these things needlessly and they remain oblivious. It is hard for me to believe in their continued concepts of God and their religious beliefs. They do tend to deal with the tragedies they are going through with faith and even humor at times. The way that total strangers showed up to help the family with housing, food and water, even neighbors mowing their lawn while they were away from home was astounding, it really restores ones faith in mankind helping when needed. The book could have been written in a more interesting style; the emotions of those involved could have been more clearly conveyed. Overall, it is a good read and one that really stirs up your emotions and thinking processes, it is almost borderline on being a mystery.

Mistaken identity was a story of two women, one killed tragically and one hurt and comatose. I read this book in two days. I couldn't put it down. I think at first it is a story about how trauma can put you in denial and question what is right in front of you, but then once acceptance is obtained, it shows how strength is drawn from faith and friends and love of family. These were two amazing families. I honestly cannot imagine the trauma that they both went through. An amazing story and an easy read. It makes you appreciate every moment of life.

I bought this book months ago, but kept putting it off for some reason. Yesterday I decided to pick it up and read. I had watched an interview months before with the two families explaining the situation and I wanted to know more. I was amazed by the reactions and the support given to both families during their time of need. I could barely put the book down and actually finished it in less than a day, which is more than I can say for other books. I think you don't even have to be religious to understand whats going on in the book because you go through this process with the families. It was amazing to read how both families pushed through and put on a positive face. Its also sad to have to read about one family finding out that the girl they thought was there own was actually someone else's. I especially felt sad when Aryn, who was going to propose to Laura after graduation, wrote his last blog. He seemed to be the most broken out of everyone in the family because he wanted to have a future with Laura. Its extremely brave of both families to handle the situation in a great way. They didn't feel a need to sue the man who was driving the truck that caused the accident, but instead would have just liked to know what really happened. This book was truly inspiring.

Everyone saw the news splashed across the headlines or on the evening news reports. The wrong family was sitting beside a recovering girl in the hospital. How could it have happened? Read MISTAKEN IDENTITY to get the inside account from the two families that were involved in the unbelievable story.

The story seems straight out of the movies, almost too hard to fathom. But the Van Ryn and Cerak families, aided by Mark Tabb, tell the story of how Whitney and Laura were misidentified and two families dealt with both joy and sorrow with the help of their unerring faith in God.

Laura and Whitney were both students at Taylor University, a Christian college in Indiana. There were both in a school van on their way back to campus from a banquet with a few other people. A tractor trailer crossed the median and hit the side of the van, plowing it onto the side of the road. "Laura" was thrown 50-feet from the van. When rescue workers found her, a purse and ID nearby said that it was Laura Van Ryn. The photo on the ID looked enough like her. Thus began a five-week trial for both families.

The Cerak family received a call that Whitney had died in the accident. An employee from the university had identified her for the family. Colleen couldn't bring herself to look at the empty shell of what was left of Whitney, knowing in her heart that the true spirit of Whitney was now standing before God. Had Colleen gone and identified the body, would the error have been caught on the first night? No one knows.

The entire story is a bunch of "what ifs" by both families. Little things during "Laura's" recovery made family and friends question and wonder when "Laura" would return to her full self. But with the doctors and therapists constantly telling the Van Ryns that the neurons are firing but not necessarily connecting properly yet, no one gave it a serious second thought.

Only after "Laura" starts to come out of her coma and respond to therapy do the questions truly get raised. When a therapist asks "Laura" to write her name -- out came "W-H-I-T-N-E-Y." In the next few days, the pieces all come together, and a forensic dentist verifies the worst news for the Van Ryn family: this is not Laura after all.

What should be a story of loss for the Van Ryn family is a story of unerring faith. They are truly grateful for the time they spent with Whitney in the hospital. They are happy for the Ceraks' miracle and do not blame God.

The Cerak family went through grief but knew that Whitney had lived in God's love and was in a better place. They had sorrow, but knew that they would all see Whitney sometime in the future. When the call came that she may still be alive, Carly, Whitney's sister, would not believe it. Not until she saw with her own eyes did she believe the miracle that Whitney was still alive.

The story is so uplifting in the true belief both families have in God, that even in the time of sorrow they both experienced, the reader never once felt truly sad. The Van Ryn and Cerak families are both truly exceptional families. They are unwavering in their faith and love in God. They are both wonderful examples of a life lived to the fullest.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

I enjoyed reading this book. I am not one for reading books, and I couldn't put this book down, a couple parts of this story actually had chills. The two familes are so strong and inspirational. This is a very religious book though.

Immediately after finishing this book, I recommended it to my mother & sister. Both said they couldn't stop the tears whilst reading the book. Especially my mother, who lost a brother in a similar car accident 20 years ago - who knew all too well the pain that the victims' families were going through. She said there were several times when she was forced to put down the book because she was crying so much.

Despite the sadness of the events, I am amazed and impressed by the reactions of the families and Whitney herself. They deal with the tragedies with faith, and even humour. This book is most definitely worth a read - I've lent it to several people so far, and about to purchase extra copies as gifts for friends. I normally don't spend much money on books but this is definitely worth every dollar. I don't even begrudge the exorbitant sum I have to pay for international shipping.

To non-Christian readers who say they felt alienated by the heavy Christian themes, I encourage them to read anyway. If you're interested in reading this book to understand how they coped with the tragedy, those parts of the books aren't just a Sunday sermon - they are part of the families' healing process.

The only minor negative comment I have with this book is the style in which it is written. At times, it's overly emotive. The author's repeated use of "NOOOOOOOOO!" gets a bit tiring at times and suggests poor writing skills. The author could have done a better job of conveying emotions. But this is such a minor element of the book. The rest of the book is very easy to read and I still enthusiastically recommend this book.

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.

I really enjoyed this book; I thought it was a really quick read. I appreciated how much detail the family went into explaining the night of the accident, the days of the burial services, and also when they discovered Whitney was still alive. I believe this is a very touching story and people that need GOD in there life or don't have much faith in good should really read this story.

And if you are someone who gets offended when others talk about GOD and his power I believe maybe this book is not for you.

When I heard about the original accident, I thought, "Oh, how terrible, five people died and one was seriously injured" and promptly forgot about it. Cut to five weeks later when.........the injured woman woke up and we all discovered that the "wrong" woman was mourned and buried.

It's not the first time this has happened; a similar incident took place in Iowa in the early 1980s, and I've heard of this elsewhere as well.

These families have been through something only they can possibly understand.

As for the strong Christian message, they were students at a Christian college and both have parents in the ministry, so what did you expect? And even before I finished the copy I got from the library, I purchased this book and donated it to my own church's library.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It's amazing and scarey that something like this mix-up could happen, but equally as amazing that the two families were able too accept and not blame others for it. I'm a Christian but I'd like to live my life closer to God the way these two families have. I'll be looking online to see what's happened to the two families since the book's publication.

I just loved this book and could not put it down. I would cry while I was reading and get excited all within a few moments. Great Book!!!!

Very heartfelt story. I bought three copies of this book after I read it because I wanted to share it with others. The amount of faith, love, happiness, sadness and mercy in this book should be a lesson to everyone. It certainly was to me.

I very much enjoyed this book - the level of detail was so great that I felt like I was really there, watching the terrible true story unfold. It's true, the religious element can get a little bit much and I did find myself skipping over some of the longer Bible passages. That didn't even come close to ruining the book for me, though, because the story was enthralling. At times the book had me near tears, but it's also strangely uplifting. The families are both an inspiration in the way they dealt with what happened to them, and I wish them all the best for the future. Definitely recommended.

I saw the story on the news, but the book really tells you so much more.Not only do you learn so much about this tragic story, but you learn a lot from the families by how they stayed so connected and so strong. Although there were parts i thought i would cry, i recommend it.

The amazing story of these two families is not one anyone of us would choose to walk through. The manner in which they carry themselves through this trauma touched me tremendously. The book challenged me to think about what it really means to love my neighbor as myself.

This is a moving and inspirational book. The story of two families who truly live Christian lives.

great book of a good Christian family and how to deal with life issues.
Easy read.

This book is an easy read. SPOILER ALERT before reading this review if you want to solve any mysteries in the book which I definitely did want to. You have to keep
turning the pages to find out how the mistaken identity will be corrected. I first heard of the tragedy on the news and then saw the show
on Oprah. I went to a Christian college in Michigan so I can relate to
the locales and atmosphere discussed in the book. I am a very lukewarm
Christian, if there is such a thing. The book is filled with religious
lifestyle and fervor which sometimes bogs the storyline. It is their
true way of life and feelings but if you arent a rah-rah Christian, it
can get annoying. I understand it as I spent four years in college with
many of these types. That is the lens through which they see the world
so you have to adjust to it. I bought the book because I needed to read
the step by step details of exactly HOW they did not recognize their own
daughter. I believe their story is true but I have to say that after
reading the details-------something "happened" that really did suspend
belief and create a miracle. It was not God working miracles but faith
and love being BLIND. They were so strong that it prevented an acceptance
of what was right in front of them like an optical illusion. I agree that
in the first weeks with bandages and swelling and the patient unable to
speak, there is room for error. At the point when the patient is being
lifted and put in a chair and you are able to see more of the body....
and the face is visible and less swollen.....the shape of the hands and
feet....The pictures of the two girls on the cover show similar but not
alike. Unless the teeth were knocked out in the accident... The first glaring sign I can see is the unique shape of the teeth. Completely different
and noticeable. If a parent or sister cannot see the teeth line has changed drastically, what hope is there? Someone noticed but it was brushed aside. A family friend said it was not her early on....she was
brushed aside. A scar that was noticed was brushed aside. Peoples hands
and fingernails are very unique as are the feet. I could pick out my
child's feet or hands among fifty people or more. I do not get that they
did not know. Even when the girl is talking and saying that they are NOT
her parents-----they continue with the RABID faith. This is where the faith thing derails and is a good lesson for people. Faith can be misguided and wrong. The book is interesting because of this aspect of
human psychology. They see a mirage and swear it is the waterhole. The
brain trauma was as great with the parents as was the patient. People's
ears are even unique and differently shaped......did they not look at the
ears of their daughter...the lip shape?...this book is mind boggling.
To have to go to dental records for a living and (limited) speaking person is unique and worthy of a book. The family bonds and impeccable
character of these Christians is something refreshing in this day and age
of violence,drugs and pornography. I also purchased the book as a small
way of donating to them as they did not run to lawyers to sue the pants
off everyone involved. I think the book should have had a few more pages
about each of the other victims. They got a a page or two each of memoriam but I would have liked five pages or more about each,
even a chapter. (and less about the daily religious blog by Mom). P.S.
the eye colors of the girls were blue but not exactly the same shade. Any
moles or freckles? Yet, mistaken identity.

I thought about this purchase for a long time before I bought it, thinking it might be one of those smarmy, overly sweet religious books--but it is far from it. This is a true story of the power of God, the power of love, and the power of grace, and I think that both families should be lauded for sharing this incredibly difficult story. This is a story of God's work in the here and now, and I think everyone would like it.

This book is the non-fiction account, written by the families involved about the mistaken identity of their college daughters. One daughter was killed in an accident and the other survived in a hospital in a comotose state with multiple serious injuries and brain damage. Five weeks went by before the parents realized a mistake had been made in identifying their daughters at the accident.

Both were Christian families who lived their faith. The book is full of how the families relied on God's strength to help them deal with this tragic situation. In this day and age when lawsuits are so frequent, the families did not sue over the huge mistake that was made and caused so much anguish to both families. I applaud them both for this!

I especially enjoyed the view of Whitney, the girl who survived but who wasn't quite the same after her recovery, which was miraculous! This book is co-authored by both families which made it very personal, although it really didn't make me feel any strong emotion which surprised me. It's a very good book that emphasizes the use of scripture and praise to God in coping with a tragedy.

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.

WOW, what a book! I could go on and on about this book, but the main thing is both families' unwavering faith in the Lord. You will feel a wide range of emtions. Quick read, you get into it right away. I thank both families for sharing this story and their love of the Lord. Continued blessings from our Lord to all. Please read this awesome book, it will stay with you.

--Gerard Zemek, husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry""

This book was uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time.The faith and love for the Lord from both families was amazing.

I bought this book in the airport, after being at home and having to leave two books behind, because I thought my hand luggage was going to be over the limit. Turns out I was well under the limit. As you well know, airport bookshops are ridiculously expensive, and I regret this purchase even more since I found out from my mum that she bought the exact same book.

But back to the book. It doesn't take you long to finish this book. There's not a lot of substance, and I did get the feeling there was a lot of padding.

Many Americans know the story, I really only vaguely remember it being mentioned on the news over here, and I think it was printed in a couple of magazines that the girls had been mixed up.

The story focuses on Whitney and Laura, two blonde bubbly Christian girls, who were both involved in a serious crash. Laura's purse was found near Whitney, and the mix up began. Laura's parents were informed that she was in a critical condition in hospital, Whitney's parents were informed that she'd died. But it was really the other way around. Whitney was in hospital and Laura had died.

I admire the parents for being able to tackle the hard writing of this book, but I found myself alienated by the constant references to God and prayers etc. I've never been religious, and I consider myself an aethist, but won't stamp on someone else's beliefs. A few mentions of God, a couple of prayers, would have been quite sufficient, but it was too much. It detracted my attention away from the heart of the story, the two girls, and it left me feeling empty afterwards. It also felt a bit off that people who'd read the blog were converted to Christianity through this story. That was way too much in my opinion.

Apart from that, it was a good story to read, with Laura's parents looking after Whitney, believing it was Laura lying there, and Whitney's parents "burying" their child. When Whitney starts to come to, and they start to make the connection she isn't who they think she is, it does keep you turning the pages frantically, to find out what happens. The excerpts from the blog is quite interesting to read, and other people's comments and then of course the photos and the 'blog' by Whitney at the end, it leaves you feeling happy inside.

Although it was an excellent story, it could have done without certain references. I'm not here to question anyone's beliefs, just to review a book. I would still recommend this to people, but perhaps give them a prior warning beforehand.

I opened this book yesterday at 4:30PM, and finished it today at about 6PM. I literally could not put it down. The Ceraks and Van Ryns have been a part of a truly incredible story that they so graciously have shared through this book. I spent most of my time reading it in tears, often sobbing at the thought of such an unimaginable tragedy. But through it I've been blessed, as I know thousands have. What was and is so heartbreaking, these families have used to glorify God and help others to see the joy and comfort that a relationship with Jesus Christ can bring. God is using the lives of these two girls and their families to bring so many into His kingdom. What a gift to be chosen to serve Him in such a huge way! I don't imagine I'll meet any of these people during my life on earth, but I can't wait to hug Laura in heaven and tell her what an inspiration her story was to me. The same is true of the others of course, I just hope my moment to meet them is much, much later! I highly recommend this book! It's a wonderful story of heartbreak, and the hope we all have in God's grace. Thank you Cerak and Van Ryn family for being exactly who you are.

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.

Very interesting book - don't know how anyone could get through this. Too intense to read when you are trying to go to sleep! The families' faith in God got them through - what a testimony!

As an alumni of Taylor University I was instantly drawn to this story "Mistaken Identity". If anyone saw the special on Dateline with Matt Laurer or the Oprah show, then you know about what these two families have gone through. All in all it is amazing to see how God can work through tragedy
to spread his message of love and hope to our world. It is through this story that one can find true and powerful strength in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. If these two families can find strength to endure this tragedy then you should know that there is a personal God who loves you and wants to know you also!

A true story, which had the potential to be a gripping, thought-provoking, psychological exploration of an intense human experience, turned out to be a boring 263 page sermon!

Scary that this could happen to someone. The show and the book go hand in hand.

The book is a fast read as there is little of substance in it. Contrary to what other reviewers have written, the Christian aspect of the book is not intrusive. There are several pages of photos of the girls and whereas they do look somewhat alike, there is no way one could be mistaken for the other. One of the pictures is the girl in hospital in a cervical collar and various other apparatus none of which obscures a full view of the girl's face. The question in everyone's minds is going to be, how could the parents not know their own daughter's face, and this question is never addressed let alone answered in the book.

It took me one day to read this book. I cried a lot while reading it, mainly because of the tragedy of the entire situation, not only the two girls involved, but the loss of all five students and the truck driver, who we only hear about in two short sentences. The book doesn't explain exactly what happened as to why the truck driver crossed over into the other lane to cause this accident, nor does it talk about the impact the accident had on his family, only on the two girls' families.

One thing I didn't understand is that no one noticed or realized that the girl in the hospital wasn't who they thought she was. NO ONE checked blood type (VERY important, especially if she needed plasma!), dental records, allergies to medicine, etc., until almost the very end. The two girls did look similar, yet a mother will know that the person in the bed isn't hers. Somehow the mother didn't know that the girl in the bed in a coma wasn't hers...that I found hard to believe. Another instance is that one person who wasn't a relative was allowed to go in to see her, yet she told a family member not to...strange! Perhaps she suspected that the girl in the bed wasn't really the sister? What motivated her to keep quiet?

Although as Christians they didn't discuss any lawsuits, even when it was brought up, I don't think that God would have been upset had they proceeded with one; it's only right that they should have...after all, lives were lost, funerals have to be paid for, transportation costs, etc. all have to be paid for by someone, even if the lawsuits weren't against the truck driver. Negligent actions by the truck driver? Drunk driving? Did he fall asleep at the wheel? Under the influence of narcotics? Driver inattention? Did he swerve to miss something in the road? Did his truck have a tire blow out? Nothing was said as to the cause of the accident, nor was anything said about the police report, which would have cleared up these questions.

Overall, it was a very inspiring and uplifting book. It is very strong on their Christian belief, which obviously helped all of them cope with the tragedy, however it was at times a little too "saccharine sweet" even for me, a somewhat practicing Christian.

Who are we to judge though? Who knows how any of us would react should we ever be in this situation?

I still recommend it in spite of the few negative points about it.

I could not put this book down once I started it and now it is making it's way around our Ladies Sunday School class. I had heard about this accident on both TV and Radio prior to reading the book. I would recommend it to anyone, it is well written and lets the reader feel what the writers/families were feeling. It is truly amazing get yourself a copy and then after you've read it pass it around.

I wanted to read this book because I couldn't imagine a family going through this. As I read it I couldn't help thinking of each family, one mourning and the other estatic, because I knew their lives would change when they got the news that the identities had been incorrect. It is hard to put yourself in their place.You can't.This experience, hopefully, has changed the way people are identified at the scenes of accidents.I hope that today all the families involved have found some peace.

This is a very inspiring and emotionally stirring book. My heart goes out to the families.

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.

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.

This is a story that gives hope and is inspiring.
The only criticism that I would give it is that it does not answer the most important question of the story and that is whether or not the people in the van wore their seatbelts. I think not since the occupants were thrown from the van upon impact.
While the families involved have a strong Christian faith, which is really the basis of the story, I felt that when describing the victims, it was too heavily saturated with talk about their faith, for instance at the funeral, they could have talked more about what the person was like rather than only focusing on their strong love of Jesus and their faith at the exclusion of talking about what the person was all about in other ways, for instance their personality, talents, likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc...
Overall, though I would recommend it, even though it was sad, it was very uplifting.

What trials and pain these families have been through. Losing loved ones is never easy, but the faith these people show is wonderful and heart-warming. Definitely a book that will produce tears and hope.

I just finished reading this book last night. I have a lot of respect for the families involved in this story. I don't know that I would be as charitable and faithful in that situation. I like to think I would but you never know unless you are in the situation. These families are amazing. Not only did they write a great book, they did it for the right reasons. I did get a little confused at the first because it switches families and days and it took a little bit to get everyone in the right place in my mind. I know somone who was in a coma for three months if I remember right. I have gained a greater appreciation for the things she and her family went through.

I had heard this whole story through interviews and magazine articles. It was good to see the whole story played out through the eyes of the families.

this was an amazing true story of one family burying a child thought dead and another caring for a child thought alive. it was honest, heartwrenching and honest. very bittersweet. i hope i could identify my family or friend better if i was in this situation. makes you hug your close circle more!

I ordered and received this book after a local girl went through a similar situation and suggested that it was a very good book. I began reading it and I could not put it down. I have very little time to read these days but I made the time to read this one. I will pass it on to my friends with a 100% endorsement.