Author: Michelle

Ages 18+

Following the publication of Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody, and the movie adaptation of the book, Sayed Mahmoody, also known as Moody, gives his side of the story.

Betty’s book told the horrific story of when she and their daughter Mahtob were forced by Moody against their will to stay in Iran, once they agreed to go there for a two-week vacation to see his family.

In Lost Without My Daughter, Moody counters that story by claiming that Betty lied and told tales about what really happened. He also claims that he loved his wife and daughter very much and would never hurt them.

Ages 12+

In 1997, when Caitlin Alfirenka, then Caitlin Stoicksitz, was in middle school, her class picked countries in which to have pen pals. She chose Zimbabwe, and thus met Martin Ganda, a boy her age. They began exchanging letters, and Caitlin quickly realized how different their lives were.

She began sending Martin money with the letters, which he then used to buy a chicken for his family’s dinner, and eventually to pay his way through school. In Zimbabwe, school is not required, and you can only go if you can afford it.

Then Caitlin’s parents got involved and were able to send Martin and his family more money after his father lost his job.

Caitlin and Martin grew close through their letters, and thought of each other like brother and sister. In the end, both the Stoicksitz and Ganda families’ lives were changed forever with that first letter.

Ages 14+

Clare’s daughter Valerie had just conquered depression, and she wondered how much more she could take when her daughter Elena gets diagnosed with anorexia. Following her the diagnosis and struggle with the disease, Clare Dunkle tells the heartbreaking story of how her daughter dealt with and got help for her anorexia.