My Sister S Eyes

My Sister's Eyes recounts a Jewish family's perilous flight from the Nazis to freedom in the United States during the Holocaust, as well as the heroic act of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, severely punished by his government for issuing thousands of visas to safe-haven in Portugal in 1940. Abundantly illustrated. Recommended for ages 12-16.

Subtitle on cover: A young girl's view of her brother's autism.

In September of 1999, my only sister, Sherry Jean Leighty, was dropped off at work to never be seen again. Rumors were she left town with a boyfriend and they were heading to Maine. Just one problem; she had three young children that she left behind. How does a young mother leave the only life she's known? None of this made any sense. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years, with no word from Sherry. It would take almost thirteen years, after investigating on my own, for our local police department to finally look into my sister's disappearance. I lost more than my sister in 1999; I lost my faith in law enforcement and ultimately the criminal justice system. My name is Shelly Nagle and Sherry Leighty is my sister. Through a sister's eyes, is my personal journey to find the truth-a lot of perseverance, determination, and love for a sister, would finally lead to answers.

Gypsy kids are running all over, moving from place to place often; not making any real friends. But when an impulsive, careless, and questionable action leads to a horrific accident for one family, two sisters' lives will change forever. Jane with her broken bones--leg and pelvis--and scars on her head and the loneliness she had on waiting and waiting while her sister Jessie laid unconscious for days. Jessie Mohe and Jane Ann thought that they had a simple and easygoing life with their biological parents as they were always playing outside and only had a few responsibilities. As they would play with their other siblings, they would also perform several mischievous acts that would get them into some trouble. Their older immediate family seemed to almost always be around as these harmless schemes would happen, and they would get a good laugh from it all. Where is everyone whom we know personally--our parents, Gpa Jess, Uncle Jerry, and Uncle Bernard--and we are closest to? It's cloudy, and we can't see no one. Where is our life that we knew? Our little brains were working and going around in circles and circles. Our trauma, the anger we had in separate ways. After the accident, they would join their family with a new and very different lifestyle. They would experience new food, people, and unbelievable ways of life. The foster mother would push them to try new things, learn to be independent, and to be better people. As they go through new experiences, she would be right there to guide them. In their adult life, they would figure out many unsolved mysteries in their family, while several would still remain unsolved. The new beginnings of many activities and the challenges of life are still to come--the real happiness of life and what it is really about.

Jack Waterman is a writer who owns a bookstore in Quebec City. Jimmy is an aspiring writer with no roots and no experience. When one day Jimmy wanders into Jack's store, Jack becomes his mentor. Jimmy goes to Paris, but returns to Quebec when Jack takes a turn for the worse. Jack suffers from Eisenhower's disease, his name for Alzheimer's, and although it is progressing slowly, he is aware that at some point soon he is going to lose his faculties.

Two high school seniors, Chrissie and Billy, find their romance brought down to earth by the pregnancy of Chrissie's best friend and the unexpected visit of Jen, Billy's retarded and epileptic sister.

A young girl sets out to find out exactly what happened to her sister. Who is this new sister? Why does she never want to play anymore? For anyone who has ever felt left behind, Simona Ciraolo, the best-selling author of Hug Me, paints a touchingly sweet portrayal of the transience of childhood and how adolescence and growing up can be a truly mystifying experience.