I look forward to discussing our book with the members of this forum. I worked on this incredible true story for over twenty years, having first met Tere Duperrault in the late 1980s. Meeting her was one of the most powerful coincidences of my life: I had been studying the psychology of solitary ordeals for several years and had met and read the accounts of many survivors by the time I happened to learn that the most amazing story of all was right there under my nose on my own campus! (Tere was a returning adult student there.) I could relate to Tere's story on several levels, having had the experience of studying survival but also being a developmental psychologist with some clinical training. And as a sailor myself who had myself dreamed of sailing tropical seas I could also relate to the "sailing dreams" of her good father. Finally, having lived in Tere's hometown of Green Bay for thirty years, I can also vouch for the strength of character of the people of that iconic mid-American town.

Certainly a big part of the horror of the story is the randomness of the terrible things that happened to an innocent family and a girl at an innocent age in an age of innocence for our country-- this was before we had become numbed to mass murders and the targeting of innocents by terrorists. Incidentally,once people have read the book (not before!) I recommend that you read the following reaction to the story. It is quite powerful and it involves someone who had a somewhat personal connection to the story: http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_15167419

Something that struck me while reading this book is the strength of Tere, not only the strength to survive on the open sea, but the strength to continue with her life afterwards.

So many people would have crumbled after this tragedy. I don't know if Tere was insulated a bit because of her youth, or was affected that much more because of her young age. Tere's story of survival continues after she is rescued, and in a way, her true survival story begins after she is rescued. Just the fact that she decided to change her name to feel less of a victim shows maturity and a strong will to live. Not to just survive, but to live.

The story of "Alone" is so compelling, and I do hope that the writing of her story has helped in some way in her healing. Tere survived this tragedy at the tender age of 11, she had her whole life in front of her. And I would think that it would take a life time to heal from it. For Tere to attend college and to try to have a life of quality is truly awe inspiring.

I do hope many members take the opportunity to read Tere's story. It is a story that everyone can learn from, and it is a story that will be unforgetable. I know I feel a connection with her, and her spirit will stay with me for a long time.

Few books stick with me like this one is. I've found myself telling Tere's story to family and friends on several occasions.

Tere's youth helped her survive, as did her faith, optimism, and unflappable temperament. But she continued alone for many years and had to continue to be strong. Telling her story has helped her gain closure where closure was forever unreachable.

Newbie here looking for stimulating discussion on non fiction books. This book looks like a great place to start. My new Kinde2 should arrive tomorrow and I just ordered Alone kindle edition. Thank youall for making this forum possible.

You're very welcome sandraw. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Rescue under way for missing teen sailor
AAP http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7381 ... n-trouble/
June 11, 2010, 7:33 am

Australian officials are mounting a search for a 16-year-old US girl attempting a Jessica Watson-style solo sail around the world who is feared in trouble in the frigid, heaving southern Indian Ocean.

A rescue effort was launched off the coast of Madagascar early on Thursday after emergency beacons on board Abby Sunderland's sailboat were triggered and communication was lost after the young adventurer ran into 15-18 metre seas.

Sunderland was believed to be hundreds of kilometres from land with the nearest ship around 600 km away.

The teen's family was talking with US and international governments about organising a search of the remote ocean between southern Africa and Australia, family spokesman Christian Pinkston said.

The rescue effort is being coordinated by the Reunion Islands with help from Australian authorities.

Conditions can quickly become perilous for any sailor exposed to the elements in that part of the world.

"We've got to get a plane out there quick," said Pinkston, adding that the teen's family was asking for prayers for her safety.

"They are exhausting every resource to try to mobilise an air rescue including discussions with the US State Department, the US Coast Guard and various international rescue organisations," he said. The closest land is France's Reunion Island, east of Madagascar, though the exact distance wasn't clear.

Abby last communicated with her family at 4am PDT (2100 Thursday AEST) and reported nine-metre swells but was not in distress, Pinkston said.

An hour later the family was notified that her emergency beacons had been activated, and there was no further communication. Pinkston said the beacons were manually activated.

Her brother, Zac, who sailed around the world at age 17, told Los Angeles radio station KNX that Abby was in a heavy storm at the time she called home.

"We're still trying to figure out the rescue situation," he said. "There's two boats headed out to her position, one is an estimated 40 hours, the other is 48. Right now we're trying to figure out if there is any way faster. She's in the middle of nowhere pretty much in the southern Indian Ocean. There's nothing closer."

He said Abby's boat was most likely not completely submerged because another beacon would be triggered at a depth of 4.6 metres.

Abby set sail from Los Angeles County's Marina del Rey in her 12-metre boat, Wild Eyes, on January 23 in an attempt to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone without stopping. Her brother briefly held the record in 2009.

Abby soon ran into equipment problems and had to stop for repairs. She gave up the goal of setting the record in April, but continued on.

On May 15, 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson claimed the record after completing a 23,000-mile (37,013km) circumnavigation in 210 days.

Abby left Cape Town, South Africa, on May 21 and on Monday reached the halfway point of her voyage.

On Wednesday, she wrote in her log that it had been a rough few days with huge seas that had her boat "rolling around like crazy".

"I've been in some rough weather for awhile with winds steady at 40-45 knots with higher gusts," she wrote. "With that front passing, the conditions were lighter today. It was a nice day today with some lighter winds which gave me a chance to patch everything up. Wild Eyes was great through everything but after a day with over 50 knots at times, I had quite a bit of work to do."

Information on her website said that as of June 8 she had completed a 2100-mile (3379km) leg from South Africa to north of the Kerguelen Islands, taking a route to avoid an ice hazard area. Ahead of her lay more than 3,379 kilometres of ocean on a 10- to 16-day leg to a point south of Cape Leeuwin on the southwest tip of Australia.

Thank for sharing this compelling story.

docsafari,

My book is on order but not arrived yet. I talked it up at church last night. One of the members had seen an interview Tere did and knew the general story though was unfamiliar with the faith angle and it's importance in Tere's life before and after the ordeal. I don't want to get ahead of anything in the discussion, but I would like to build on the initial interest I generated last night. Do you have anything you can share at this point I could use for that purpose?

I may try to get it on the church's website and my kid's facebook pages.

Thanks