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by Franken (Author)
MEANT TO BE: A True Story of Might, Miracles, and the Triumph of the Human Spirit (Revised Edition) is an unforgettable WWII survival biography that tells the extraordinary true story of John and Sonja Franken-two young people who endured humanity's darkest moments, continents apart, and the daughter determined to understand the legacy they carried.
"A daughter's moving tribute to her parents, full of heartbreak that leads to uplift." - Kirkus Reviews
John, a young Dutch naval recruit, is captured by the Japanese during World War II and forced into a brutal prisoner-of-war camp in the Dutch East Indies. Sonja, a Dutch teenager, is taken by the Nazis and endures the unimaginable horrors of Auschwitz and other concentration camps, surviving three near-deaths in the gas chambers. Against all odds, John survives the Nagasaki atomic bomb, while Sonja miraculously escapes death time and again.
After the war, their remarkable journeys of endurance, courage, and hope lead them to each other, where they rebuild their lives rooted in love, trust, and resilience. But their challenges do not end there. Years later, when Sonja is diagnosed with cancer and John suffers a massive heart attack, their unbreakable spirit once again guides them through life's darkest trials.
In this newly revised and expanded edition, author Roslyn Franken deepens the historical accuracy of her parents' wartime experiences, adds newly uncovered details, and brings greater clarity and emotional resonance to their story. She also shares her own battle with cancer at age 29, drawing strength from her parents' example of perseverance and choice.
MEANT TO BE offers profound lessons on resilience, identity, and the power of hope. This deeply moving biography will inspire readers drawn to true WWII stories, Holocaust memoirs, POW narratives, cancer survival, and accounts of personal transformation.
Discover the inspiring true story of survival, love, and the boundless strength of the human spirit.
