Jacqueline by Jackie Minniti - Heartwarming Story Based upon Actual Events... Added to Personal Favorites for 2016...

When Jackie Minniti's father came home from the war, he had a very personal, heartwarming story to tell family and friends...and he would continue to share it throughout the years until, finally, when he was becoming older, he talked to Jackie about writing about the little girl that was her namesake...

At first she couldn't imagine an approach to an entire book...but then she started thinking about the child Jacqueline, what she was like and ultimately realized that her story would make a great middle grade children's historical novel.
 
"Your father says you're a writer. He's been telling me the most amazing story. You've got to write a book  it..."I have a daughter in sixth grade," he said. "She doesn't know anything about World War II. She'd love to read a story like this. And it could help her learn history...

I would make only one comment to her plan... it is also a beautiful family drama that is bound to be treasured by adults as well!

WINNER OF:

Eric Hoffer Book Award

Literary Classics Seal of Approval

http://www.jackieminniti.com/teaching-materials.html

Note: Click for supplemental downloads

 ...supplemental teaching materials are available as free downloads for teachers and home schoolers. Each activity is cross-referenced with the Common Core Standards for Grades 4-8 Language Arts/Literacy and Grades 6-8 History.

"It is nearly nine fifteen."

Monsieur Bergier turned the volume down until Jackqueline could barely hear the radio. The adults huddled around the kitchen table. They'd been listening to Radio Paris, the official government station. Now Monsieur Bergier twisted the knob until he heard the first notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Madame Bergier glanced nervously around the room. "David, heck the curtains. Make certain no one can see in."

David got up from his seat by the stove where a single candle provided the room's only light. He'd been stitching a yellow Jewish star onto a shirt. David was learning to be a tailor, like his father, and was becoming skilled with a needle and threat. After smoothing the curtains over the windows, he made a face at Jacqueline and returned to his work.

The radio cracked with static. Monsieur Bergier adjusted the dial until a voice came through. The adults leaned in closer, their bodies tense.

"Here is London. Today is the fourteen-hundredth day of the struggle of the French population for its liberation."

Jacqueline sat on the floor with Mirian. The baby babbled to the little rag doll Monsieur Bergier had made for her. "Shhh," Jacqueline whispered. "You must be quiet now."

Listening to the British Broadcasting Company was strictly forbidden, punishable by high fines and imprisonment. Maman said Radio Paris spouted nothing but German lies and propaganda, and only through the BBC could the French learn the truth. The announcer reported on military operations and gave coded messages for members of the French Resistance. Jacqueline didn't understand them, but she liked to think one of those messages could be from Papa.

...Monsieur Bergier patted his wife's hand. "The end is near, Sarah," he said. "I have heard rumors. The Americans are coming. We must persevere until then." Monsieur Bergier had a cousin who lived in America, so he knew about such things...

~~~

Minniti's story begins before the Americans came into the war. The Germans had already invaded France and it was only the French Resistance that were helping there in Rennes where they lived.  Jacqueline's father was fighting for France but was located in other cities, until they heard the news...

That Jacqueline refused to accept... 

...from then on she prayed to Saint Bernadette,, who she had loved since her childhood, to bring

him home and would hurry away to watch as each busload of the wounded or prisoners were brought into town...

Could her prayers be answered when they had already received word of his death? Still, Jacqueline prayed for it to be so...

It had been Christmas Eve. He'd come in secret late at night. Since he was a pilot for the Free French Air Force, he had to avoid being spotted by Nazi soldiers...He even brought Jacqueline a Christmas gift--L'Humble Sainte Bernadette, a book about Saint Bernadette of Lourdes.
"I know how much you love to read," Papa said. "This book is about a French girl who was brave and true despite great hardship. She was called by the Blessed Lady when she was only fourteen, just four years older than you. I pray she will watch over you while I am gone.
Gone, Jacqueline thought. Papa, gone? No, it cannot be! She forced her eyes open and realized her thumb was in her mouth. She jerked it out, shocked to have lapsed into a habit she broke when she was five. The words echoed in her mind...
A sudden thought made her bolt upright."
"Maman, do not cry. Papa is not dead," she said. "He is missing, but he will find his way home. He would never leave us..."

~~~

But things were getting worse in Rennes and then one day Jacqueline and her mother's neighbors and friends were taken...Only their son, David, had been out that day. When he returned Jacqueline and her mother explained that they had promised to help protect and keep David safe.  The first thing they did was rip off the yellow stars from all his clothes... He was now a relative that had come to live with them..

They had moved everything possible out of the Bergier's home, but there was always a food shortage and things got bad as there were now three mouths and only Mrs. Falna to keep things together... They never heard anything more about where Mr. and Mrs. Bergier and the baby had been taken...until later...

This video is not specifically related to the book, but is meant to be representative of what Mrs. Bergier later may have told the Falnas...

And then the Americans came...

The sun ducked behind a passing cloud, and Jacqueline could see the man clearly. He was an American soldier. She blinked back the tears that stung her eyes. The soldier had Papa's brown hair and dark eyes. As he passed by, he looked at her and smiled. Even his smile reminded her of Papa's...

His name is Bernardo."

She gasped. Bernardo? It couldn't be a coincidence, Saint Bernadette must have sent him...

I loved the book! Especially that the author had Catholics and Jewish families as friends and helping each other during the hated war, with, of course, the Americans coming in as heroes.

But there are many secondary characters that added greatly to the tone of the period, including a neighbor who was a known collaborator...and a precious one-eyed alley cat that gave the children a secret love as they tried to feed him when there was no extra food to be had...Reader feel like we've entered into the war period with all of its tragedy, while at the same time, see the love and commitment of families to each other and to France.  A truly memorable book of how love conquers and destroys the hate of some who go out only to seek power...

May we always, all, remember the atrocities that occurred during that war...and strive, always, for peace. Thank you Jackie Minniti, and your father!), for sharing your personal story about your beloved namesake!

Don't miss this one!

GABixlerReviews

Jackie Minniti was born and raised in the heart of New Jersey. She spent 25 years as a classroom teacher and was an education writer for the Courier Post. After retiring from teaching, she moved to a small beach town on the west coast of Florida and began writing full-time. She decided to incorporate her classroom experiences into a book that would combine the readability of a novel with the elements of a self-help book and give readers an intimate peek behind the faculty room door. "Project June Bug" is a result of that effort. The story of a dedicated teacher's efforts to help a student with ADHD, "Project June Bug" won several literary awards including an Eric Hoffer Book Award, a National Best Books Award, a Royal Palm Literary Award, a Next Generation Indie Book Award, four Parent to Parent Awards, and a Mom's Choice silver medal. "Project June Bug" was also chosen as Book of the Year by Premier Book Awards. 

Jackie's second novel, "Jacqueline," is a middle grade historical based on an experience her father (a WWII veteran) had while stationed in France shortly after D-Day. It was the only war story he was willing to share and became part of the family lore. Set in Nazi-occupied Rennes in 1944, "Jacqueline" is a tale of faith, family, unlikely friendships and the resiliency of the human spirit. With the drama of fiction and the authenticity of personal history, it is both a story about family and a family's story. "Jacqueline" is published by Anaiah Press and has won an Eric Hoffer Book Award and received a Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

Jackie is currently a featured columnist in The Island Reporter, (See story by clicking assets link below) a publication that serves the South Gulf Beaches in St. Petersburg, Florida. Several of her stories have been included in "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books. She also writes a blog, "Fabulous Florida Authors," featuring some of the outstanding writers from the Sunshine State.

http://www.jackieminniti.com/assets/Jacqueline.pdf

John Van Dixhorn, PHD, Presents Personal Memoir, Prisoner of Belief... Author Discussion Next...

John Van Dixhorn started his professional life as Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at Trinity College in Deerfield, IL. He did his theological training at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and was ordained with the Evangelical Free Church of America. He became a pastor to churches in New City, NY, Naperville, IL, and Orange, CA.
He went on to get a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He did post-doctorate work in psychoanalysis and became a Certified Psychoanalyst in California.
He was an award winning faculty member and Training and Supervising Analyst for the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute in Tustin, CA and for five years served as the director.
He lives with his wife, Jana, in Palm Springs, CA where he has a private practice.
~~~
From the Back Cover...

Prisoner of Belief by John Van Dixhorn is the tale of a man who fights for his soul against the crushing power of religious orthodoxy and evangelical zealotry to become a modern man in the modern world. Raised by rigid Calvinists, Van Dixhorn became an evangelical minister, a successful pastor with prosperous churches. But intellectual honesty and emotional longing led him to challenge his faith, his church, his family, his friends and his vocation...and to eventually leave the ministry and become a secular psychologist.

To live this life and write this book takes courage. Prisoner of Belief, then, is a memoir of a courageous man. Through the numerous sharp and painful (and sometimes very funny) anecdotes we begin to realize what it means to confront all the significant figures and forces in one's life, from self to mom, to brother, church, faith, ideology, Jesus, and finally to God...and the world-view that holds all this together in one neat theological package.

Van Dixhorn provides enough historical background so that otherwise obscure theology may be understood. As a psychologist, Van Dixhorn takes us deeper to see how doctrine affects emotional life, how belief affects our psyche, our sexuality, and our sense of self. As Van Dixhorn leads us through his life, we learn so much from this honest and courageous story. --Geoffrey Sarkissian Graduate of Fuller Seminary

Prisoner of Belief
One Man's Odyssey to Reclaim His Soul--
From Evangelical Minister to Searching Psychologist

From John Van Dixhorn, PHD

              

Christianity from the beginning was a religion that feared the passions and showed a hatred for--being human.  It was a utopian religion, in that humans could become more like God. My mother tried to make that utopian myth a reality. She took seriously what the church fathers called "Christian marriage" (marriage without sex) and compromised herself only enough to have children.

My mother knew well that sex outside of procreation was shameful. When sinless Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they experienced was sexual shame and had to cover their nakedness. Nothing shows our sinfulness more than sex.

What she didn't know that that a culture obsessed with sexual purity has a great potential for violence. Classical civilization and Judaism had long taught that sexual pleasure was harmless as long as it was free of cruelty and force. But the greatest periods of violence by the early church were always accompanied by demands for sexual purity and severe punishment of the violators. The Victorian and Puritanical age exemplify this concept. Fortunately my mother's piety avoided cruelties. How much her inner life suffered with an unavoidable shame I only know by reading her teenage diary, which I found buried in one of her drawers when my curiosity about what was in my parents's bedroom got the best of me. It was a diary of her unworthiness before God, even more severe than mine.

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who
fears the Lord, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

I was twelve years old when I was taken to the bedside of my Grandpa Kranendonk. I was told he wouldn't make it through another night. This was my first real encounter with death. It was scary and I could see he was dying. I wanted to get away, but my mother said, "Pa, it's your grandson, John. He wants to say goodbye to you."

She put my hand on his and he grasped it saying nothing. In my emotiional state I blurted out, "Grandpa, I know I'll see you again in heaven."

In that tender moment his weak voice, in broken English and in a strong Dutch accent, rebuked me and said I should be careful saying that. Only God determined that and if he ended up in hell he would glorify God from hell. I was flooded with shame and felt foolish. He was a stoic Calvinist to the end...

Sometimes I wonder why this type of book reaches me, don't you? Over 1000 of you came to read the review and discussion with Lee Harmon, author of The River of Life... Many other fiction books regarding issues that concern me also brings readers to Book Readers Heaven. We are curious humans, if nothing else...

As a child in the late 1930s and 40s, little did I know
that I was sharing a common experience, not only
with my American Christian peers, but also with
most of the children of devout Jewish parents in
Europe and the children of devout Muslims in Asia.
We were taught that the existence of God was
obvious--beyond demonstration--though we were
shown demonstrations everywhere. We had our
Holy Books, the direct revelations from the one
true God. It was beyond belief; it was fact.
Unquestionably true.
Those who denied these "truths" were not just
mistaken or misguided. Oh no, it was much worse
and more disastrous, and unbelievably so. Our
forefathers killed and were killed for it. For
Christians and Muslims, at least, there would be a
literal Hell to pay if we did not submit. At best,
we'd be permanently separated from our loved
ones and from God. We could not imagine it
being any other way. We were Fundamentalists.
We were Orthodox. The details of our religions
were somewhat different, but we shared the same
psychological makeup. We were of the same
spirit, the same essence in spite of outward
appearances and linguistic and cultural
differences.

But many of us specifically seek answers about our spiritual lives... As has author, John Van Dixhorn... He wrote the book at the age of 76, to confirm his thoughts and actions throughout his life and to ensure when he was gone, his truth would be available...

He said,

If you want a religion that brings comfort to your fears and peace to your soul, become a true believer and don't question it.

Yes, I wanted that, but... then he said,

If you want a religion that is true, become a questioner and let unfold what must...

And that's when he hooked me, as early as in the Introduction...

As you can see, I've spotlighted his education and experience background to highlight Dr. Van Dixhorn's expertise in writing the book he's sharing with you, the readers. This is always important to me. In this book, written in memoir form, there is both the story of the author's life, as well as documentation and discussion as to why and how the changes were made in his life, to present role of, psychologist...

Using the format of memoir allowed the author to speak openly and honestly about how his life evolved. It is an excellent story that, I believe, will capture the hearts and minds of anybody who reads it... For some, like me, it might mean much more than just reading another memoir or about a man's religious philosophy...

Much of what is Prisoner of Belief may hit you directly where you've been struggling...

John Van Dixhorn was born into a religious family structure that was mandated by the faith of their fathers' religion... Much like, my guess is, you and I. For many years he lived within the role established for family members. But John had a mind that started to think for himself... and he questioned the specifics about those in his religion, learned through his first religion. 

...What a freedom to be the master of your own spiritual life and have your own personal highway to God...

But Martin, why did you kill all those Anabaptists who took their religious freedom beyond your domain?

And John, when you became the ruler supreme, why did you have people punished, even put to death, when they didn't keep the religious laws of Geneva? You had Servetus burnt for not believing in the Trinity. You brought liberation from the Catholic stranglehold on people, only to bring your own style of oppression, so much for religious freedom.
Neighter did John Calvin bring freedom to me, personally...

Asking Jesus into my heart was moving
for me. I meant it. I knew I was a sinner
and felt bad about it. Knowing I could
be forgiven and go to heaven even though
was a sinner was beyond my imagina-
tion. My brother told me I had become
"born again" and now I was saved.
Now I had a testimony to give. I could
get up in testimony meetings and tell
people how I got saved and what it
meant for me...
~~~

He went on to later "be saved" into knowing Christ as his savior...and received many blessings during that time, except that, he began to question what the Holy Bible said...

"Flee also youthful lusts...call on the Lord with a pure heart." (11 Timothy 2:22)

As John moved toward his teens, thoughts of sex started... One of the important issues covered is the erotic struggles of a teenager... I have long felt that the church, any religion, has failed miserably in providing guidance and reality assistance to individuals about their sexuality. There is no other explanation for a Christian, in my opinion, to see the present state of the world regarding sex and all it has become! Of course, the Bible does nothing in this regard--there is only one way to remain your entire life, or as some are taught, to become a suicide bomber and receive virgins as your reward in Heaven... Or through some other "story" to explain why to be celibate...

The author's revelations were not surprising in this area--his first sight of the sex act was between animals, he was told that masturbating was sinful and was even told that others would know it because the whites of his eyes would yellow... But what is really the issue regarding sex for Christians, and others...?

Moving into the age of his career choice was the most revelatory... especially, "What about this Bible?"

Sometimes, if our need to believe is great, our best intelligence
is used to defend ignorance. My need to believe was too great
to let these academic realities get in the way.
~~~

One would think that seminary would be a place
in which a young man would become more
convinced than ever of his faith. I went to
seminary to learn how to convinced the world of
true Christianity. I though the problem was that
people weren't aware of that truth, and once
they heard it, they'd have to face it. I never
dreamt I would have to do this with inferior
ammunition. There is a danger in studying
things in greater depth...
~~~

Why would a universal God, whose message was a matter of life or death for all eternity, use such a non-universal means to communicate such an essential message? Jesus was the person who wanted to show us most clearly who God was. If writing is God's way, why didn't Jesus write at least something? He didn't even pay much attention to the scriptures that existed in his time.


The trouble for John really began when he had gone through seminary, was preaching, and found that there were few parts of the Bible about which he could fully create and teach on The Word...

When a man who has chosen to minister as his career no longer finds it is possible, he looks within himself to realize that he still wants to help people. John Van Dixhorn did not quickly make the decision to further his education in Psychology. You will find his deep commitment to searching for the way to be a real and faithful evangelic minister was not an easy road to take. I applaud him for sharing the deep and gut-wrenching thoughts and actions he took to become who he is today. 

I want to quickly say that this book, is in no way, an attempt to bring readers around to his way of thinking...it is his story and his alone to tell. It rings true, I believe, and has not been censored to try to garner great masses of reader attention. Yet, in my opinion, it is his openness and attention to detail of what he went through, that will cause readers to be willing to listen to his story...

You just might find something that I did..a balance against which you can consider or reconsider your own beliefs...  For me, it has to be considered a must-read... If I had the money and the guts, I would place this book into the hands of every person in the world who believes that their holy writings are truly God's words, for each and every one of us to follow...


GABixlerReviews


PLEASE NOTE THAT MY DISCUSSION WITH DR. VAN DIXHORN, WILL BE TOMORROW, UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS TO CHANGE THAT...
DON'T MISS IT!