Replacement Child, by Judy L. Mandel, has won a 2010 finalist award from National Indie Excellence Awards in the category of memoir.

Newington, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/19/2010 -- Schlesinger Books has announced that Replacement Child – A Memoir by Connecticut author Judy L. Mandel, has won a 2010 finalist award from National Indie Excellence Awards in the Memoir category.

Growing up, author Judy Mandel always knew that her family had survived a tragedy when a plane crashed into her family's home and killed her sister. The book weaves the threads of her own story as the replacement child for her deceased sister, the grief her parents had to overcome and the struggles of her surviving disabled sister. Through awareness and understanding, Ms. Mandel forges a path to recovery and forgiveness.

Recent reviews of Replacement Child have said:

"Riveting . . . I couldn't put this book down. Mandel's memoir is as riveting and gut wrenching as any piece of thriller fiction I've ever read." Wendy Thomas, Bookpleasures

"Replacement Child is a touching story any parent will relate to . . . a memoir that should not be overlooked by parents." Midwest Book Review

"A very powerful memoir. . . I definitely recommend picking this one up." Raging Bibliomania

"This is a wonderful read . . . I did not want to put it down. This book really takes you on a journey of one person's struggle to examine who they are and where they came from. I highly recommend this book." The Social Frog

"This touching tale of healing and understanding explores the sometimes unconscious expectations of love. . ." Hartford Magazine

Ms. Mandel will be signing copies of her book for booksellers at BookExpo America on May 26 and 27.

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What happens when parents decide to have another child as a replacement for the one they lost?

Newington, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/18/2010 -- It's said there is no greater loss than a parent who loses a child. What happens when parents decide to have another child as a replacement for the one they lost?

Countless Americans are "replacement children" conceived after the death of an older sibling. Many report similar experiences and troubles trying to live up to the expectations of parents unable to heal from the loss of the sibling.

In her new memoir, Replacement Child [Schlesinger Books], author Judy Mandel raises awareness of this often-ignored circumstance, as she uncovers the complex layers of her family's recovery from tragedy.

"I hope the book gives people a way to accept and forgive, especially finding that there is a way to forgive your parents for things that were beyond their control," Judy says.

Mandel gives readers a peek under the writer's tent as she unravels her family secrets—and her own—to finally understand how her first relationships have shaped all of her future ones.

REPLACEMENT CHILD is a story of love and transformation that reveals the realities behind so many tragic headlines. You follow one woman's brave path to recovery as she embraces the love that allows her to finally forgive. It is not only a story of heartbreak and survival, but is a lesson about the brevity of life and the power of love.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm