Recommended Reading: Identical Strangers

Suppose you were adopted and decided to try to find out a little information about your birth family. In the course of your investigation, you discover that you have an identical twin that you never knew existed! And, on top of that shocking news, you learn that you were separated as infants as part of a secret study on twins. This story may seem unbelievable, but it actually happened to Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein.

In their book, Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited, we learn how these two women made this momentous discovery, their journey to learn more about their history and the study, as well as their efforts to absorb this shocking news and establish a relationship with each other. In reading their accounts, we learn more about what it means to be a twin, especially when two people share identical DNA but different life experiences. Elyse and Paula uncover startling coincidences between them, but also stark differences. This leads to the age-old question: Nature or nurture…which is more influential?

The authors are brutally honest in the book about their changing feelings toward each other. Elyse notes of her sister, “Sometimes I am elated about her appearance in my life. Other times I feel alienated by this experience, angry at the doctors for separating us, incredibly sad that Paula and I didn’t have time together growing up, just for us.” At one point, Paula notes, “Being with my twin seems to bring out the worst in me.” But by the book’s end, they find they share a bond that cannot be broken. Says Paula, “But as different as we are, we come from the same stock. In each other, we recognize a kindred spirit. Getting to know our twin and seeing the life we might have led has made us more certain of who we are. Although we don’t always fit together neatly, we are missing pieces to the same puzzle.”

Whether you’re a twin, the parent of twins or simply fascinated by twins, you’ll find Identical Strangers to be compelling reading. Learn more about this incredible book at www.identicalstrangersbook.com.

About the Author

Susan M. Heim is a writer and editor, specializing in multiples, parenting, women’s and Christian issues. She is a former Senior Editor for the bestselling "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series. Susan's books include "It’s Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence," "Twice the Love: Stories of Inspiration for Families with Twins, Multiples and Singletons," "Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year," and the upcoming "Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More." Susan's articles and essays have appeared in many books, magazines and Web sites. She is a member of the National Association of Women Writers and the Southeastern Writers Association, and has a degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University. Susan lives with her husband and four sons (two teenagers and twin preschoolers) in south Florida.

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