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Where Hope Begins: One Family's Journey Out of Tragedy-and the Reporter Who Helped Them Make It
 
 
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Where Hope Begins: One Family's Journey Out of Tragedy-and the Reporter Who Helped Them Make It [Hardcover]

Alysia Sofios (Author), Caitlin Rother (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

Price: $24.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Book Description

September 15, 2009

The haunting and inspiring true story of a California reporter who adopts the family of abuse victims she’s covering—risking her job, and possibly her life.

On March 12, 2004, Marcus Wesson murdered nine of his seventeen children. To date, it is the worst mass murder in Fresno, California’s history. None of the children was allowed to go to school, go on a date, ride a bike, or play with friends. They lived in a social and emotional prison of their father’s creation, a prison that included decades-long physical, sexual, and mental abuse.

After being assigned to investigate the murders, FOX News reporter Alysia Sofios covered all aspects of the trial and conducted in-depth interviews with the remaining members of the Wesson family, quickly learning that the surviving female family members had nowhere to go and no one to help them. Torn between her journalistic objectivity and her personal desire to help these women, Sofios risked her job by taking them into her home and helping integrate them into society. Here, for the first time, Wesson’s wife and six of his surviving children tell their brutally honest account of what it was like growing up in the Wesson household and how they survived this life-altering ordeal.

Powerful, riveting, and truly a remarkable story, Into the Sun is a unique and intimate look at the resilience of the human spirit.

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Where Hope Begins: One Family's Journey Out of Tragedy-and the Reporter Who Helped Them Make It + By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre + Such Good Boys: The True Story of a Mother, Two Sons and a Horrifying Murder
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Please pick this book up and read it. It is well-written and it is an inspirational story of courage."

--Dr. Phil

About the Author

Alysia Sofios is an award-winning journalist who is known in the Fresno area for her exclusive stories about the Marcus Wesson murders.  She was the first reporter to hear about the story from police and the only reporter to obtain interviews with most of Wesson's family.  

Sofios majored in journalism at Michigan State University.  In 2000, she became a reporter and anchor at Fox affiliate WSYM in Lansing, Michigan. She was recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for her work covering the local impact of the Iraq War.  She later accepted a reporting position at Fox affiliate KMPH in Fresno, California, where she remains as a reporter.  She has covered the Scott Peterson and Marcus Wesson trials. Several of her stories have appeared on Fox News and CNN.

Before turning to books full-time, Caitlin Rother worked at the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Daily News in L.A.  She is the author of true-crime books TWISTED TRIANGLE (Wiley, 5/08) and POISONED LOVE (Kensington, 7/05), and the novel NAKED ADDICTION (Kensington, 11/07).


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books; First Edition/First Printing edition (September 15, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439131503
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439131503
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Unbelievable Book, September 19, 2009
This review is from: Where Hope Begins: One Family's Journey Out of Tragedy-and the Reporter Who Helped Them Make It (Hardcover)
You always hear the cliche, 'I couldn't put it down', when it comes to reading... well, this is the first book I've read that I COULD NOT PUT DOWN. The story of the Wesson family and what they've been through is unbelievable enough, but then add the brilliant writing of this book, the sweet stories of Sofios' relationship with the Wesson's, and you have an absolute gem. It is emotional, fun, extremely sad, gut wrenching, funny, entertaining, and moving all in one, and at different times. It goes back and forth from the family's horrendous experiences, to the inspirational story of how they were rescued by Sofios, and overcame pure hell to work there way into society... and it's done perfectly. It is the most amazing story you can imagine. A family going through the most heinous acts of sexual, physical, emotional, and mental abuse done by their father/husband for decades, being rescued by a brave and courageous news reporter, and how they all grew to be better people together.
Read this book. You will not be disappointed!
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I Couldn't Put It Down, September 21, 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Where Hope Begins: One Family's Journey Out of Tragedy-and the Reporter Who Helped Them Make It (Hardcover)
"Where Hope Begins" is the first book by Fresno, California news and feature reporter Alysia Sofios. She masterfully recounts her experiences covering the nationally publicized mass murder perpetrated by Marcus Wesson upon 9 members of his immediate family in Fresno in March 2004. She injects insight, personality, worldly perceptiveness, and soul to this highly publicized tragedy in a way that would not be possible by any other reporter/writer. To say any more would spoil the twist to Alysia's story that helps make the book so uniquely special; (and far superior to the standard True Crime effort).

If you love True Crime stories, you must read this book. (it is way better than most and frankly stands up on many levels with the likes of the wonderful "Fatal Vision") If you could care less about True Crime, but just love a great story with a lot of heart, you must read this book. If you read to be entertained only, you must read this book. If you read to be reaffirmed and enriched by real life exploration of universal themes like: the fight of goodness vs. true unrepentant evil, redemption, religious devotion, unconditional love and generosity... you must read this book. If you are like me and seek all the above when you read, you must read "Where Hope Begins".

I came into it as a junkie for more scuttle on big events, and came away pleasantly surprised by the book's overall excellence and depth. Besides being one hell of a fascinating page turner, it made me think about a lot of really important issues/struggles that we all share. When that happens with me, a book becomes way more than just another way to pass the time. Highest recommendation.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars What an inspiring story!!, September 24, 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Where Hope Begins: One Family's Journey Out of Tragedy-and the Reporter Who Helped Them Make It (Hardcover)
I could not put this book down! This amazing account of the Wesson tragedy is written with care and compassion and is a brilliant reminder that there are still people who will risk more than most to be a light in the darkness. Alysia Sofios does not try to pat herself on the back, or try to shine a light on her unbelievable bravery - her risks and the rewards that came from those risks speak for themselves. When the news of the Wesson tragedy first broke, I like most wondered how anyone could live in a situation like that. What mother wouldn't remove herself and her children from the grasp of that monster? It was obvious to the world that Marcus Wesson had abused and tortured his entire family and I could not understand why they had stayed, and how they could possibly defend him. Alysia Sofios does an excellent job of re-telling the consistant brain washing and abuse that his wife,children and grandchildren endured. I went from being disgusted and sickened by the surviving family members to wanting to find them and apologize for not understanding their situation. This is an excellent book - full of heart-breaking, horrid, gut wrenching sadness - only to be left with amazing, wonderful, awe inspiring hope. If there were more people willing to take the risk of caring for others in difficult situations like Alysia Sofios did, we'd be the better for it. I highly recommend this book.
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