Noteworthy
News, reviews and other items of note
Suzanne Handler’s poster presentation at the NAMI National Conference in Washington, DC
Suzanne Handler was a featured poster presenter at this year’s NAMI National Conference held in Washington, DC. The topic of her presentation was "The Impact of Keeping Family Secrets."
The eight-foot-wide poster area from the conference is shown above. During the presentation, Suzanne Handler answered questions from conference attendees and discussed her book, The Secrets They Kept.
Feature story about The Secrets They Kept wins multiple Rockower Awards for excellence
Chris Leppek, assistant editor of the The Intermountain Jewish News (IJN), has won both first and second place Rockower awards for "The Sad, Sad Story of Sally Levin" in the categories of Excellence in Feature Writing and Social Justice Reporting. This award-winning story was written about Suzanne Handler’s book, The Secrets They Kept.
Sponsored by the American Jewish Press Association, the Rockower awards are the Jewish equivelent to the Pulitzer Prize for outstanding journalism. According to the announcement in the IJN (August 15, 2014), the judges in the Rockower competition described Mr. Leppek’s story as "a fascinating, moving story that used a mix of research and contemporary reporting."
Suzanne Handler to deliver presentation on the impact of secrets on families at NAMI’s National Conference in Washington, DC
Suzanne Handler will be making a presentation entitled "The Generational Impact of Keeping Secrets in Families" during the 2014 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Conference in Washington, DC on September 4th. Her speaking presentation will be accompanied by a large wall display of photos and key points from her presentation and from her book, The Secrets They Kept.
The Secrets They Kept reviewed by the Association of Jewish Libraries
The Secrets They Kept was reviewed by the Association of Jewish Libraries in their May/June 2014 issue. Click here to read and download the review, which is on page 30.
Suzanne Handler featured as guest speaker for Colorado Feminist Luncheon
Suzanne Handler was selected to be the featured guest speaker at the Colorado Feminist Luncheon on August 5, 2014. Suzanne shared about her book and family story with the more than sixty women in attendence.
The Secrets They Kept given in-depth review on Schizophrenia recovery blog
The Secrets They Kept was given a very positive, in-depth review on the Holistic Recovery from Schizophrenia blog. The review provides some thought-provoking insights and questions about the book, and includes words of praise for The Secrets They Kept such as "I highly recommend this book" and "Author Suzanne Handler has stunned me by fearlessly and compassionately shining a light on her own grandfather and his immediate family in order to bring respect and honor to her long dead and forgotten aunt Sally."
Click here to read the full review.
The Secrets They Kept reviewed by Shoshanna R. Schechter-Shaffin of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond
Shoshanna R. Schechter-Shaffin, Director of Women’s Division, Israel, and Overseas Programming for the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, recently wrote a review of The Secrets They Kept:
"In The Secrets They Kept, Suzanne Handler shares her unbelievable story of uncovering a painful family secret. After reading the book and then hearing Ms. Handler speak for an event at my local Jewish Community Center, I cannot stop thinking about her aunt Sally and everything that she must have gone through. This is not simply a book about "true crime," it’s a book about a family and the search for truth. This book also exposes the painful history of the treatment of mental illness in times past. Truly an excellent read!"
Suzanne Handler discusses cyberbullying from a Jewish perspective
Suzanne Handler wrote about bullying from a Jewish perspective for Chabad.org. Click here to read the article.
Greatist website publishes guest post by Suzanne Handler about choosing gratitude over stress this holiday season
Greatist.com has published a guest post by Suzanne Handler entitled "How to Choose Gratitude Over Stress this Holiday Season." The post encourages readers to consider replacing unrealistic holiday expectations with gratitude and includes a list of practical tips to make that happen.
Click here to read the article.
Article about cyberbullying by Suzanne Handler featured on PsychCentral’s World of Psychology blog
A new article by Suzanne Handler entitled "10 Ways Parents Can Help Prevent Cyberbullying" is being featured on PsychCentral’s World of Psychology blog. The article focuses on ten steps parents can take to prevent their child from being a victim, a bystander, or even the instigator of cyberbullying.
Click here to read the article.
Editorial about treating mental illness in Wyoming published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
An editorial entitled "A new day in treating Wyoming mental illness" was published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle on October 23, 2013. One of the inspirations for this piece was the “thought-provoking tale” of Sally Levin in The Secrets They Kept. It is encouraging to see this book help to stimulate dialogue about treating mental illness.
Click here to read the editorial.
The Secrets They Kept reviewed on the blog of psychiatrist and author David M. Allen, M.D.
The Secrets They Kept was recently reviewed by David M. Allen, M.D. on his blog. Dr. Allen is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and the former Director of Psychiatric Residency Training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, a position he held for 16 years. A contributing expert for Psychology Today magazine, Dr. Allen is also the author of three books as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters.
Click here to read the review.
Suzanne Handler article about secret-keeping published on Greatist health & fitness website
Greatist, a popular health & fitness website, has published an article written by Suzanne Handler entitled “It Might Be Hard, But There Are Good Reasons To Share Your Secrets.” This in-depth article delves into what kinds of secrets young adults keep (and why), the negative consequences of secret-keeping, and how to create an action plan for breaking the cycle of secret-keeping.
Click here to read the full article.
Article about the unveiling and rededication of Sally Levin’s new gravestone featured in the Intermountain Jewish News
The October 4, 2013 edition of the Intermountain Jewish News features an article entitled “A tragic circle closes,” written by Assistant Editor Chris Leppek about the rededication of Sally Levin’s grave in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Click here to read a PDF of the full article including photos.
Article about “Dark family secret” and the rededication of Sally Levin’s grave featured in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle newspaper
The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle has published an article entitled "Dark family secret unravels in Cheyenne" by James Chilton about the rededication of Sally Levin’s grave in Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 29, 2013. Suzanne Handler returned to the grave site with family, friends, Rabbi Rick Rheins of Denver’s Temple Sinai, and Jeff Weinstein, a representative of the local Mt. Sinai Synagogue of Cheyenne.
Click here to read the full article.
Suzanne Handler article about mental illness featured in Richmond’s The Reflector newspaper
Suzanne Handler has written an article entitled “Mental Illness is a Cause Worth Fighting For” that appears in the October 2013 edition of Richmond’s The Reflector newspaper.
Click here to read the article, which can be found on page 8.
The Secrets They Kept reviewed in The Denver Post newspaper
The Secrets They Kept was reviewed by Sandra Dallas in the September 22, 2013 edition of the The Denver Post newspaper.
Click here to read the review.
Suzanne Handler interviewed on ‘The Stigma of Mental Illness Radio Show’
Suzanne Handler was a recent guest on ‘The Stigma of Mental Illness Radio Show,’ hosted by Chrissie Hodges.
Click here to listen to the full interview.
Guest post by Suzanne Handler featured on Emes Ve-Emunah blog
Suzanne Handler has written a guest post for the Emes Ve-Emunah blog, a forum for Orthodox Jewish thought on Halacha, Hashkafa, and sociological issues of our time. Suzanne encourages open discussion of mental illness in her post, entitled "He Murdered His Daughter." She also discusses forgiveness and Yom Kippur.
Click here to read the full post.
New article from Suzanne Handler featured on PsychCentral’s World of Psychology blog
PsychCentral’s World of Psychology blog has published a new article written by Suzanne Handler, M.Ed. entitled "The Disturbing Discrepancy & Double Standard Between Mental Illness & Other Health Concerns." This is Suzanne’s second guest post on the blog in 2013.
Click here to read the full article. After reading, there are buttons for one-click sharing of the review with family or friends via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Email.
The Secrets They Kept featured in "Top News" section of The Jewish Advocate newspaper of Boston
Suzanne Handler and her book The Secrets They Kept are featured in new article published in the "Top News" section of the August 30, 2013 edition of The Jewish Advocate newspaper of Boston.
"A long-buried secret rocks a family," written by Alexandra Lapkin, features interview quotes from Rabbi Joseph Meszler and Suzanne Handler.
Click here to read the full article.
Suzanne Handler article featured on PsychCentral’s World of Psychology blog
PsychCentral’s World of Psychology blog has published an article written by Suzanne Handler entitled "5 Reasons Why Keeping Family Secrets Could Be Harmful."
Click here to read the full article. After reading, there are buttons for one-click sharing of the review with family or friends via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Email.
The Secrets They Kept featured in The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post has published Nancy Sharp’s review of The Secrets They Kept entitled "Secrets From the Grave."
Click here to read the full review. After reading, there are buttons for one-click sharing of the review with family or friends via Facebook, Twitter or Email.
VividLiving piece on The Secrets They Kept
Nancy Sharp has written a piece on the VividLiving blog entitled "On Secrets." This article talks about Suzanne and her book The Secrets They Kept.
Click here to read the full article.
Intermountain Jewish News runs front page story about The Secrets They Kept
Sally Levin, Suzanne Handler and The Secrets They Kept are the focus of a multi-page feature story in the June 28th, 2013 edition of the Intermountain Jewish News. This extensive article features an exclusive interview with Suzanne Handler and an image of a previously unseen 1937 newspaper page.
Click here for a PDF file of the full article.
You can also order your copy of the print edition of this newspaper issue by contacting Carol at Intermountain Jewish News using the phone number or email address found here.
Book Club Reading List (a great resource for Book Clubs) interviews Suzanne Handler
Suzanne Handler was the subject of a recent “Author Interview” on the Book Club Reading List website.
Click here to read the “Author Interview” with Suzanne Handler.
Click here to view The Secrets They Kept page on the Book Club Reading List website.
The Secrets They Kept recommended as a summer read on “Leah’s Thoughts” blog, May 2013
The Secrets They Kept was reviewed by Leah R. Singer and recommended as a summer read on the “Leah’s Thoughts” blog.
Click here to read the full post.
Guest post for the Portland Book Review, May 2013
Suzanne Handler was invited to write a guest author piece for the “Writers on Writing” column of the Portland Book Review. Her post is entitled “I Can’t Believe You Wrote THAT!”
Click here to read the full post.
Crime Scene Podcast with Jim Harold, April 2013
Suzanne Handler was a recent guest on author Jim Harold’s Crime Scene podcast. Jim devoted 30 minutes to discussing The Secrets They Kept with Suzanne.
Click here to listen to or download the podcast.
BlueInk Review, March 2013
In this true story, author Suzanne Handler struggles to make sense of her family history after a life-changing family secret comes to light.
The secret is a doozy: her beloved maternal grandfather murdered his then-16-year-old daughter Sally – Handler’s aunt – in a murder-suicide pact in 1937…Handler is forced to reconcile what happened with what she knew of her gentle Jewish grandfather. She embarks on a journey to learn how the murder affected her family…. her journey serves a useful purpose, pointing out how destructive it is to hold onto family secrets. Armed with new understanding, Handler is able to give this long-forgotten family member a proper burial….
The Readers Have Spoken:
Reviews from Amazon.com
5 out of 5 stars
A family’s dark secret told to us with great courage and a tender heart
January 5, 2013 by CR
The Secrets They Kept is an intelligent and absorbing read. The author paints us an image of small-town America in the 1930s with vivid clarity and offers an interesting look at Jewish history and customs. This narrative nonfiction moves along at a quick pace much like a page-turning suspense novel. The story of Sally, the little girl once forgotten, will resonate with you long after the last page. Read this touching story!
5 out of 5 stars
A must read memoir of a long hidden family secret
January 13, 2013 by Sandy B
What a compelling read! I could not put this book down! The Secrets They Kept is a poignant personal journey into a shocking, long-buried family secret. Ms. Handler is a wonderfully talented writer who meticulously transports the reader to a place where family tragedy, a father’s totally unconditional love for his child, mental illness and crime all meet together in a heart-rending memoir. Ms. Handler’s extensive research ultimately affords her some personal clarity and understanding of the impact of this tragic event on family generations that followed.
This is an important read. I salute Suzanne Handler for her dedication and commitment to honor and perpetuate a memory buried in time, and bring respect to a forgotten soul.
5 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Revelations
January 25, 2013 by Karen L. Carter
In The Secrets They Kept, Suzanne Handler explores so much more than her troubled family’s history. In a straightforward and compassionate account of her maternal grandfather’s mercy killing of a beloved daughter, she discusses the implications of mental illness on entire families and how feelings of anger, shame, and guilt can lead to events that tragically impact generations. While Suzanne Handler admits many questions remain unanswered more than seventy-five years after her grandfather’s crime, she offers telling insights and memorable scenes that reveal layers of truth behind the actions and motivations not only of the main actors in this drama, but of the people who conspire to keep the truth hidden (from themselves as well as others, it seems) for the rest of their lives. I’ll remember this story–and this book’s haunting cover–for a long time.
5 out of 5 stars
The Secrets They Kept
February 1, 2013 by Ann L.
Sometimes a person will uncover something in her history that helps explain things in her life that didn’t quite make sense. Ms. Handler has written compellingly of such a discovery, a tragedy in many ways, a heart wrenching story to which there was no possible happy ending.
Woven into her narrative are fascinating glimpses into the times during which her grandparents lived and raised their families, the lack of knowledge about mental illness and the deplorable state of mental health care when these events took place, and the devastating, long-term effects of family secrets. It is hard to imagine the complicated and life-altering emotions with which her family must have wrestled for many, many years. There are images in The Secrets They Kept that will haunt me forever.
I commend Ms. Handler on her openness and courage in sharing her family’s history and breaking the cycle of secrecy.
5 out of 5 stars
Compelling family tragedy
February 2, 2013 by Bernice T
The killing of a sixteen-year-old mentally ill girl by her father in 1937 in what was to be a suicide pact, his subsequent trial, the chilling effects on the family and community in a small Wyoming town, and the dark secrets that were perpetuated, are the ingredients of this compelling story.
The author, Suzanne Handler, a mental health professional, many years later and quite by chance, uncovered the sensational events which had overtaken her family and determined to find out what had driven her grandfather to end the life of his daughter. Her journey took her on an exploration of her family background, of the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia at the time and the way in which mental illness was feared and hidden.
What has emerged through her painstaking research, mental health experience and writing ability, is an enlightening and very moving account of a family tragedy.
5 out of 5 stars
I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN!!!!!!!!
February 21, 2013 by Sue Kaye
I heard about this book through a friend and put it on my Kindle immediately. Once I passed the first few pages I could not stop reading. To have kept this story inside her breaking heart, to finally be able to share it with the world and to write it so beautifully should be an inspiration to any of us who know people who suffer from any kind of mental disease. Suzanne has “put it out there” and we have to also “put it out there” so others can read it!
