Pischke Twins Series by Karen Emilson

Twins David and Dennis Pischke’s lives change forever when heir father dies, and a Polish immigrant damaged by the war arrives at their farm near the isolated town of Moosehorn, Manitoba. Boleslaw Domko quickly works his way into their lives and their mother’s bed.Where Children Run opens with one of their earliest memories—the day Domko throws their infant stepsister against the wall... moreTwins David and Dennis Pischke’s lives change forever when heir father dies, and a Polish immigrant damaged by the war arrives at their farm near the isolated town of Moosehorn, Manitoba. Boleslaw Domko quickly works his way into their lives and their mother’s bed.Where Children Run opens with one of their earliest memories—the day Domko throws their infant stepsister against the wall. In this first-hand account, the twins recall years of neglect, starvation, and enslavement; horrific beatings and candlelit nights spent in the nearby St. Thomas Lutheran Church. Neighbors intervene, but their efforts provide only temporary relief as the children’s mother—also living in fear—refuses to press charges.The brothers vow that if they survive, they will someday expose their tormentor and members of their mother’s religious organization who turned a blind eye to their suffering. This is their story—told with stark honesty and in heart-wrenching detail.First released in 1996, Where Children Run is a timeless, unforgettable story of survival; and a powerful testament to the strength and adaptability of the human spirit. less

When Memories Remain is the remarkable conclusion to the bestselling memoir, Where Children Run, the story of David and Dennis Pischke who survived more than a decade of abuse at the hands of their violently unstable stepfather.By the time the twins turned fifteen years old they’d left the isolated farm where they grew up and struck out on their own... moreWhen Memories Remain is the remarkable conclusion to the bestselling memoir, Where Children Run, the story of David and Dennis Pischke who survived more than a decade of abuse at the hands of their violently unstable stepfather.By the time the twins turned fifteen years old they’d left the isolated farm where they grew up and struck out on their own. This is the heartfelt and often humorous story of two disadvantaged teenagers who matured into upstanding citizens despite the odds stacked against them. When they returned to their home town to raise their families it meant facing their demons—both real and imagined.Within these pages lies the answer to the burning question of what became of the twins and what possessed them at mid-life to speak publicly about their childhood suffering, their fight for redemption, and the ramifications of publishing a tell-all memoir.When Memories Remain is an exploration of the lasting effects of abuse and prejudice, of breaking the insidious cycle, and in the end, about how love and forgiveness can help survivors let go of a painful past and hopefully, find true happiness. less