By Katarina Tepesh

It takes a village to raise a child. The author born with the name Cicak, adopted as Calic and married as Bobetko, tells us her "True Story" or "Istinita Prica," about her childhood in the village of Brezike, without her birth mother.

Written from the child's point of view, "True Story" reveals how Jelena's mother trying to cope with incredible hardships, due to poverty and five children, just before her untimely death, arranges for her youngest infant to be adopted by her elderly relatives.

"Istinita Prica" is a moving and inspiring tribute to human resilience. To the elderly couple, who have devoted their lives to raise their own five children, rose to the occasion to adopt and raise one more child, and help her achieve her dreams.

Every kid grieves differently. Grief can be devastating feelings of anger, sadness, worry, relief, fear, numbness. Sometimes, grief affects our bodies, which is what happened to Jelena. Her book is full of details, descriptions and raw honesty. "Istinita Prica" is an important book, a document into a child's mind. Seriously sick child, physically weak in body, but very strong mentally, in the spirit of survival.

Very poor when it came to material things, but rich in morals, the elderly couple taught Jelena about self-esteem, discipline, responsibility to one's self and one's community. They lay the foundation in awareness and education of personal growth, including the importance of creative expression such as storytelling.

Today, Jelena is a highly productive member of the society. Working as a hospital nurse, multitasking as a mother, wife, author and a volunteer VP of Croatian Family Circle in Germany, where she lives for the last 12 years.

Published by "Minerva," Zagreb, in Croatian language only. The "Istinita Prica" has been translated into German and author is seeking a publisher. You can purchase the book from Jelena Bobetko Einsteinstr. 71, 81675 Munchen Deutschland. Email JelenaBobetko@aol.com

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PRIKAZ KNJIGE "ISTINITA PRICA" JELENE BOBETKO

PISE: KATARINA TEPESH

POTREBNO JE SELO DA ODGOJI DIJETE. AUTORICA, RODJENA CICAK, USVOJENA CALIC I UDANA BOBETKO, KAZUJE NAM SVOJU "ISTINITU PRICU", O SVOM DJETINJSTVU U SELU BREZICI, BEZ SVOJE RODJENE MAJKE.

PISANA IZ DJECJEG KUTA GLEDANJA, "ISTINITA PRICA" OTKRIVA KAKO JELENINA MAJKA, POKUSAVAJUCI SE NOSITI S NEVJEROJATNIM TESKOCAMA ZBOG SIROMASTVA I PETERO DJECE, UPRAVO PRIJE SVOJE PRERANE SMRTI, UGOVARA ZA SVOJE NAJMLADJE DJETESCE DA GA USVOJE NJENI STARIJI RODJACI.

"ISTINITA PRICA" JE MOTIVIRAJUCI I INSPIRIRAJUCI DANAK LJUDSKOJ SPOSOBNOSTI OPORAVLJANJA. STARIJI BRACNI PAR, KOJI JE POSVETIO SVOJE ZIVOTE ODGAJANJU NJIHOVO PETERO DJECE, PRIHVACA PRILIKU DA USVOJI I ODGOJI JOS JEDNO DIJETE, I POMOGNE MU OSTVARITI SVOJE SNOVE.

SVAKO DIJETE ZALI DRUGACIJE. PROCES ZALJENJA MOGU BITI UNISTAVAJUCI OSJECAJI LJUTNJE, TUGE, BRIGE, OLAKSANJA, STRAHA, UKOCENOSTI. KATKAD ZALJENJE NAPADA NASA TIJELA, KAO STO SE DOGODILO JELENI. NJENA JE KNJIGA PUNA DETALJA, OPISA I SIROVOG POSTENJA. "ISTINITA PRICA" JE ZNACAJNA KNJIGA, DOKUMENT DJECJEG UMA. OZBILJNO BOLESNO DIJETE, TJELESNO SLABASNO, ALI VRLO JAKO UMNO, U DUHU PREZIVLJAVANJA.

VRLO SIROMASAN STO SE TICE MATERIJALNIH STVARI, ALI BOGATOG MORALA, STARIJI BRACNI PAR JE UCIO JELENU O SAMOPOSTOVANJU, DISCIPLINI, ODGOVORNOSTI ZA SEBE I ZA ZAJEDNICU. ONI SU POLOZILI OSNOVU U SVIJESTI I IZOBRAZBI OSOBNOG RAZVITKA, UKLJUCUJUCI I ZNACAJ KREATIVNOG IZRAZAVANJA KAO STO JE KAZIVANJE PRICA.

DANAS JE JELENA VISOKO PRODUKTIVAN CLAN DRUSTVA. RADI KAO MEDICINSKA SESTRA U BOLNICI, I IMA VISESTRUKE OBVEZE KAO MAJKA, SUPRUGA, KNJIZEVNICA I POTPREDSJEDNICA "HRVATSKOG OBITELJSKOG KRUGA" U NJEMACKOJ GDJE JELENA ZIVI ZADNJIH 12 GODINA.