This true story of two teenagers held captive on opposite sides of the world during WWII who must survive unimaginable hardships against all odds to eventually meet, marry and make a beautiful life together despite the trauma of their past is a perfect choice for high school students of all reading ability.

With the rise in bullying and rate of U.S. teen depression and suicide at a 20-year high, Meant to Be’s especially meaningful themes of hope, humanity, love, and strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity offer much to talk about in discussion groups.

As the daughter of these two heroic WWII survivors, author Roslyn Franken also shares the life lessons she learned from her parents that teens and people of all ages and backgrounds can learn from to help better their own lives and help make our world a better place.

"The fact that Roslyn’s parents were of the same age as our students allows the students to identify with the Frankens as real people and not just another WWII statistic. Her parents' story is personal and motivational which allows our students to see the world and their own life's struggles in a different perspective."
~ Brent Howard, History Teacher at John McCrae High School

This amazing story of survival, love and triumph over tragedy was the subject of a Gemini award-nominated CBC television documentary and Roslyn Franken's book, Meant to Be, is being made into a feature-length movie currently in development.

Author Roslyn Franken (centre, wearing glasses) stands with students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla, after delivering her presentation and autographed copies of her book to the class shot into by the gunman on February 14, 2018 killing 17 people. She was the first guest speaker invited to address the students after their traumatic experience. This event made newspaper headlines across North America and launched author Roslyn Franken’s Meant to Be Youth Speaking Program.

“It was just an incredible story of perseverance that really serves as an example for our students who have experienced so much tragedy this past 2 months. It was really special to have Roslyn here speaking to our students sharing her story and not just of how her parents got through the war and afterwards, but just the inspiration to do the right thing, to continue on in the face of tragedy, and to just live life to the fullest with everything they’re given. It was an incredible experience for the students, for myself and for my colleague, Ivy Schamis, and for anybody else who gets the opportunity to hear her story, to hear her parents’ story, please take that opportunity.”
~ Darren Levine, English Teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL

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