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In March of 1940, as a result of Hitler’s plans to eradicate Jews, 10-year-old Lizzi left Vienna by joining a small transport of children seeking refuge in America. Two weeks later she began her new life in San Francisco, getting a new name, Phyllis, and having to learn a new language. 

Her family is scattered on three continents, but linked by letters.

War Orphan in San Francisco is a coming-of-age story and a poignant memoir.          more

Winner of the "Best Memoir" award
Bay Area Independent Publishing Association,
2005 Award Program

"Achiever in Letters" award
National League of American Pen Women, February 2006

Interview with Jacqueline Sue
Listen to an interview with Phyllis Mattson on 
Internet Voices Radio on March 22, 2007

Phyllis Mattson's memoir, War Orphan in San Francisco, is a coming of age story told through family letters. Phyllis wrote her parents details of her new life as she grew into adolescence and became an American, while they tried to parent her long-distance.

During the next six years Phyllis moved in and out of foster homes and an orphanage due to her rebellious behavior, but as she defended herself stoutly in her letters, she gained self-confidence and skills to become an independent, responsible adult.

Her parents tried desperately to join her, but were stopped by incredible red tape and war hysteria. Her mother’s letters are unbearably painful, but despite her hard labors in German slave camps, she doesn’t give up hope. Her father’s letters show his resignation to the bureaucracy that has him erroneously incarcerated in Australia.

The moods, hope, fears, and accomplishments are all recounted in the details of the letters, thereby authenticating one family’s experiences during World War II, and the love that sustained hopes of a reunion. Interwoven between the letters is a narrative that depicts the times and places of that era.

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The Author :

Phyllis Helene Mattson is a community college teacher of Anthropology and Health Sciences in Silicon Valley. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, received graduate degrees in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin and Public Health from Harvard. 

Phyllis started her career in health research, culminating in the book, Holistic Health in Perspective, in 1981, then turned to teaching. In 1989-90 she taught English at Shandong University in China, and in 1994 joined the Peace Corps in Nepal. She has two children and one grandchild.
 

Press Coverage :

• Book review in Tri-City Voice by Robert A. Garfinkle, March 13, 2006 issue
• Reviews in November 2005 issue of Together: American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors
• "Strong-willed, orphaned anthropologist-to-be looks back on '40s, 50's" - article by Pam Walatka,  Los Altos Town Crier, December, 2005
• "Local Author to Speak in Santa Clara" - article by Carolyn Shuck in Santa Clara Weekly, Nov 2, 2005 (PDF format - requires free Acrobat® Reader) 
• "'War Orphan in San Francisco' - Cupertino woman pieces together past through family's letters" - article by Dan Pine in J. The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, Dec 24, 2004  
• "Memoir of a war-torn family" - article by Allison Rost in Cupertino Courier, Dec 15, 2004 

Links :

• Reader's Circle - a book club networking site

Purchase :

War Orphan in San Francisco is available directly from the publisher. 
The cost is $19.95 US plus shipping, handling, and sales tax (California residents).

• For a mail order form, click here
   
• For secure online ordering, click here
   
• For multiple copies and volume sales, contact the publisher at info@stevenscreekpress.com

You may also purchase copies of this book at these fine bookstores:

• Barnes and Noble Booksellers - find a B&N near you
• Borders Books - find a Borders near you
• Willow Glen Books - 1330 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA
• Hicklebee's - 1378 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA
• Bob & Bob's -  151 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA
• Dayenu - 3220 California Street, San Francisco, CA
• Linden Tree Books, 170 State Street, Los Altos, CA
• Black Oak Books, 1491 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
• Cody's Books, 2 Stockton St. San Francisco, CA
• Main Street Cafe, 134 Main St., Los Altos, CA

The book is also distributed through:

• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble
• Beach Lloyd Publishing

ISBN:  0-9761656-1-9

Contact Information :

Would you like Phyllis Mattson to speak to your group?

Have you read War Orphan in San Francisco and want to share your thoughts about the book?

Contact us : 

Stevens Creek Press
PO Box 305
Cupertino, CA 95015

408-252-0488

info@stevenscreekpress.com