This book chronicles the true story of the disappearance of five-year-old Anna Waters in 1973 and her family's ongoing search for her. Written by Anna's mom, Michaele Benedict, it contains many of her original journal entries and really draws the reader into the moment. I felt as though I were there with Mikie, living through her journey - and even though I never met Anna, I feel as though I know her, as Mikie captures her essence and communicates it to the reader. Anna was a special little girl, and is now a special woman who deserves to be reunited with her family. This has captivated me like no other true crime book or missing persons case. I have already loaned the book out to two friends and they are hooked as well. This book has my highest recommendation.

This is an incredibly sad, yet hopeful story, and it is beautifully written.

This true story is stunningly written by Anna's mother. Michaele Benedict passionately searches for her daughter who vanishes without a trace. Mystery, intrique, love and losses make this book outstanding reading. I have enjoyed every word and highly recommend this book to everyone! Not a day goes by without my thoughts on Anna.
Forever and tomorrow the search continues....

This heart-felt non-fiction relates the journey of a mother searching for her daughter, Anna, missing since 1973 at age 5. This account of the ongoing 35-year search, encompasses the search in the 70’s, to the present out-reaching technological methods now available through the internet. The story has twists, turns, with a complicated possible abduction, and is written with facts laid out in an easily understandable manner. After reading this, anyone with a heart will want to join with websleuths in the search for Anna and other missing children. One that you won’t want to put down, this poignant story is clearly written with one purpose in mind, for the missing (now adult) Anna to recognize herself and finally be able to go home.
by Luanne Young, raindrops300

This book is beautifully written with real communications interspersed throughout which create a connection between the reader and author. This determined mother, who has spent 35 years searching for her missing daughter, inspired me as I witnessed her own personal growth and emotional ups and downs throughout. The characters that float in and out of her life are intriguing and compel the reader to keep reading on to share the journey with Michaele and her family as they search (and still continue to do so) for Anna.

Michaele Benedict (then Waters) and I met in the mid-1960s and have remained close friends since. We were eager to learn a lot about each other and often talked for hours. Early on I learned that Mikie had worked at a newspaper, that most of her jobs included writing, that she wrote poetry, and that she'd always kept a journal. Now all these talents and practices have come together in Searching for Anna.
Surely one would wish that entirely different circumstances had produced this book, but then one would sigh and admit that most parents caught up in a course of events such as this might not have had the background or the wherewithal to have written what their hearts demanded they write.
More than once as I was reading this book I wished it were fiction. But the beauty of the book is that the reader knows that it's all true, and that what's
not there is a mystery that remains today and may never be resolved.
May never be resolved, but, again, it may be. Mikie has shown us with this book that she is not easily daunted. She has hunted for Anna for over 35 years, and, given what we have seen of her determination, we shouldn't lose hope. Mikie certainly hasn't.

I could not put this book down. Although I was familiar with the story from an Internet forum, Ms. Benedict's book provided many details about Anna's life and home. Ms. Benedict tells her story with grace and class that few people have. When Anna is found she will know that her mother, and so many others, always loved her and never gave up on finding her. Anna and her family have a very special place in my heart.

This book beautifully details a family's(especially the mothers) search for her 5 year old daughter. It is both heartbreaking in places and uplifting. What can be more compelling than a true story about a mothers' undying love for her child. The book lets the reader know that the search for Anna continues to this day. I recommend this book for anyone as a good, interesting, read and an insight into the lives of these people. I pray that this book will someday bring Anna home. Rhett

I encourage anyone who wants to read a story straight from a mothers heart,this story will bring tears to your eyes.The details of the search for Anna which is still ongoing makes you want to reach out and hug Anna's mother.With every chapter you can feel the anquish,the loss and the hope,that only the mother of a missing child could know.Anna's mother is an inspiration to every mother who has felt the loss of a child.My prayers are with Anna and her family,let them be reunited soon.

Chris (Alta)