JEAN STRAUSS - filmmaker & author Silver Tandem Productions    Beneath a Tall Tree When Jean Strauss sets out to find her birth family, she unearths roots that go far beyond her wildest expectations. This incredibly funny and touching journey redefines the meaning of family and celebrates the universal connections that link us all. "In addition to being an incredibly moving human story, this is as exciting as any detective story..." - Annette Baran "Jean Strauss went in search of her roots, with time, distance, sealed records, and mulish bureaucrats against her. She found her roots but Jean's humanity led her past even that, to find her family in every face. This a very funny, very moving, very insightful book." - Jameson Parker Birthright: the Guide to Search and Reunion About.com Reviewer Nancy Ashe: Despite the subtitle, "Birthright" is not your everyday how-to book. Strauss makes use of controversial opinions from columnists, authors and others to mirror a debate that continues years after she first wrote about it, in individual families, courts and public forums. Whatever our views, "Birthright" allows us to read side-by-side accounts from all parties and hear real people in their own words. While compassionate, Strauss doesn't shy away from the strong emotions that many feel about and during search and reunion. Some of the stories bring tears and others produce an immediate rush of anger, but each serves the purpose of encouraging us to acknowledge our own feelings - wherever they fall within the spectrum. As we are guided through the steps, the author never lets us forget to consider our motives and the impact our actions (or lack thereof) might have - not only on ourselves, but also on others. Forever Liesl a memoir of The Sound of Music Letters to Liesl The Great Adoptee Search Book