In Eddie's Name: One Family's Triumph Over Tragedy by William Knoedelseder


In Eddie's Name: One Family's Triumph Over Tragedy
Title : In Eddie's Name: One Family's Triumph Over Tragedy
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0571199240
ISBN-10 : 9780571199242
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 256
Publication : First published November 1, 1999

On November 11, 1994 in Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Eddie Polec was brutally beaten to death on the front steps of his own church. What became one of the most infamous crimes in the city's history generated worldwide headlines, due to the fact that dozens of frantic calls for help to 911 operators went unanswered.Written with the full cooperation of the Polec family, In Eddie's Name is about a seemingly ordinary father, his family, and their struggle to overcome this extraordinary tragedy. Rather than seek revenge or sue the city for millions, as might be expected, Eddie's family reacted in a way that was unusual and heroic. In Eddie's Name goes behind the headlines to show the remarkable actions that are possible in the aftermath of that phone call every parent dreads.

Eddie's case continues to attract attention not only because of the viciousness of the crime and the ruthlessness of the lawyers defending the teenage killers (later convicted of third-degree murder), but also because John Polec, Eddie's father, singlehandedly designed a new 911 system for Philadelphia, which was put into place last year. His actions helped unite and heal a divided, angry city.

In Eddie's Name: One Family's Triumph Over Tragedy Reviews

  • Karen Parkhill

    I have never grieved someone so badly that I have never met until reading this. A must read for teens and parents of teens.

  • Kasen

    I've always grown up knowing the story of Eddie Polec because of the tattoo my cousin has on his shoulder in honor of his friends tragic death. However I never knew all the details until I started to read this book. I live in Abington and found myself somewhat shameful that I grew up in and graduated from "Murder High". This story is so horrifying yet shows a family that overcame a tragedy with such dignity and grace, even addressing to the public that Abington kids were not to be blamed as a whole, just the individuals that changed their lives forever. Reading this story has brought out so many emotions from heart break, to disgust, determination and most of all love. The Polec family should be looked at as heroes for their strength and determination for fighting through a families worst nightmare. I know I look at them with as much respect that I can possibly show towards someone. This story truely broke my heart and then took the pieces and put them together again. This is a life changing story and my heart and love goes out to the Polec's for being such an inspiration to all that have had their lives ripped apart by violence. What makes this story all the more inspiring is that instead of retaliation or law suites the Polec's chose to be dignified and make changes to a flawed system in order to bring justice to their son and his name. Through this story, family and friends, Eddie Polec will never be forgotton.

  • PAPI-BOI 2010

    The sound of sirens rushed down through the streets of Fox Chase, everyone looked out their doors.There was a crowd of people in front of St. Cecilia's church, there was a girl craddling a teenager's head sobbing over him. The community was filled with grief, they cried and screamed.

    The chaos become a reality on November 11, 1994, what started off as a nice day ending up chaning the neighborhood of Fox Chase forever.A sixteen year old boy named Eddie was serverely beaten in front of St. Cecilia's church by a gang of 20 kids with baseball bats. This inncident was fatal, the community was hurt and shocked by this inncident, Eddie had done nothing wrong to anybody and did not deserve to die.

    This book, In Eddies Name, is very interesting I was fascinated in reading it, it had me on my toes just like an action movie. I became frustrating reading the book because of the injustice that happened to Billy and his family.

  • Jacqui

    I reserve my 5-star ratings for books that change me. You know what this will be about. Just read it and then look deeply into your own heart.