SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan, co-author of a book titled &8220;Four Perfect Pebbles&8221; plans to visit Shelby County on Feb. 13.

Lazan will be at Riverchase Middle School from 9-10 a.m. and at Oak Mountain Middle School from 2-3 p.m.

She will also be at Columbiana Middle School from 8:15-10:15 a.m. on Feb. 15.

&8220;Four Perfect Pebbles&8221; is a firsthand account of the Blumenthal family&8217;s life from the events preceding Kristallnacht in Germany to imprisonment in concentration camps to liberation in April 1945.

Lazan was 11 years old when her family finally gained its freedom.

During her talks, she relates to both adolescents and adults in describing her ordeal.

She shares a story about life in the camps, liberation and finally, starting over.

Lazan said her mission is to speak to as many people as possible so they can hear a story from a Holocaust survivor.

She asks her audience to be tolerant of others and not to stereotype individuals based on religious belief, race, color or national origin.

She stresses the importance of positive thinking as well as creativity and inner strength when working to overcome adversity as her family did during the Holocaust