The first in the Anika Scott series, this story is about a missionary kid (MK) in Kenya. In this book 12 year old Anika tries to overcome her initial dislike of Lisa, the new MK on the field who wants nothing more to go back to the States. At the same time Anika worries that her own family will be forced to leave the field because of her father’s illness. In the face of both frustration and danger, Anika relies on her faith in God, and in the process, she discovers something new about His trustworthiness. Other books in the series include: Tianna the Terrible, Anika’s Mountain, Ambush at Amboseli, and Sabrina the Schemer. These are some of the best Christian books for MKs in this age group, as they deal quite realistically and matter-of-factly with MK life.
Kathy and Louise are best friends, so when Louise goes away for the summer, Kathy is lonely and assumes Louise is, too. When Louise writes to say what fun she is having, Kathy feels hurt and betrayed. Although she plans to stay mad at Louise forever, they reconcile at the end of the summer. Although this book is not directly related to TCK subjects, it does tackle the subject of angry and hurt feelings when a friend doesn’t seem to miss you as much as you miss them.
The night before Jessica’s neighbor and best friend, Jason, moves to a new house across the city, she invites him for a good-bye party. Although they try to celebrate together, they end up fighting because they are both feeling so unhappy about the separation. When they make up, they are able to talk about their feelings and reaffirm their friendship.
Third Culture Kids grow up between two worlds (or three, or more) and looking back on their experiences, see the good and the hard of being global nomads. The TCKs being interviewed are middle school, high school and college age, reflecting on their own lives.
What are you grateful for about being a TCK?
What has been the most challenging thing about being a TCK?
Do you ever wish you had grown up with a more normal life?
If you can read only one book on third culture kids, choose this one! In this, the quintessential book on Third Culture Kids (TCKs), the authors systematically and compassionately explore the experiences of children who spend a significant part of their childhoods overseas. Rich with real-life stories, this is one of the first books to fully examine the impact of the TCK experience on maturing, developing a sense of identity, and adjusting to one’s passport country later on. The authors give readers an understanding of the challenges and benefits of the TCK life and provide practical suggestions and advice on maximizing the benefits. Both original authors of this book are pioneers in the area of TCK and MK care and are considered top experts on the subject. Although the book is not specifically Christian, both authors are Christians with missions experience.
The new expanded edition adds a new author: Michael Pollock, son of the late original co-author David Pollock, a TCK specialist himself. Information is updated and new content highlights the impact of technology, new advice for parents of TCKs, more discussion on unresolved grief and a deeper look into TCK relationships. The authors also expand the coverage to include cross-cultural kids, children of biracial or bicultural parents and immigrants. This book was ground-breaking when it was originally published and continues to be the one of the best sources for those who want to learn more about TCKs.
