Book Review: FINDING HOPE NAVIGATING AN OBSCURE PATH by Bruce Wolff

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FINDING HOPE NAVIGATING AN ABSCURE PATH: Learning to Trust God When You Can Barely Understand Him

by Bruce Wolff

Genre: Memoir of an MK

Published 2026

Summary:

This missionary kid memoir tells the hard story of Bruce Wolff. Bruce grew up in Lagos and left with his family after two assassination attempts were made on his father. He shares his travels to Africa aboard ships, his not-so-perfect family, and the many situations that led Bruce to question who God really was. Bruce does not stop there; he also shares how his faith was renewed and how God led him to become a flight instructor. His path to serving as a missionary pilot was not straight, but God used every circumstance and experience to establish the Brigade Air, Inc, a youth aviation program. This memoir is not just about Bruce’s life; it also encourages and sometimes challenges the reader on their own faith journey.

Recommendation:

I enjoy reading memoirs, especially those of everyday people who persevered in life and in faith. This book is just that. It is about a missionary kid who, despite the odds, became a strong, godly man. He does not hold grudges against the hurts he experienced. I found this book to be part memoir and part devotional – as Bruce’s desire is to point others to Christ. Bruce is a Baby Boomer, which comes through in his writing in the phrases he uses and the ideas he has. I found that anyone interested in MKs or youth aviation would find this a fascinating read.

I’ll leave you with a quote that I feel sums up Bruce’s life:

I had no idea how many years it owuld take to recover from the constant motion and the rough start in life. And no, I don’t believe that recovery means the effects are ever gone. I believe it means God changes you as you grow, using the very things that once brought shame and pain to conform us to His image (Rom. 12:2). Dependency upon Him grows and is embraced rather than resisted. He really is good. (p. 13)

* Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Book Review: PIECES OF PURPLE by Michèle Phoenix

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Pieces of Purple: The Greatness, Grit, and Grace of Growing up MK

by Michèle Phoenix

Genre: Resource

Published: 2025

Summary:

PIECES OF PURPLE is a compilation of work that Michèle has been doing for years. In this book, she notes the patterns she has seen in the lives of the MKs and their stories that they share with her. Giving a nod to her love of theatre, she divides the book into three sections: “Act I: The Fragments that From Us;” “Act II: The Darkness that Daunts Us;” and “Act III: The ‘Ships that Shape Us.” She also includes two interludes and a postlude of stories that illustrate the points and bring humor to the content that only teenage antics can. Michèle offers a fresh look at what an MK is, the issues they face as young people, and the influences they encounter – AND she shares practical ways parents, mentors, counselors, and even adult MKs can use to grow in their identity.

Recommendation:

Michèle Phoenix is an author of several novels, but she has hosted a podcast for several years titled “Pondering Purple.” I have listened to her podcast, read her other books, and followed her on social media. So, when I saw that she was releasing a book last year, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it. I finally got a copy. I have been using this book with clients, and it is also a great resource for starting conversations with my own children. I highly recommend it for anyone working with MKs, their parents, or even adult MKs. There really is something there for everyone to learn and grow from.

* Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Book Review: SHOOTING UP by Jonathan Tepper

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SHOOTING UP: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Addiction

by Jonathan Tepper

Genre: Memoir of a missionary kid

Summary:

Jonathan Tepper is a missionary kid (MK) who grew up in San Blas, a heroin slum of Madrid, Spain, in the 1980s. His parents started their missionary service focused on university student ministry, but soon shifted as they saw God leading them to work with the yonkis (junkies). This ministry turned into drug rehab centers throughout Spain. Jonathan shares the stories of the people his family worked with – people who became his brothers and sisters. He tells of the AIDS crisis that swept through the world, but from the point of view of one who experienced the pain and suffering it caused those he loved. He tells of the family tragedy that left them all reeling in their own emotions of loss and grief. His story, though, is not one of hopelessness and trauma of a young kid who saw and experienced very challenging situations in his life. Jonathan does not hide or cover the dark times; however, he shows hope in the midst of grief. His story is a prime example of what many MKs face as they grow up – the very real challenges and grief, AND the benefits of growing up in a land that is different than their passport.

Recommendation:

In all honesty, this is one of the best MK memoirs I have ever read. Why do I say that? The writing is phenomenal. Jonathan draws you in on the first page – three blond boys folding tracks to pass out to the yonkis for ice-cream. His story parallels those of many MKs from the 1970s-80s. And while every MK story is unique, the fact that his parents ministered to junkies and his family tragedy give his story twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. He holds nothing back about what he was thinking at the time, and the way he weaves his story with the lives of those around him creates a beautiful tapestry that honors those he loves.

But it is not just a memoir of an MK. Jonathan also touches on the aspects of the AIDS crisis that hit the world in the 1980s. He saw firsthand the effects of the disease and what it was doing to his neighborhood. He witnessed the fear people felt because of their lack of understanding and ignorance about how it spreads. He also explains how his family responded in loving ways towards those who were diagnosed HIV positive. In the end, Jonathan gives humanity to those who suffered. Humanity and honor to a group of outcasts in the world, but because of their faith in God became children of God who produced much fruit.

I highly recommend getting this book and reading it. You will be challenged. You will be encouraged. You will learn.

*Please note that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

Book Review: ANNIE’S DAY by Apple Gidley

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ANNIE’S DAY

by Apple Gidley

Genre: historical novel

Published: November 2025

Summary

Annie is an Australian nurse during World War II. We see the hardships of a young girl leaving her home in the bush with a father who doesn’t know how to show her love, and the hardships of a war nurse’s life in the Pacific theatre. Annie travels to far-flung places after the war, trying to find her way in life. We watch as love finds her in unexpected places and with unexpected people. We see the world through the eyes of a woman who is loyal to her friends, fights for what is right, and often speaks before thinking, bringing humor in unexpected places.

Recommendation:

Annie’s Day is more than a historical novel. It is a reflection of Annie’s life as an Australian nurse during World War II and her life afterwards. There are many themes that reflect the views of individuals who have grown up in a multicultural world. From the hardships of war and caring for soldiers from around the world, to moving to various countries that were both exciting and dangerous, to befriending a young Indian woman living in a time of rapid change. Apple Gidley, the author, did a fantastic job of switching from Annie’s present day to her memories of the past and weaving a beautiful story of family, friends, and world events of the time. If you are looking for a fun book for the holiday season, this is the one I’d recommend.

*And for a limited time, Amazon is offering Audible at a great price. You can find details here.

**Please note that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

Book Review: Accumulated Lessons in Displacement poems

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ACCUMULATED LESSONS IN DISPLACEMENT poems

by Rachel E. Hicks

Published: 2025

Summary:

Rachel, an ATCK, takes the reader on a journey through her poems to the various places she has lived. She tackles some deep issues of race and the plight of refugees, but she also muses over ordinary meals in a farmhouse in China. The book is divided into two sections: “Bright Sadness, Bitter Joy” and “A Deeper Knowing.” But before the sections begin, she starts with a poem titled “Sojourn,” a title that anyone who has lived outside of their passport country may feel, but Rachel takes a different spin —one that everyone can relate to.

Recommendation:

This collection of poems takes the reader on a global journey where many paradoxes take place. Rachel uses her own experience and her gift of words to portray a sensory scene from the realms of the Himalayas to the chaotic feel of post-racial conflicts in Maryland. She offers a space to stop and reflect on what is going on in the heart and mind — to ask the deeper questions of life and to hold the tension with grace.

*Please note that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

TCK Resource Review: Conversation Cards

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Conversation Cards for moving families

by Laura Kent-Davidson at Wings & Wonder Kids

Summary:

This resource is a set of 14 cards to help start conversations for families planning an upcoming move. Each card is focused on one aspect of transitions. The card explains why this aspect is essential and then offers questions that families can discuss. Laura also offers other ways besides talking to help your third culture kids transition to the new place.

Recommendation:

While these cards are meant for a family preparing to move, I think they would also benefit families who are the Stayers. Many cards deal with the same issues that those who Stay deal with. I feel a parent could also adapt the wording to help children in that kind of transition. The quality of the cards is durable and comes in a nice box that makes it easy and light to pack and take with you. The other positive aspect of these cards is that families only need one set per family, which can be reused repeatedly.

Book Review: FINDING SERENISSIMA by Apple Gidley

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Finding Serenissima

by Apple Gidley

Genre: Novel

Published: 2025

Summary:

Amelia is a recent widow. Her husband was a well-known artist. However, due to the husband’s decline in health, they lived a secluded life in Papua New Guinea for several years. Amelia sells the home, takes a few of her favorite pieces from her husband’s collection, and moves to Italy. A place where there are no memories of them together. A place where she can begin to find herself, the once-forgotten Amelia. Her two daughters believe she has gone mad until they visit and see that this adventure is exactly what their mother needs. Through Amelia’s new friends, she finds herself – and she finds serenity. Though, not in ways she ever expected.

Recommendation

This is not about a TCK, but it is about expat living. We watch a woman grieving her loss, processing her late husband’s mistakes, all the while learning a new language and culture. She makes friends with the “locals” and becomes one of them. Since Apple is a TCK herself, I believe she intentionally adds one character in her novel that is. Amelia has a clever conversation with this TCK, and in just a few sentences, one reads the facts of growing up outside your passport. This TCK says, “That’s the trouble with a nomadic upbringing. One tends to feel at home in many places.” He then shares that his sister had a rough time and hasn’t moved since after university.

If you are looking for a fun book to read this summer or for a long flight, I recommend this book. You can escape to the vineyards of Italy and the many cafes while reading something you understand even if you have never stepped foot into Italy.

*Please note that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

Book Review: THE GLOBAL NOMAD’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITY TRANSITION by Tina L. Quick

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THE GLOBAL NOMAD’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITY TRANSITION, Second edition

by Tina L. Quick

Published: 2022

Summary

Tina Quick updated her book for TCKs transitioning to university life. She writes that it is also for parents, high school counselors, and university staff who support students. This book is divided into six sections: The Global Nomad/Third Culture Kid Experience, The Transition Experience, Identity Development and Relationship Insights, Realities of College Life, Health and Welfare, and Tips for Parents. It is tailored to read from cover to cover, but also, one can easily focus solely on one topic at a time. Each chapter offers knowledge but also times to go deeper, tips to try, and many graphs and models to help understand the concepts better. Tina offers knowledge about the issues of TCKs while offering tips to help them navigate the unknowns of university life.

Recommendation

I will be honest by saying I ignored the advice that you should never judge a book by its cover. I did judge this book by its cover and did not buy it until after my oldest was in university, but I didn’t really read it until my youngest was about to start university. With that said, I wish I had read it much earlier. It is packed with some really good information, but also practical tips that help not only the parent but the one who is about to launch. It is a thick book, so I believe it would have been daunting for them to pick up and read cover to cover. But, I believe it is a great resource for parents to use to start conversations with their high school kids. It is a great resource for high school counselors helping students leaving for their passport countries, and I do believe it is a must-read for any university student support staff who wants to understand this category of international students who may not look or sound international.

*Please note that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

Book Review: BECOMING CLEAR by Claire Collins Friesen

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Becoming Clear

by Claire Collins Friesen

Genre: Memoir (of a TCK)

Published: 2025

Summary:

Claire shares her life as a missionary kid (MK). She grew up in the Philippines but moved to the US in high school when her family decided to leave. During her senior year of high school, she returns to her MK school, where she realizes that things are the same, but she is not. She bounces around from university, Kenya, the Phillippines, university, and then South Korea. Her struggles in searching for her identity come to a head when she moves to Argentina. It is here that she faces many of the same themes that she faced in Filipino culture as a young adult. A dear school friend since grade school in the Philippines challenges her to write her story. And in doing so, Claire finds clarity and understanding in who she really is as a TCK, an introvert, and a high sensitive person.

Recommendations:

Memoirs are difficult to write. The art of not sounding like a journal entry that has details that do not move the story forward is one reason. The other is telling the story without defaming the character of others who are part of your story. It’s tricky. Claire shares the inner thoughts of a TCK/MK, which is something that is brave to do. It helps those who are teaching them, raising them, and anyone thinking about moving overseas with their children. She doesn’t hold back. And for that, I applaud her. But I did find myself skimming pages that dealt with the comings and goings of events, which felt more like a journal entry and did not really move the story forward. This is Claire’s first book. Her descriptions of the beauty of the land and the people to the stark contrast of poverty she witnessed as both a child and an adult leave you with the same questioning she wrestled with.

If you work with MKs or are raising them, then I do recommend this book because it is a more modern memoir that is relevant to many of the issues that MKs deal with today.

*Please note that I earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

Book Reveiw: WORLDS HERE AND THERE by Paul Snider and Donna Kushner

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World Here and There: An Activity Bood for International Transition

Written by Paul Snider and Donna Kushner Designed by Josephine Loh

Published: 2025

Summary

WORLDS HERE AND THERE is an activity book to help individuals and families during their transition. It provides activities and questions for processing – like naming the losses and recalling the memories. It can be used for re-entry to the passport country, for long home assignments, or for a brand new move. It is divided into several parts. One gives you a guide map on how to use the book – with a family, with a team, or individually. Another is the activities for the “Here” and “There” parts of the transition. There is a reflection section that takes the previous processing a little deeper. And ends with some suggestions for what to do next, along with resources that can be helpful as well.

Recommendation

I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) in digital form, so I cannot comment on the physical quality of the workbook. But seeing that it is spiralbound, which to me means that pages won’t fall out, is a HUGE positive. I know many spiral-bound books can be drab, but not this one. The pages are colorful and quite pleasant to look at. The design allowed white space for the participants to write or draw in the book. What I really liked about this book is that a family would only need to order ONE book for the family. This cuts the cost which is always a plus. Also, only having to pack one book is super helpful with limited space. And this is a book you would want to take with you to the next place.

I would recommend it for families preparing for a transition, but also for anyone who facilitates transition debriefs for families or groups.