Customer Reviews

Castaway Kid: One Man's Search for Hope and Home (Focus on the Family Books)

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Once beginning to read this book, I could not put it down. The author shares his deep pain and rejection at multiple times in his young life in a powerful and poignant manner, yet within the context of ultimate resolution to fulfillment and joy in his life throught the power of forgiveness. He paints a picture as though in living color of the difficulty in arriving at that position, but the power of the process of doing so to release one from the bondage of woundedness. This is one of the most compelling and inspiring books I have been privileged to read. I intend to order copies to be able to give to hurting individuals who have suffered the pain of rejection. A blessing to anyone who can appreciate a Godly perspective on life.

A pediatrician in private practice

Mitchell's life story is written in a way that draws you in and makes you want to go ahead and read the next chapter each time you finish one. Yet

it does not feel as if it is embroidered one bit. He simply tells you the

plain truth of what happened in his life in a very direct way. We are allowed time to linger with the feelings he experienced, the good and the bad, but mostly the mixed and confused. We feel the bewilderment that he

felt as he tried to understand things that just did not make sense. The story is unbelievable at times, although we don't doubt for a second that it indeed happened just as written. Many who have felt pain in their formative years will relate very well to this story, even if it was not the same kind of pain. Mitchell then takes us through his spiritual evolution, once again, in a very straightforward way. There is nothing sappy about it. He finds the only kind of faith that will help a troubled

adolescent. The real kind. In a few very short and simple episodes he asks the biggest questions that can be asked, and finds the kind of answers that an angry kid, (or angry adult), can sink his teeth into.

Ultimately the author finds reconciliation and peace, and the reader will too.

This true story reads like a fast-paced novel. Little Robby not only grabs your heart on page one he continues to tug on it as you wallk with him through abandonment,loneliness, confusion, dashed hopes, and betrayal. These universal emotions have been felt at one time or another by all, regardless of childhood background, so we truly cheer when Rob finally finds what he has been searching for. Good book for vacation reading.

This is a compelling true story of abandonment, anger, forgiveness and hope. Although it is hard to read what really happened you know that it did and the author overcame all odds through his relationship with God.

This is a real page turner. I finished it in a weekend and my wife stayed up half the night finishing it. She said "I couldn't put it down".

I saw myself in so many of Rob's struggles as a youth and a young man. My situation was far more normal than his and yet the challenges for self acceptance and the stuggle to do the right thing were the same.

I highly recomend this to both young and not so young who want to be encouraged. God is clearly in control in Rob's life (and mine) in spite of circumstances.

Once I started the book I had to read it through. It really was a tear jerker as you read about the trials that Rob had to overcome. It has helped me reexamine my life and relationship with God. To see that Rob has been able to overcome long odds has helped me see through the troubles in my life. This book is a must read for anyone searching for answers about what God has in store for their life.

When I opened this book I already knew part of the story - that Rob Mitchell had grown up in an orphanage. He was a classmate and good friend of mine at Guilford College. The questions I had harbored about his tragic past (never asked out of respect for him) were answered, and that was satisfying. But there was also an unexpected gift I found in reading Castaway Kid. Rob shows the reader how, through a deep and life-changing understanding that we are all God's precious children, to truly forgive those who have hurt us immeasurably.

His life has indeed been a successful struggle towards hope and belonging. I commend this book to anyone looking to be inspired by a real life story of overcoming wretchedness through letting go in love and faith, and thus being free to move forward.

R. B. Mitchell gives extensive documentation, both in his book and on line, of the truthfulness of this almost unbelieveable story of how a young boy, abandoned by his wealthy family, overcomes bitterness and anger. Growing up in an orphanage from age three until he "aged out," Mitchell never had the security of a loving family and for years did not understand the reasons for his abandonment, as specious as they turned out to be. Only after an encounter with Jesus Christ did Mitchell have the power to move from his paralyzing anger and sense of worthlessness to a life pleasing to God; one in which his life has been transformed.

Having been in the service of serving abandoned, behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents for 32 years, I was able to reminisce and find memories explicity tied to this book. The messages are accurate, profound, and direct. The chapters relive one man's story but the themes are multiplied by the number of kids in care from yesterday to the present and the stories are wide and varied. There are many stories in the lives of children from both yesteryear to this present day and age.The names change and the faces are different but the broken body and mind are still evident today. When one reads this book you become acutely aware of why behavior, emotion,identity, can go awry. All of the clinical terminology which labels children in placement existed then and still does today. What is remarkable and I have seen it over and over is that there are those who "will" to live, who "will" to grow, who never give up. Out of all the chaos emerges a Rob Mitchell and there are numbers upon numbers who, in spite of the many abuses and neglect, rise to become vibrant creative human beings like he has. This is a story of one of them. And, of so many of the children I have seen rise out of their pathology and into health, I have also seen a remarkable closeness to an abiding faith. Rob Mitchell is a man of that faith. Castaway Kid is just one of many castaway kids. What a wonderful read.

David Carlson MSW, LCSW

I really enjoyed this book. Being from Chicago as well, I felt an ever closer connection to the author and his story. I had a real hard time putting it down and I had to keep tissue close by whenever I was reading it. As a Mother, it was especially heart wrenching to read some of the thoughts and emotions the author experienced as a child. Such wonderful writing and expression - always feeling the emotion the author was sharing. I would highly recommend it! I passed it onto a friend after I was done with it - so the enjoyment could be passed on!