The Girl in the Orange Dress: Searching for a Father Who Does Not Fail [Paperback]

Margot Starbuck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2009

"Chosen." "Special." Those are the words Margot Starbuck used to describe herself as a child adopted into a loving family. And when her adoptive parents divorced, her dad moved east, and her mom and dad each got remarried, she told herself that she was extra loved, since she had more than two parents and people in different times zones who cared about her.

But the word she really believed about herself was rejected. First by her birthparents. Then by her adoptive father-when he moved away. Then by her stepfather. Then by her birthfather a second time, when she tried to invite him into her life.

Most of all, Margot felt rejected by God the Father, who she also suspected could not be trusted.

With a good dose of humor and a willingness not to take herself too seriously, Margot Starbuck offers us an exuberant, frank and, at times, poignant romp as she searches for the Father who will not fail. You are invited to come along.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I haven't felt this much emotion from a memoir since reading Angela's Ashes. Outrage, grief, joy and humor mingle together in Margot Starbuck's book, drawing the reader into her experiences in a way that leaves one feeling neither like judge nor voyeur, just a friend on the journey. Humbly honest, graciously hilarious, evocative, The Girl in the Orange Dress is for anyone who needs to know, really needs to know, how much God loves his children." -- --Lisa Samson, award-winning author of Quaker Summer, Justice in the Burbs and The Church Ladies
 

"With this book, Margot Starbuck unleashes her new, very welcome voice. She narrates the Christian spiritual life with winsome humor and (occasionally scary) honesty. Pretty much every woman I know will be getting The Girl in the Orange Dress for her birthday." --Lauren F. Winner, author of Girl Meets God


"Margot Starbuck takes us on a lovely and challenging journey, searching for herself, her family and her faith along the way." --Shauna Niequist, author of Cold Tangerines


"This is a story hard to put down. It is a fascinating read. Margot's ability to capture the essence of the search--not just for her biological father, but ultimately for her heavenly Father--is intriguing, unique and most of all--real. Throughout the book, I felt like a fellow traveler, quietly joining in her journey . . . encouraging her on. This book is a must-read for anyone who might find themselves on a similar search--one of a lifetime."


"A lovely journey through family, failure and friendships to finally find a Father who does not fail. Sure to charm and challenge all spiritually minded seekers and sojourners."

Book Description

"Chosen." "Special." Those are the words Margot Starbuck used to describe herself as a child adopted into a loving family. And when her adoptive parents divorced, her dad moved east, and her mom and dad each got remarried, she told herself that she was extra loved, since she had more than two parents and people in different times zones who cared about her.

But the word she really believed about herself was rejected. First by her birthparents. Then by her adoptive father-when he moved away. Then by her stepfather. Then by her birthfather a second time, when she tried to invite him into her life.

Most of all, Margot felt rejected by God the Father, who she also suspected could not be trusted.

With a good dose of humor and a willingness not to take herself too seriously, Margot Starbuck offers us an exuberant, frank and, at times, poignant romp as she searches for the Father who will not fail. You are invited to come along.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books; Original edition (May 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830836276
• ISBN-13: 978-0830836277
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margot's first book, The Girl in the Orange Dress: Searching for a Father Who Does Not Fail, was awarded Best Nonfiction Book of the Year, 2011, from the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Margot's other books include: Unsqueezed: Springing Free From Skinny Jeans, Nose Jobs, Highlights and Stilettos (IVP) and Small Things With Great Love: Adventures in Loving Your Neighbor (IVP). Her writing has also appeared in Relevant, Rev!, Pray!, Radiant, Neue, Adoptive Families, Family Fun, Fine Homebuilding, and other publications. She blogs at Red Letter Christians and hermeneutics, and is a a popular speaker at retreats, conferences, and college campuses.

Margot is a graduate of Westmont College and Princeton Theological Seminary. She served with Urban Promise ministry in Camden NJ before being ordained in the Presbyterian Church. She's served as a chaplain among folks living with physical and intellectual disabilities. Margot also served as an interim pastor of Ponds Reformed Church in Oakland, NJ.

Margot is pretty convinced that as we receive God's "I am for you"--as we really get it, in our bones--we're set free to live a life of love which is for others, especially God's beloved ones who are poor and marginalized. Her hope is that her readers and listeners who are ambivalent, either about God's great love for them or for those who live on the world's margins, are challenged and transformed by some really good news.

As a young adult, Margot was reunited with her birthmother, and now enjoys a relationship with her & with her adoptive parents. Margot lives in Durham, NC with her husband, Peter, and their three children, by birth and adoption. She likes being with her sweet kiddos & hanging out with friends--with and without disabilities--at Reality Ministries. She's also a pretty big fan of the work of Compassion International. Learn more at www.MargotStarbuck.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars extraordinary, July 27, 2009

By 

Laura Dellicker (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Girl in the Orange Dress: Searching for a Father Who Does Not Fail (Paperback)

I'm a big reader (I read about a book a week), and this is my all time favorite book I've ever read.
Read it. You'll love it.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book to Read and Share, November 13, 2009

By 

H. Laack - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Girl in the Orange Dress: Searching for a Father Who Does Not Fail (Paperback)

I almost feel like I am just "piling on" by becoming the 17th reviewer to give this book 5 stars, with not even one lower recommendation. If ever there was a book deserving of such unanimity, however, this is it.

This is the story of a little girl who grew up with a loving adoptive family that actually expanded through the dissolution of divorce, but her underlying sense was always one of abandonment and the threat of further severing of ties. To respond, she built a shell, distancing herself from meaningful relationships and always, always searching for the ideal father she had never had. Ms. Starbuck's forthright description of the pain of that search and the way it was wonderfully completed is told with great humor as well as sensitivity.

For anyone who has adopted, has been adopted, or is considering adopting, this is a must read book. For those who may be in the middle of searching for that "father who does not fail," this is a must read book. And for all the rest of us who want to read more than just another memoir, this is a must read book.

In other words, buy it, read it, and share it with everyone you know.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Girl in the Orange Dress, July 19, 2009

By 

C. Kendall - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Girl in the Orange Dress: Searching for a Father Who Does Not Fail (Paperback)

Throughout her childhood, Margot Starbuck was always told that she was "chosen and special". She was adopted when she was just a few weeks old. Always thinking that her upbringing was nothing but happy and warm because she had so many people who loved her, reality hit her hard as an adult. Margot started to feel the pain of abandonment, from her birth father and her adoptive father, and her heavenly Father.

Margot was also going through life with a smile on her face to hide her pain all the while seeking to find the Father that she could trust. What amazed me the most was the fact that Margot studied theology at Princeton and she still struggled to realize that God loves her and God has chosen her and that she could trust Him. I find a lot of comfort in knowing that she had that type of struggle because I think a lot of people do, I know I did. I have a fairly simple faith, I tend not to dig too deep, but I really appreciate the depth of Margot's faith. I also admire her for never giving up on finding the answers she needed.

While I was reading this book, I did something that goes against my own rules - I dog-eared pages and underlined passages I wanted to remember. There are so many powerful and important lessons for all of us in this book. I especially liked her Tootsie Pop analogy that she used; "I was sooo Tootsie Pop", Margot says, "The lickin' I'd been taking felt interminable, and now it felt like I was being crunched up and spit out."
Margot has had to deal with not just emotional pain in her life, but physical pain as well. She has had pain in her feet for years and sought healing anywhere she could find it. With all my fibromyalgia issues, I can certainly relate to her pain. I also admire her tremendously for working so hard and praying for relief from her pain. She never stopped having faith that she would find help for her pain.

I really enjoyed this book. It is very open and frank, which I'm sure was difficult for Margot, but I know anyone who reads The Girl in the Orange Dress will appreciate her honesty. I know I will use her wisdom and her experiences to help me through those days when I am wondering where God is. I will come back again and again to this book. I feel like I have a new friend in Margot. Get yourself a copy of this book and take this journey with Margot. It will leave you feeling more loved by your Father than you could possibly imagine.