Worlds Apart: A Third Culture Kid's Journey

This sequel to Marilyn Gardner's Between Worlds probes deeply into the journey that forms a third culture kid's identity. Gardner weaves together memories of joy and pain, close friendships and loneliness in a compelling portrait of an international childhood. From the close quarters of boarding school, to the strangeness of furloughs in her parents' native Massachusetts, Worlds Apart is an honest and moving portrayal of a young girl's struggles with faith, friendship, and belonging. The book offers an inspiring model for other third culture kids seeking to make sense of their unique experience, and the final chapter brings together many practical resources to help TCKs navigate their own journey. "This is a book that shows the complications of a challenging childhood, the healing power of a faithful life, and the precious gifts Third Culture Kids are to the world." Rachel Pieh Jones, from the Foreword "Part spiritual reflection, part childhood reminiscence and part travelogue, Marilyn's book will be especially welcomed by those trying to make sense of their own personal stories, especially if they involve transitions across multiple cultures and geographic locations." Ambassador Jonathan Addleton, author of The Dust of Kandahar and Some Far and Distant Place Worlds Apart incorporates material previously published by Doorlight Publications under the title Passages Through Pakistan.

About the Author :
Marilyn Gardner spent her childhood and adolescence in Pakistan and raised her five children in Pakistan and Egypt. She now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she works as a public health nurse with underserved immigrant communities. Rachel Pieh Jones lives in Djibouti with her husband and three children. She has written for the New York Times, Runners World, Brain Child, and Longreads.

Review :
"[Worlds Apart] tells the captivating story of Marilyn Gardner's childhood as a 'third-culture kid', raised by her Christian, American missionary parents in the heart of Pakistan. Gardner's eloquent story of the trials, tribulations, and lessons of growing up as a bridge between these rich cultures serves as an important lens through which Americans and Pakistanis can learn more about one another and their important long-term partnership in a time when the gap between the two nations seems to be growing ever larger. By shedding light on how our faiths, our cultures, and our worlds are far more alike than different, Gardner's story is a must read for those wanting to build bridges." Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University, Washington DC "It's been said that if you dig down into your story deep enough, you find the common things. I didn't grow up in Pakistan, and I didn't experience boarding school or life as a missionary kid. But that doesn't matter, because in this book Marilyn digs down deep enough into her own journey that I found myself resonating throughout. And crying. The cross-cultural connections and the cross-cultural stretching, the faith struggles, the reverence of older missionaries, the questions about God's sovereignty in the midst of catastrophe, and the confusion surrounding the loaded word, Calling. It's all here. We need this story. The missions community needs this story . . . I am sure that Marilyn's gentle storytelling and textured memories will encourage, inspire, and heal many." Jonathan Trotter, International Pastoral Counselor and co-author of A-41: Essays on life and ministry abroad "For anyone who has wrestled with heavy bouts of homesickness or lived through long stretches of loneliness, Marilyn Gardner's new book is a gift. For anyone who has walked through the valley of the shadow of death or of betrayal while simultaneously trying to hold onto faith in a good and loving God, this book is a light in your darkness. For anyone who longs for the people and places of your past or has ever had to pack up a life and say goodbye, this book is a trustworthy traveling companion. For anyone who has ever grappled seriously with their privilege or come face to face with their own shortcomings, this book is a safe place to land. And for anyone who's ever wondered if it's even possible to raise a happy family in difficult or unusual circumstances, Passages Through Pakistan offers hope and, what's better, guidance. But these stories are also a sober reminder to parents that no matter how much love and security we lavish upon our children, we cannot protect them from the sorrows and difficulties of this life - nor is it our job. Marilyn's book is a gem for all these reasons, and it is also a joy to read. The language is beautiful, and each story is seasoned with profound truths about life and faith. Somehow as we read, we are able to swallow the bitter along with the sweet. That is what grace is all about, and that is what this book is all about." Elizabeth Trotter, co-author of A-41: Essays on life and ministry abroad