About the Author

Ruth Van Reken is a second generation Third Culture Kid* (TCK) and mother of three now adult TCKs and co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, rev. ed. (Nicholas Brealey) with David C. Pollock. She is also the author of Letters Never Sent, one of the first books written by an adult TCK examining the impact of his or her cross-cultural childhood. For the last twenty five years, Ruth has traveled extensively to over forty-five countries working with fellow adult TCKs, parents of TCKs, human resource people, educators, and other caregivers, about issues related to global family living. Currently, Ruth is researching how lessons learned in this TCK context may also apply to other types of cross-cultural childhoods. Ruth is co-founder and past chairperson of the annual Families in Global Transition conference. In addition to her two books and various other articles, she was written a chapter in Strangers at Home (Aletheia Publications), Unrooted Childhoods (Nicholas Brealey/Intercultural Press), and an upcoming book, Writing Out of Limbo (Cambridge Scholars Publications). *a child who spends a significant period of time during his or her developmental years growing up in a culture outside the parents' culture.

Reviews

"Though Ruth's story comes specifically from the mission community, others who have experienced the many separations and losses in a childhood lived abroad will find Ruth's hurts their hurts, just as her helaing becomes the beginning of their own." Norma McCaig, founder and former Executive Director, Global Nomads Society "Children who grow up cross-culturally have the same needs as anyone else. However, the demands and pressures of cross cultural involvemenet, high mobility, and highly motivated parents often create complexities in development that require unique insight and specific response. Ruth's story helps us gain that insight and develop our ability to seek proper answers to our own confusing questions as well as reaching out to others in their struggles." David C. Pollock, founder Interaction, Int., co-author, Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds