Castaway Kid: One Man's Search For Hope And Home    by R. B. Mitchell Order:  USA  Can Tyndale, 2008 (2008) Softcover     Reviewed by Leslie McKee In this Focus on the Family book, Rob Mitchell shares his story of being abandoned at age three and placed in an Illinois orphanage. His mother was admitted to a mental hospital and his father was in a hospital due to a failed suicide attempt. The main contact he had during his childhood was with Gigi, his maternal grandmother. While she was unable to care for him, she visited frequently and dreamed of seeing him graduate and get married. While he had paternal relatives in North Carolina, Rob grew up at The Covenant Home in Princeton, Illinois. This book follows Rob from childhood into maturity. At age seventeen, he accepts Jesus Christ into his life and changes begin to occur. On a mission trip to Africa, Rob realizes that, while he does not feel he belongs to an earthly family - he does belong to the global family of God. He also learns the importance of forgiveness. Rob's story is destined to evoke emotion from the reader. Mixed in with the horrors of his childhood are three people who truly cared about him: Gig, his loving grandmother; Nola, the kind and gentle house parent; and Susan, the woman who was able to overlook his past to share her future with him. Rob shares with the reader that it is not how you act, but how you react to your situation. The country is full of Castaway Kids like Rob. He portrays the loneliness, pain, anger and love that these kids feel. His story can bring hope to anyone who believes that they cannot overcome their past pains and help them realize that they can control their futures. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews