A Chance in the World: An Orphan Boy, A Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home

This book has entered my heart, mind and soul. I first read the digital copy of it. Then I purchased the cd's to be able to listen to them in my car. Finally, I decided to purchase the hard copy in order to archive my highlights more permanently.Having spent time in foster care myself, nothing compared to what Steve Pemberton experienced, I am very familiar with the longing for family. He articulates it so eloquently.The overriding takeaway in this incredible memoir is RESILIENCE. He searches for his family his entire life, amidst horrible abuse and neglect. He works endlessly to earn his college degree from Boston University. Ultimately, he learns the tragic truth that his parents never chose to fight for him. This news is more devastating to Steve than all the years of the horrible neglect and abuse. Worst still, his mother didn't even mention him in a letter he found years later. She mentioned each of his siblings, but not him. She had omitted him from her mind.The audio book on cd's is extremely good. It is narrated by Steve Pemberton. I had been concerned when I ordered it that there may be strong language due to the nature of the material. But to my great appreciation, there is not a single word of cursing that I've found. He is so articulate, eloquent, and soft-spoken. It's truly miraculous that he survived his childhood. Even more so that he is a devoted husband and father to his three children.One note about the digital copy vs. the hard copy: this is the first time I've noticed a significant difference in a hard copy verses digital. In the paper book, the epilogue is not included. There are also certain lines/sentences that are either omitted or worded differently. For this reason, I'm grateful to have read the two different copies.I highly recommend this memoir to anyone, especially survivors of abandonment, foster care, or loss of parents from death. Although my life story is far less tragic, the thoughts and insights he shares have been very helpful in processing it all.The fact that he writes with such clean language makes this book appropriate for young teens, as well as adults, who might be needing direction and inspiration.In the final chapter of the book, he is reading to his young son in the early hours on a Saturday morning while the rest of the family is still sleeping. In the middle of the story, his little boy turns abruptly to face his Daddy. (I quote:)"Daddy?" he asks, his eyes searching the ceiling. "When you were a little boy, did you have a daddy?"I stare at him for a long time. I thought this question would come years from now, perhaps as a final father-son chat before he went off to college. But it was not in the future; It was right here, right now. I had long ago decided that, when the time came, I would tell my children the truth. "No, son," I say softly. "When I was a little boy, I did not have a daddy."His brow furrowed, little lines of confusion marking his usually serene features. He searches my eyes, looking for an explanation, then looks skyward as he usually does when he is thinking.Looking up, his troubled eyes now clear, he says, as only a child can say, "Maybe next time you will have a daddy."(End of quote)Thank you, Steve Pemberton, for sharing your story of survival, grief, and RESILIENCE. I hope many others will gain as much from it as I have.

Part 1 of this book is called "An Orphan Boy." Beginning at 3 years old, Stephen Pemberton, is bounced from one foster family (who neglects him) to another - - The Robinsons...who can best be described as monstrous. He's subjected to merciless beatings - - deliberate attempts to thwart his academic progress -- and he's hungry, always hungry. He's not permit to open the refrigerator - ever. He's required to adhere to a series of Robinson Rules which include #1-You are to never tell anyone outside this house about what goes on here. #2-We aren't your mother and father. You call us ma'am and sir. #4-You are dumb, and ugly. Something about you isn't right. Everybody knows this. #7-We can beat you at any moment. #8-No one wants you, especially your own mother and father. Young Pemberton finds refuge in books. He is a reader. A kind soul, a neighbor, who sees a spark in this child - gifts him books. He's forced to read in a cold, dank basement."I came to live not just in fear but abject terror, the kind that rises up and takes over every sense of your being. Years later, long after the hunger and beatings were no longer residents of my mind, it would be that fear that would be that last to leave."Part II of this book is titled: "A Mysterious Past." The boy, now a young man, escapes the horrors with the help of a social worker and a teacher in an Upward Bound Program. He is accepted into the college of his dreams (Boston College) and begins to wonder about his past. His family. His name.Part III of this book is titled "The Journey Home" where Pemberton marries and has his own children."What I treasured most was lying on the couch with a child resting on my chest, hearing his or her tiny breath deepen as we both slowly faded off to sleep. In the evenings, long after baths were taken, I found myself standing at their bedsides, marveling at their deep and innocent sleep, their breaths rising and falling in perfect rhythm with the universe. I would lean over to kiss them and, despite the depth of their slumber, they sighed in response. There was so much I wanted them to know: that I loved them with all that I was; that I would travel this path a thousand times, knowing it would bring me to their bedsides; that they had righted every wrong in my life; that being their father had quieted my soul."And he begins to uncovers his family and his family story."I had discovered that my mother and father had left me to the winds of chance...intent on building my own family, I had moved forward with my life, but it had always deeply puzzled me how any parent could so easily abandon a child."How? How did Stephen Pemberton survive? What gave him his strength to persevere?"In the most difficult times, I always found comfort in prayer. I first discovered this comfort as a small boy in the basement of the house on Arnold Street. I didn't know how to pray; the Robinsons rarely went to church. Still I found that peace and quiet and strength often followed my humble requests. I talked to God the way one talked to a best friend..."What an incredible story of redemption and reconciliation...and the strength of the human spirit. This book made me come alive - and appreciate how good life, my life really is. Life is Good.

Wow this was a very good read! It was often heart wrenching to read but Steve overcame so much in his life! What an awful childhood but such a fulfilling life. He lived through hell but came out a very well rounded young man. The great part about this story is he survived! This story read like a movie, I could literally see what he described. Steve Pemberton I am so glad that in spite of all you had to go through you made it out. The world is a better place because you lived to tell how even when life deals you lemons you can still make lemonade. I felt really sorry for Joni, she was dealt a terrible fate and just couldn't find proper healing! I hope she heals! At the end of it all we only have each other and with God we can truly survive and make it to the other side. One other thing The Robinson family was awful and they definitely did not get away with it, God saw it all! May you forever be blessed, thanks for sharing your story!

It is inspiring to read a book such as this. Steve could have turned out differently had he not chosen to break the chain of destruction that plagued his parents and siblings lives. Acknowledging God's effect and purpose for his life is a tremendous witness for the gospel. It proves that though bad things happen to good people a true and faithful relationship with Jesus is the way to overcome. Thank you Steve for sharing!

This is a superbly written nonfiction book about the author who overcomes an absolutely brutal upbringing in a foster home. It is quite possible he may not have survived except for the kindness of a few individuals helping him along the way. I doubt that anyone could read this book and not be the wiser and more caring as a result

As one who has both fostered and adopted children, I found this to be a very good read. I bought it first on the kindle and ended up buying the paperback version for a friend. Steve is an accomplished writer with an incredible story to tell which he somehow does without self-pity and without dwelling on the negative. His story is inspiring!

I was moved to tears by Steve Pemberton’s book, “A Chance in the World”. Moments of kindness and empathy from others helped him survive an abusive foster home and then thrive.It is an inspiring story of courage and resilience -- and VISION. Steve Pemberton never gave up hope that he could build a better life for himself. And he did.Highly recommended.

this book was very interesting and very well-written; I enjoyed it very much~

It is a great true story; very well written and I am amazed by Steve's strength of character. A great ending. Steve deserved all the chances (which were few) that he got. How some people get to be foster parents is beyond me. No words can describe how horrible those foster 'parents' were. I do know that there are some totally beautiful foster families though, Steve just had back luck as a child. He has a beautiful nature and is very intelligent - the latter trait is what got him past all the obstacles in his path in his search for his true family and identity.