Finding Home: Third Culture Kids in the World

by Rachel Pieh Jones

Finding Home is a compilation of essays based on the Painting Pictures guest post blog series at Djibouti Jones, updated with fresh content, interviews with the authors, and practical suggestions for personalizing the content. The essays each explore the realities of children raised internationally. Who are Third Culture Kids? Why does it matter? From adoption to transitioning to university, deciding to live abroad as an adult or not, healing from trauma, and developing roots in passport or host countries, these stories highlight the unique joys and challenges of a global life.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2018

Reviews

[Annalise Nakoneczny · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the past several years, the subject of TCKs has come to the forefront of my attention and affection. I have dated two TCKs and am friends with a bunch more, so I want to learn about what makes them unique and increase my empathy and understanding so I can love them better. From what I can tell, the research on this topic is sparse, so the best way to learn is to listen to other people's stories. This is a great collection of essays from TCKs and parents of TCKs, and explores many different facets of being a TCK. I especially love the idea of Jesus as a TCK, who left his "home country" of heaven to come down and fully immerse himself in our world.

[RocioST · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book for my personal 52 Book Challenge 2023 under the category “On growing up around the world”.

I was so excited about this being a third culture kid myself but what a let down. It felt.. outdated? Not nuanced? Very basic and poorly written.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful collection of essays addresses several aspects of being raised in a culture outside one's "home" culture, raising children abroad, the difficulties of re-entering the home or passport culture, and transitioning into adulthood. I wrote one of the essays, "When TCKs Reunite," so you might question my five-star rating, but setting aside the essay I wrote, I learned from the other essays, the thoughtful questions posed by the author who compiled them, and the vast range of experiences of others who grew up like me, global nomads most "at home" with others who have shared similar experiences of growing up outside the home(s) of their parents' cultures.

I should add that I did not and will not receive any financial benefit from contributing to the essays or promoting the book.

This book will appeal to anyone raising a family abroad or who has family abroad, for anyone transitioning back to life in their passport country, or for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of a transnational life or the universal experiences of feeling like an outsider in a place they are supposed to feel at home.

[ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting and worthwhile compilation of blog posts originally posted on DjiboutiJones.com and edited together for this publication. It also comes with some author interviews and discussion prompts/questions/activity ideas after each essay, which I found pretty nifty. I really appreciated the variety of perspectives present, particularly when it comes to the representation of diverse TCK experiences (some MKs, some TCKs from military families, multiracial TCKs, Christian TCKs, non-Christian TCKs, ATCKs parenting a new generation of TCKs, monocultural parents to TCKs, monoculturals professionally versed in the TCK world--a ton of variety!). My two favorite essays were probably "A Whole Self" by Dr. Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg and "A Transitional, Formational Life" by Kelley Nikondeha, but I think I probably gleaned something from each one. As someone who's trying to better love and understand the TCKs in my own life, I really enjoyed this read. Would recommend!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a teacher of TCKs, I found this book interesting. I don’t think it really blew my mind with anything completely new or insightful, but it was a good reminder of the different challenges the kids I’m teaching, and their parents, have and get to deal with. As a whole, the book is more suited to a discussion group than just an individual read. Additionally, I didn’t connect with every entry, but some I really enjoyed. So, overall, I would recommend it mostly to TCK discussion groups and parents of TCKs.

[Jodie Pine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great look at TCKs from different angles

A thoughtful and helpful compilation of essays by third culture kids/adults and parents of TCKs, originally published 5 years ago on Rachel's blog, with current author interviews to add further insight, comments from the blog posts, and a Making it Yours section with questions and ideas for the reader to personalize the essays. Topics include transition, trauma, longings, marriage, parenting, adoption, and friendships.

[Karen Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone struggling to define home or answer "Where are you from?" should read this! Each chapter is the story of a different person and how they handle life as a TCK. As a heads up, many experienced this as missionaries. Each chapter is followed by suggestions which the reader can use to start/continue making sense and owing there unique sense of home.

[Erika Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

So relatable

This collection of essays was both relatable and eye opening. As a third culture kid, there was a lot for me to learn and think about after reading each essay. Highly recommended if you want to better understand people who don’t belong in one culture, or if you don’t!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent compilation of first-hand articles on the subject of being and raising TCKs. Quite helpful for anyone who interacts with TCKs and/or their parents.

[A Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful essays