This is the incredible true story of an amazing person. . It teaches us that no matter how broken our past or great our misfortunes, we can create a new beginning and build a life filled with love and kindness. I haven’t read the longer more adult version, but this book is written with sensitivity, honesty, and best of all hope.

The figures concerning the future success of foster children is staggeringly against them. There are many good and loving foster parents whom I know personally and they are not fooling the public like Betty did. There are mediocre fosters and then there are the cruel ones that we read about in the news. At least if you are a foster child of parents who wind up as newsworthy on the negative side, you ,probably did get out. unfortunately Steve endured his personal abuse/torture for 11 years.

The following are not my words but well worth repeating...

Chance in the World teaches children:

... to begin each day with hope
... that there is goodness in the world, and it is possible to be a beacon of light for others
... that they can overcome challenging circumstances
... that everyone comes from different backgrounds and has value
... to apply Steve's inspirational message to their own lives, through age-appropriate discussion questions.

There are many questions posed throughout the book for the reader to ponder.

Steve was taken from his mother at age three, Yes his mother abused alcohol and drugs. But he was placed in a home that was worse than his drugged mother. He lived in the clutches of a cruel foster family. He finds his only refuge in a box of books given to him by a kind stranger, books that take him to new worlds he can only imagine.

Some how this young man found hope that offered him a different life.

As he matures, Steve is determined to unravel his past. Steve is a light-skinned boy with blue eyes, a curly Afro, and a Polish last name.

This incredible true story takes the reader on an extraordinary quest searching for his identity, armed with only one clue.
You will be stunned at what he finds.

Thank you Netgally.

A Chance in the World (Young Readers Edition)
An Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home
by Steve Pemberton
Thomas Nelson: CHILDREN'S
Thomas Nelson
Children's Nonfiction | Christian | Middle Grade
Pub Date 20 Apr 2021


I am reviewing a copy of A Chance in the World (Young Readers Addition through Thomas Nelson Children’s and Netgalley:



This is the story of Steve Pemberton, who endured abusive foster homes, one of which he had to endure intense physical, emotions. Steve refuses to let this abusive family who for years has everyone fooled, and then he finds his voice to speak up, and after eleven years with a horribly abusive family, he finally is able to get out of there.






During this time he becomes determined to find his real family, while attending college, making a career for himself and having three children. He refused to let what the family he had been with let him beat him down, no matter how many times they told him he was worthless, he worked to get a good education, from the time he was young he had found his escape in books.



If you are a young person looking for a inspirational book about overcoming against all odds, and not letting words beat you down.



I give A Chance in the World five out of five stars !



Happy Reading!

The Young Readers Edition of A Chance in the World tells the true story of author Steve Pemberton's ordeal through the foster care system and the search to find his parents. A quick read, this book shows the power of believing in yourself and the importance of finding people who believe in you too. Steve's story is inspiring, although it could easily have been very different. It is a reminder to young readers to hold on to their dreams, even during tough times. This book would be a great edition to any classroom library.

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #AChanceInTheWorldYoungReadersEdition

Steve had an extremely difficult life in foster care. Growing up, he had to fight for so many opportunities that I have taken for granted, including reading a book. His voice is raw and honest. I am glad he was able to pivot and use it for good.

I had never heard of A Chance in the World, or of Steve Pemberton, but when I read the description of this book for young readers, it sounded like one I would enjoy. I'm always looking for books to read to my children, too, so I requested a review copy of this.
Steve could not remember his mother. In fact, all he knew was mistreatment. He was five when he was placed in the Robinson home as a foster child, after two years of being bounced from one foster home to another. Though his first impression of Betty Robinson was of a loving mother, that changed as soon as the social worker left the house. Steve became a slave to be beaten, starved, and worked hard. He was also constantly told that he was worthless and would never amount to anything.
Steve's only escape was reading. He had to hide to read, but he could escape his nightmare of a life for a time by reading—and then a loving neighbor started giving him books! These books gave him hope of life beyond the Robinson Rules. Here and there through the years, someone would show Steve some love and care, which kept him going in hope that someday he would escape.
Once he was grown, Steve was able to fulfill a life-long dream and search for his family. What he found was sad and startling, but also rewarding. He also found a wife and finally had a family of his own, as well as became a successful businessman.
Steve Pemberton's story is proof that our current circumstances, and the family we are born into, does not have to define our life. As he states about the broken families that are his legacy, What makes a family is neither the absence of tragedy nor the ability to hide from misfortune. Families are built by the courage to overcome that broken past and write a new beginning. What a powerful statement! Our family has experienced tragedy, and we know the truth of this statement. What we went through together has strengthened our family and made us closer to each other.
I decided not to read A Chance in the World aloud, since our six-year-old is not ready to hear about things like Steve experienced, yet. I would have not problem, though, in allowing a 12- or 13-year-old to read it. This book will inspire people to see the potential in troubled children. It gives hope for the future to those who come from broken homes and the people who work with them.
There are questions at the end of many chapters to help the reader think through his or her own life in light of what was related in the story. I think this book would be best read by children or teens with an adult to help them talk through the difficult experiences described by Steve, and the questions will help with discussion.
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Beatings are described in chapters 9 and 26. There is also a lot of lying.

This review will be posted on www.learningresourcedirectory.com approximately October 1, 2021.

First of all I sincerely hope that no one has to go through what the main character Steve went through and if someone does then please do contact the concerned authorities :).
This book highlights the life of an orphan who was abused by his foster family. It showed the way he never lost hope and threw light on emotional and physical abuse, how just some words can hurt and break you, and some words can build you into who you are.
Its touching how the protagonist finds sanctuary in books and how they inspire him.
The main part definitely has to be how Robinsons' fooled all the social workers and how the ones who knew were afraid to speak up, and that has to change.
I'm glad that the author was finally able to come out an tell the truth and inform his social workers, and that he found his family!
I love how in the end Steve choose to help others like him!
And the questions at the end of each chapter are relatable and nice!
It's a must read for all people! 🙂
My rating 5 out of 5

This was an amazing read for a younger reader, one destined to give those young readers hope in an ever-darkening world.. Highly recommend this book for parents and their younger readers. Will be recommending for library purchase.

What a well-done version of an adult memoir, perfectly adapted for middle grade readers. The author handles tough topics (abuse, neglect, substance abuse, and death) in an age-appropriate way. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter are thought-provoking and invite the reader to make personal connections to the book. The themes of hopefulness, perseverance, and survival help offset the brutally sad descriptions of the author's childhood. It's an inspiring story for young readers who may be dealing with their own abusive or neglectful circumstances, and includes resources for who to reach out to for support. It's also important for children who haven't experienced these situations to build awareness and empathy for others; the book and its discussion questions would be a valuable addition to any classroom, library, or homeschool. I'm grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A Chance in the World is the Young Readers Edition of a true story by Steve Pemberton. It tells a story of a horrendous heartbreaking foster care experience. I would make this a required reading for all youth social service agency personnel. Not only because this type of foster care environment is too common and should never be allowed, but children who need the most attention are lost in the system that fails them. There has to be a way to prevent these soul-damaging experiences. Nonetheless, this is also a story of perseverance and courage to keep going no matter how painful the past is. What an important and inspiring read.