Praise for Castaway Kid

Having been in the service of serving abandoned, behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents for 32 years, I was able to reminisce and find memories explicitly tied to this book.

The messages are accurate, profound, and direct.

The chapters relive one man’s story but the themes are multiplied by the number of kids in care from yesterday to the present and the stories are wide and varied.

There are many stories in the lives of children from both yesteryear to this present day and age. The names change and the faces are different but the broken body and mind are still evident today.

When one reads this book you become acutely aware of why behavior, emotion, identity, can go awry. All of the clinical terminology which labels children in placement existed then and still does today.

What is remarkable and I have seen it over and over is that there are those who “will” to live, who “will” to grow, who never give up.

Out of all the chaos emerges a Rob Mitchell and there are numbers upon numbers who, in spite of the many abuses and neglect, rise to become vibrant creative human beings like he has.

This is a story of one of them. And, of so many of the children I have seen rise out of their pathology and into health, I have also seen a remarkable closeness to an abiding faith.

Rob Mitchell is a man of faith.

Castaway Kid is just one of many castaway kids.

– David Carlson, MSW, LCSW

The moment I read the first page, I was crying I couldn’t put the book down … I am deeply humbled by this story. I hope it will change the lives of millions of people. It has mine.

— Brian Littrell, Recording Artist, Member of the Backstreet Boys

This is a great book that reminds me personally of God’s love. I cried real tears reading this, it is a must read.

— Dave Ramsey, New York Times Best Selling Author, The Total Money Makeover

A powerful, compelling message that points to the unimaginable grace of our Heavenly Father.

— Dan T. Cathy, President and COO, Chick-fil-A, Inc.

In an era espousing self esteem, R.B. Mitchell points out with actual experience how badly all of us need God’s help in our lives and endeavors. An important read!

— Ben Edwards, Retired Chairman, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.

This is a remarkable work of contemporary literature that quickly gets inside the readers’ head and then heart.

— Dottie Hoots, English Educator, Wesleyan Academy, High Point, NC

Castaway Kid explores the power of unconditional love and the process of forgiveness that allows hope to enter into even the most extreme life struggles.

— Barbara Winslow Robidoux, Freelance book reviewer

this story is so enotional that i had to see mister robert in person.
i couldnt ever think of a story more tuching then this one right here.
thanks for telling the world you story ,and the most important thing you told me was
that it didnt matter how you grow up you can always change the future 🙂 !
alex

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i had to see mister robert

While I write these lines you find me deeply touched by reading your German
translation of Castaway Kid (Kind der Hoffnung)
I approached it with a more professional than personal attitude.
But I could not hold this professional distance and had to allow your story to talk to
me personally.
it was a “shivering moment” for me and made my impressions even stronger … I
could hear you tell the episodes to me.

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Personal not Professional

Reading your book, the German translation, Kind der Hoffnung, was a deep
personal, private experience.
I learned a lot from you and your open way to talk about your life.
Thank you very much for that.

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A deep personal, private experience

So, there I stood looking at the book again at the book store. Knowing this time I had to
buy it.It was the nudge of God.
I had pasted it up before, because the title said it all. I was that child but all was well with
me, I thought…
Once in my hand I couldn’t put it down. Yes, it was my life in print. I have to admit my
one question was..what was it about me, that caused people to throw ME away?
I came to Christ and His love overwhelmed me. Never looked back but yet this nagging
question.
While reading the book a sentence jumped out….It wasn’t about you…
you could of nocked me over…just those words and God ministered to me and a healing
again.
Thank you for your book. God used you to touch another persons life and bring healing.

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A HEALED HEART

this book is so inspirantional… its the best book ive read for summer reading 🙂 i love ittt

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Jade

My first husband had experience as you but hid it from me. We were married
12 1/2 years when I could no longer take his behavior. I tried so hard to help
but could not.
My older daughter read your book, it helped to understand some of her
feelings.
Thank you for writing this book, it will help many.
It has helped us.

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You helped our daughter, I couldn’t her father

I am an RTLB. I work with teachers and children with behaviour and learning
problems. Most of the behaviour issues stem from child abuse and child neglect. I
work with so many children with anger, hurt and pain.
Castaway Kid has an amazing influence on these children and has opened up for
me the most wonderful opportunities for discussion and reflection about hurt,
choices,vision, positive attitude, goals etc. etc.
I regard your book as a gift from God and I know that it is going to have an
everlasting effect on many of these students.
I promised these students that after we finished reading this book, they could write
to you telling you what the book meant to them.

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Having an amazing effect on our angry kids

I teach at an all boys high school and this is the second year I am reading your novel
with my freshman students.
The moment I began reading your novel the tears started to flow. I too could not put
your book down.
I believe the greatest impact is the truth you share with your readers.
Your book has touched the hearts of many of the young men I teach. Many of them
have read your book 3-5 times.
Your struggles have also touched and given hope to the teenagers I teach. They are
drawn to your experience and I guess find hope and inspiration that they to can
succeed despite the circumstances they find themselves in.
Thank you for being an inspiration to me and the young men I teach.

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3-5 times, boys reading your book

just wanted to stay i love the book castaway kid. I could relate my life to this book. I still have
days when i get really mad at God.
Just to tell you a little about my past. My (birth) mom never told me she love me and i was put
in an orphanage when i was 3 and the hardest thing is when my Russian dad told me that he
was going to come back 4 me and he never did so i still have a hard time believe people but
God helping me.
Reading your book helpped me a lot just knowing that there was some one who understand
what i am going though.
I am praying that God well help me 4give my mom and my dad. I am amazed how God help
you 4give those 3 people in your life. I hope we can talk and you can help me understand
why my mom never told me she loved me and why my dad never came 4 me…
may God bless you!!!
~Anya

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Russina Orphan

I too was abandoned but adopted as a little girl. I am now an adult and have
struggled with “why me” even though I had a loving adopted family.
I could not let go of the pain that my biological mother had given me up.
Adopted, I was still an orphan inside.
But I am no longer an orphan, thanks to you.
You made me cry for you but especially for myself, but soon after reading your
remarkable book, I too “gave up” and let God adopt ME.
Words cannot express the burden that was lifted, the freedom I have now found.
And I love my adopted parents unlike I have ever loved them in the last 25 years.
You have truly changed my life.

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I am no longer an orphan

i do not have good english but with dictionary and help i read your book in 2 days i
could not sleep
i cried and cried and cried
you said what i cannot about my own child hood
you are my brother now
i am so happy to know you

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not good english

Castaway Kid has given tremendous insights into the way an abandoned child thinks. Rob
has recalled his traumatic childhood with honestly and simplicity. The words “No-one is
going to rescue” me hit my heart like an arrow.
As the director of a national charity who runs specialized camps for child victims of abuse,
neglect and abandonment I am so very grateful for this book. It has been placed into the
hands of our nine camps which operate in Australia and New Zealand to assist them as
they train workers for the camps.
It re-affirms the value of hope, of the importance of a constant in the lives of our kids (the
Nola in Rob’s who never stopped loving and affirming) and most of all the power of finding
that Friend who sticks closer than a brother and the power of forgiveness.

Thanks Rob – we put this book onto our resource shelf with gratitude and knowledge that it
will help us make a difference in the lives of our Southern Cross Kids.
Blessings, and thanks again,
Carolyn Boyd
Founding Director
Southern Cross Kids Camps www.sckc.org.au

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Australian Thank You