No matter how broken our past or great our misfortunes, we can create a new beginning and build a life of love and kindness.

Taken from his mother at age three, Steve Klakowicz lives 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. He begins to hope that one day he might have a different life.

As he grows, Steve is determined to unravel the mystery of his origins and find his birth family. A light-skinned boy with blue eyes, a curly Afro, and a Polish last name, he embarks on an extraordinary quest for his identity, armed with only one clue. Yet nothing is as it appears.

In this inspiring and harrowing memoir, A 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

This new youth adaption, written for 8 to 12 year-olds, shares Steve's journey with sensitivity, honesty, and hope. Adapted from the USA Today bestselling memoir, A Chance in the World.