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Tanya Crossman
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Misunderstood: The impact of growing up overseas in the 21st century Kindle Edition

by Tanya Crossman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 88 ratings
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Over 200 million people currently live abroad; more than 50 million are temporary residents, intending to return to their country of origin. Misunderstood explores the impact international life can have on the children of such families – while they live overseas, when they return, and as they mature into adults. Similarities in their shared experiences (regardless of the different countries in which they have lived) create a safe space of comfort and understanding. Tanya Crossman introduces this space – the Third Culture – through the personal stories of hundreds of individuals. Whether you grew up overseas, are raising children overseas, or know a family living abroad, Misunderstood will equip you with insights into the international experience, along with practical suggestions for how to offer meaningful care and support.
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  1. Print length
    291 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    August 15, 2016
  5. File size
    1834 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"If I were moving overseas with my kids today, this is the book I'd want in my hand luggage." - Kay Bruner, MA LCP, author, As Soon As I Fell. "It's hard to imagine a more thorough - or more thoughtful - treatment of the dynamics of being a TCK." - Craig Storti, Director of Communicating Across Cultures.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01ITGMVFS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Summertime Publishing (August 15, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 15, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1834 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 291 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

About the author

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Tanya Crossman

Tanya Crossman

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Tanya Crossman is passionate about building bridges of understanding between Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and those who care for them. She has mentored hundreds of teenage and young adult TCKs over the past 13 years. She has also travelled to accept invitations to speak to groups of TCKs, parents, teachers and other carers in nine countries.

Tanya grew up in Sydney and Canberra, Australia, and lived in Connecticut, USA for two years of high school. She moved to China independently at age 21, where a study year turned into 11 years abroad (including 6 months in Cambodia). Tanya has been through repatriation twice – as a teenager and as an adult – and recently made her 6th international move, back to Beijing, China.

Tanya received a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies (Chinese) from the Australian National University, and a diploma in Mandarin Chinese from Beijing Language and Culture University. She worked several bilingual jobs in China before choosing to work with TCKs full time in 2010. She has coordinated over 35 camps and conferences for teenage TCKs in China and Cambodia.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
88 global ratings
A must own
5 Stars
A must own
My copy of Tanya's book has lots of highlighting and well-thumbed, curling coloured tabs.It's a 'must have' on my book shelf. I would call this an easy-read encyclopedia of 'how it truly is' being a young person living a global life. Every expat parent should own a copy.
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Top reviews from the United States

Keith Frampton
5.0 out of 5 stars A very valuable resource for a growing group of people
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
I have not yet finished the book myself, however my partner has and this is her review:
"I found 'Misunderstood' really valuable and easy to read because it combines anecdotes from young people and practical support strategies based on Crossman's well-grounded research about the impact of growing up in multiple countries.
The book is divided into sections that make it easy to dip in and read about specific situations e.g. what it's like if your family is engaged in international business or missionary or foreign service. I was especially impressed by the discussion about how and why third culture kids suppress their emotions and how to support their emotional expression and growth.
My partner went to 6 primary schools and lived in 17 houses whilst growing up in Australia and overseas. 'Misunderstood' could have made a big difference for him and for his family. So if you are planning an international career that will entail multiple family moves I encourage you to read this book now."
9 people found this helpful
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China Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource and Insights
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018
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My children are Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and this book provides valuable insight in understanding the challenges and joys that a child experiences while growing up outside of their "home" country. As a parent, this book helps me to identify what my child may be going through and to recognize how their feelings and experiences differ from mine as well as how to validate and respect those feelings and help them navigate transitions. I really appreciated the multiple interviews/feedback from children of different backgrounds (missionary/government/business/adoption) and the way the book is formatted to help identify the speakers point of view. I read the book on Kindle but have since gotten a hard copy as well so I can easily revisit and add my notes - it's a great resource!
7 people found this helpful
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Mar
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting insights
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2023
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Provides update to Third Culture Kids with insights about more modern developments and their effects on TCKs.
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Jeremy L
5.0 out of 5 stars Can't recommend this book more! - TCK
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2016
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I identify with the concept of Third Culture Kids, having grown up in a country where my parents were considered foreigners, many of the topics that Misunderstood covers resonate with me quite strongly. Growing up overseas, there were experiences and challenges that the average person who grows in one location does not know much about or understand, be it my parents, friends in my host country or family in my passport country. Having just finished reading this book, I plan to donate a copy to the international school that I attended and give another to parents on the PTA of the school to pass around; this is a great resource and will provide valuable insight to teachers and parents of TCKs, and TCKs themselves - perspective to questions about the feelings and behavior of TCKs that had previously mystified, confused and been overlooked.
6 people found this helpful
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Melissa Bomberger
5.0 out of 5 stars It is almost eery to read Tanya's book after talking ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016
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It is almost eery to read Tanya's book after talking to my son regarding his transition back into living in the US. So many of the words and thoughts he expressed are identical to those in this book. I bought both of us copies so we could try and understand his feelings and realize what he is going through is both normal and ok. There are so many positive outcomes from exposing your child to living overseas I must admit that I did not realize also the conflict that poses when trying to understand where you fit in compared to many of your peers. Thank you Tanya for writing such a thoughtful and understanding book regarding this generations children who are growing up outside of their main culture.
One person found this helpful
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Judy B.
5.0 out of 5 stars very well written and informative
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2017
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Hi Tanya, I wanted to tell you I finished your book over Christmas and was very impressed. Your writing style is so clear and smooth. Much of the content was a review for me however your style of organizing it and including interviews with people was very interesting and a terrific method for communicating. It did not hurt that I knew some of the people that you listed. I really liked the last quarter of the book when you got into some of the observations of TCK's emotionally and long term. That was concise, clear and helpful. Well done Tanya!!! You are a terrific writer. Thanks for sharing your book.
3 people found this helpful
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Melinda H
5.0 out of 5 stars So very helpful!
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2016
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This is a very helpful book. As a family who lived overseas for 4 years, this is helpful for understanding how my kids experienced life, and how it influenced them, as opposed to how the adults have been changed. For example, my blond, blue eyed, curly haired kid tells people he is from Beijing when they ask, because he lived there for half of his first 8 years of his life. He was upset at almost 11 that he couldn't put Chinese as his nationality on a school project. This book is thoughtful and insightful.
5 people found this helpful
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Rachel Pieh Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Wise, compassionate, and useful.
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2018
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I read this as I am about to send my twin Third Culture Kids to university and the timing couldn't have been better. Tanya writes with wisdom and provides perspectives from a broad spectrum of TCKs. The anecdotes combined with the depth of her research was both thorough and accessible. I found so much useful information as well as encouragement and inspiration for help in raising my TCKs, especially since I am not one myself.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

SianJorg
5.0 out of 5 stars 17yr old tck really loves this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2021
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My 17yr old Third culture kid loves this book, she feels that finally someone gets her experiences and she can identify with lots of the things said.
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Carmen
5.0 out of 5 stars welcome to our TCK life
Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
Happy to see a friend's published book....and happy to read other TCK's stories, that are much like my own.
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Aneurin
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing insights into how being a TCK has changed over ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2018
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I work with a lot of TCk's and do a lot of writing about them too. This book is a must read for any modern TCK. Amazing insights into how being a TCK has changed over the past 30 years as well.
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