‘Broken Child Mended Man’, by Dr. Adam Starks, tells the harrowing tale of a neglected upbringing and transition into foster care; a microcosm of the 500,000 children currently locked in the same system. However, and against all odds, Dr. Starks triumphed through his pain to achieve trend-bucking success. In this raw and frank memoir, Dr. Starks lays his life story bare, and through a display of what can only be described as resilience in its most primitive form, offers hope to others who feel their past has to define their future.
Pittsburgh, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/17/2015 -- Like every other child in the nation, Adam Starks would lay his head on the pillow each night with bold hopes and dreams for the future. However, Adam's success wasn't statistically likely – he was one of 500,000 children in foster care, giving him just a 50/50 chance of even graduating high school.
Let's fast forward to the man stood before the world today – Dr. Adam Starks, an aspiring social entrepreneur who smashed through all barriers of his neglected upbringing to earn a doctorate degree and has inspired many by sharing his story of perseverance and hope. 'Broken Child Mended Man' is that story, a gripping exposé' of growing up in the nation's broken foster care system, and an admirable story of hope for those who feel they can't fully realize their potential due to past circumstances.
Synopsis:
Broken Child Mended Man is a remarkably compelling memoir touching on childhood neglect, years in foster care and overcoming the odds to graduate college. Highlighting the emotional and psychological ups and downs during his formative years, Adam Starks manages to reveal human resilience in its most authentic form. Through a life of trial and error, the author displays bountiful courage by achieving life's milestones without a role model. Broken Child Mended Man is one of this year's best surprises for readers from every walk of life. This book is for anyone having trouble with their current circumstances or just looking for ways to support the broken souls within their community. The surprisingly positive message throughout the book will help any reader establish solid footing as they seek purpose and the will to persevere through life's hardships.
"I'll admit, I did once conform to the mold foster care creates for most," explains Dr. Starks. "I made a series of poor choices as a young man that could have changed the course of my life irreparably. A child in foster care has to overcome a lot of obstacles that regular kids don't, but we are a resilient breed, and I never ignored the calling inside of me to do more with my life."
Continuing, "I initially explored politics, but decided that sharing my story with the world would have far more tangible benefits. Therefore, I took a big risk by pouring my inner chaos onto paper, depicting my innate rage as a young man without pulling any punches, yet ultimately uplifting readers to a place where they understand that the course of life can be changed. I hope my story empowers both young people and adults to focus more on the viable solutions for neglected children and recognize that we all have untold potential."
Since its release, the book has garnered a string of rave reviews. Jeanne Grimes comments, "Dr. Starks weaves an entertaining tale that immediately hooks you into this exciting and yet incomprehensible story and then it hits you. This is not a novel, this is someone's life! This actually happened and yet through determination, hard work, and a bit of luck along the way, Dr. Starks truly becomes a "mended" man. This life story should be required reading for teachers, social workers, or for that matter, anyone who works with or interacts with children. Thanks to Dr. Starks for writing the book and for the inspiration so that other broken children will realize that there is hope."
Autumn Reynolds adds, "This is an amazing story of a young mans' perseverance to overcome almost impossible odds. I encourage every parent, every young adult, or anyone having self-doubts to read this book and find the courage within themselves to push past the pain and achieve true happiness. Thank you for sharing Dr. Starks."
'Broken Child Mended Man' is available now: http://amzn.to/1FCauJj.
For more information, visit the author's official website: http://www.adamstarks.com.
About Adam Starks
Adam Starks, Ph.D. is a former foster youth who defied the typical outcome. Against the odds, he has been married for over 12 years to his wonderful wife, Emily. Together, they have three children, Jayden (10), Isaiah (7) and Susannah (1). Currently, Dr. Adam Starks is an aspiring social entrepreneur envisioning a better today for our society's most vulnerable children. His purpose to empower and advocate for foster, homeless and at-risk youth throughout their educational process will serve to make each student realize their talent and potential. As living proof to what it takes to break the cycle, Dr. Starks' Urban Light Initiative seeks to establish a nonprofit organization that helps our most disadvantaged youth transcend the dismal statistics resulting from negative experiences during their formative years.