"Chosen." "Special."

Those are the words Margot Starbuck used to describe herself as a child adopted into a loving family.

And when her adoptive parents divorced, her dad moved east, and her mom and dad each got remarried, she told herself that she was extra loved, since she had more than two parents and people in different times zones who cared about her.

But the word she really believed about herself was rejected. First by her birth parents. Then by her adoptive father when he moved away. Then by her stepfather. Then by her birth father a second time, when she tried to invite him into her life.

Most of all, Margot felt rejected by God the Father, who she also suspected could not be trusted. Margot's story begins with a woman looking for her biological father. But it doesn't end when she finds him. Instead, his rejection punctures her soul and sends her on a different search—one that leads to a different Father.

This Father did not just "sacrifice a son" like the parents she knew, but instead gave his own life out of love for her.

Maybe you've been disappointed and wounded by parents who divorced, left, were abusive, or simply weren't there. Enter into Margot's story. She has been where you are. She knows the pain you carry. And her journey can lead you to the God who nurtures, protects, and always says, "I am for you."



Margot Starbuck is a writer and speaker in Durham, North Carolina. The author of The Girl in the Orange Dress and Unsqueezed, she is passionate about communicating God's great love for all of us. Keep up with heradventures at www.MargotStarbuck.com.



1 My Perfect Childhood



2 Dumpster Diving and Other Social Disasters



3 Love Child



4 Sleuthing Around



5 Welcome to Oz



6 One Wily Emotion Chip



7 Looking for Love in Too Many Faces



8 Stranded in a Scorpion Desert



9 Claimed by the Good Tribe



10 God's Cool Tatoo



Acknowledgments



"In this bittersweet memoir, Starbuck displays a refreshingly quirky sense of humor as she chronicles her search for human connection and divine love."



"The Girl in the Orange Dress is not an indictment against fathers. Starbuck's evolving relationship with God is, like our own, worthy of exploration and sharing. As with most life lessons, the learning never stops. I look forward to the next installment of her life."



"Starbuck's skillful writing, her courageous honesty about her own pain, and her good natured willingness to laugh at her own youthful foolishness will endear her to readers. Anyone interested in issues related to adoption will welcomet his book. Highly recommended."



"Margot Starbuck is one heckuva great writer, a breezy, witty gal who will be (or ought to be) compared to Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz) and Lauren Winner (Girl Meets God). This is a fun book, and, I think, it is an important one. Whether you have, know someone who has had, experience with adoption, or know adopted kids or foster parents or have divorced parents in your extended circle of family and friends, or a clay-footed father, knowing we are beloved and accepted by aGod who is there for us--is of extraordinary significance. [A] beautiful gift for anyone, a perfect kind of book because it is easy to read, a bit lighthearted (no, it is downright funny) and yet packs a notable punch, in the story-line, the sheer emotions it conjures, and in the theological truth it conveys."



"Will this book be made into a movie? A TV series? A graphic novel? Well, it oughta. Margot Starbuck's story has legs, and it'll captivate anyone who has a chance to hear it, in whatever way they can. Her easygoing style spins this unique yarn into an every(wo)man tale that can speak to us all."



"With a delightful fresh voice and remarkable insights, Starbuck draws readers into her story as she journeys toward the healing the only comes through a Father's love."



"With this book, Margot Starbuck unleashes her new, very welcome voice. She narrates the Christian spiritual life with winsome humor and (occasionally scary) honesty. Pretty much every woman I know will be getting The Girl in the Orange Dress for her birthday."



"Simply put, this is a brilliant book. Beautifully written, it's a must-read for all of us who realize our deepest longing is for a true experience of our real Father. Don't miss this book!"



"Starbuck gets it—what many fail to understand about how much it hurts to lose your parents at birth. Being relinquished, that is, given away, and then taken by others can be a core injury to the developing human heart. In her early years, Starbuck denies it, then fights it, then feels it. She negotiates the troubled waters of sorrow and 'second rejection' suffering when Max, her father by birth, says 'No' instead of 'Hello.' Finally, she rests her heart in the Lord's care and discovers her deepest identity in Jesus Christ. Lightly and delightfully written, this autobiography is a great read for those who want to understand more about the agony of abandonment and the joy of belonging."



"Maybe you've been disappointed and wounded by parents who divorced, left, were abusive, or simply weren't there. Enter into Margot's story. She has been where you are. She knows the pain you carry. And her journey can lead you to the God who nurtures, protects, and always says, 'I am for you.'"