Book Description

At age thirteen, Inga Aksamit finds herself caught in her second war zone, listening to gunfire in East Pakistan while contemplating what few possessions she can take if evacuated. But her story begins years earlier, when at four years old, her family leaves their comfortable California life behind for a posting in West Pakistan.

From a terrifying separation from her mother in a crowded Tokyo train station to hiding under restaurant tables in Hong Kong, young Inga’s journey across Asia is just the beginning of a life straddling cultures. As the daughter of an American engineer working on crucial infrastructure projects in Pakistan, she navigates a world of armed compounds, household servants, cultural misunderstandings, and political unrest.

“Between Worlds: An Expat’s Quest for Belonging” is a vivid memoir that captures the challenges and adventures of growing up as a Western child in South Asia and South America during the 1960s. Through the eyes of a four-year-old and to teenager, Aksamit brings to life the sights, sounds, and smells of a world that no longer exists, while exploring universal themes of identity, belonging, and what it truly means to be home.

Perfect for readers who enjoyed “Reading Lolita in Tehran” and “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight,” this memoir offers a unique perspective on a pivotal time in South Asian history through the lens of a young American caught between two worlds.