The Journey
The Journey
The Journey
The Story Behind The Project
Book Trailer
Adopted Between Worlds
A story of adoption, identity, and the families that shape us.
Two adoption journeys across continents and decades and the foundation for the resources and support offered here.
What This Memoir Is About
Adopted Between Worlds
Adopted Between Worlds traces two adoption journeys across three continents. The first follows Atticus, an adoptee born in Colombia, adopted by a German family, and raised in the United States, returning as an adult to search for his biological family. The second journey begins years later when Atticus becomes an adoptive parent, confronting the realities of childhood trauma, the limits of love, and a decision that reshapes his family forever. Together, these journeys explore adoption, identity, and what it means to belong across the different worlds we call home.
Why This Book Matters
Adopted Between Worlds
Across Colombia, Germany, and the United States, I have lived between worlds shaped by adoption. First as an adoptee who went searching for answers, and later as a parent learning what love alone cannot heal. Adoption is often framed as either a rescue story or a tragedy. This memoir tells the truth in between, so anyone touched by adoption can feel seen, better prepared, and less alone and better equipped to seek the support they may need.
Who This Book Is For
Adopted Between Worlds
This book is for you if…
You're an adoptee navigating identity, belonging, grief, or the pull to understand your origins and you want language for experiences that are often invisible.
You're an adoptive parent (or hoping to become one) who wants a candid, compassionate view of what love can't magically fix, and what support actually looks like when trauma shows up at home.
You are part of the adoption constellation, including birth family, siblings, extended family, or partners, and want a human story that respects the complexity of real people and real choices.
You’re a therapist, social worker, educator, or caseworker who values lived experience alongside professional training.
You read memoirs that wrestle with big questions of family, identity, ethics, and resilience and you're looking for a story that stays honest when the answers aren't simple.
Even if you do not see yourself in these descriptions, you may simply enjoy a human story told without easy answers.
About The Author
Adopted Between Worlds
I publish under the pen name Atticus Galán Scholl. I am a Colombia-born international adoptee raised between German and U.S. cultural worlds. I write about adoption, belonging, and identity, with honesty and care for the people at the center of these stories. I aim for clarity, compassion, and language that feels true to lived experience.
Why a pen name?
I publish under the pen name Atticus Galán Scholl to protect the privacy of children, friends, and family members connected to this story and because naming has been central to my life. Through adoption, I carried multiple names before and after the process, all assigned by others. This time, I chose my own name and what it represents.
Atticus is drawn from Atticus Finch, the principled lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, not as a claim to virtue, but as a personal point of origin. When I read the book at 15, it shaped my early understanding of integrity, empathy, and the responsibility to stand up for what is right. I am also aware that later published work and public debate complicated Atticus’s legacy for some readers. I do not use “Atticus” to hold up a flawless hero. It reflects American moral conviction and the courage to tell hard truths with care. To Kill a Mockingbird was also the first school-required book and film I genuinely enjoyed, and it stayed with me. I use it as a reminder of the standard I want to reach and the humility required to keep learning and listening.
Galán honors Luis Carlos Galán, the Colombian reformist leader assassinated in 1989 for standing up to corruption and cartel violence. Since the idea of returning to Colombia ignited in me in 2000, I read extensively about Colombian history, and Galán’s assassination stood out as a defining national wound. He signified hope and the possibility of a better future. This name represents Colombian heritage, idealism, and speaking truth to power.
Scholl honors Sophie and Hans Scholl of the White Rose, a nonviolent resistance group against Nazism, executed in 1943 for distributing anti-regime leaflets. I first learned about the Scholls in my high school German class, but it wasn’t until the film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days that I fully grasped how brave they were in such a dangerous time. It represents German roots, conscience, and choosing what is right even in darkness.
I chose these names not to claim their stature, but to anchor myself to values I am committed to practicing with humility and accountability. They represent who I aspire to be and serve as a constant reminder of how much I have yet to learn.
Beyond the memoir, this project includes a resource hub designed to help anyone touched by adoption find trusted support more easily and feel less alone.
Publication planned for February 14, 2027
Adopted Between Worlds
Time until Publication
Book is published!
The Story Behind The Project
Book Trailer
Adopted Between Worlds
A story of adoption, identity, and the families that shape us.
Two adoption journeys across continents and decades and the foundation for the resources and support offered here.
What This Memoir Is About
Adopted Between Worlds
Adopted Between Worlds traces two adoption journeys across three continents. The first follows Atticus, an adoptee born in Colombia, adopted by a German family, and raised in the United States, returning as an adult to search for his biological family. The second journey begins years later when Atticus becomes an adoptive parent, confronting the realities of childhood trauma, the limits of love, and a decision that reshapes his family forever. Together, these journeys explore adoption, identity, and what it means to belong across the different worlds we call home.
Why This Book Matters
Adopted Between Worlds
Across Colombia, Germany, and the United States, I have lived between worlds shaped by adoption. First as an adoptee who went searching for answers, and later as a parent learning what love alone cannot heal. Adoption is often framed as either a rescue story or a tragedy. This memoir tells the truth in between, so anyone touched by adoption can feel seen, better prepared, and less alone and better equipped to seek the support they may need.
Who This Book Is For
Adopted Between Worlds
This book is for you if…
You're an adoptee navigating identity, belonging, grief, or the pull to understand your origins and you want language for experiences that are often invisible.
You're an adoptive parent (or hoping to become one) who wants a candid, compassionate view of what love can't magically fix, and what support actually looks like when trauma shows up at home.
You are part of the adoption constellation, including birth family, siblings, extended family, or partners, and want a human story that respects the complexity of real people and real choices.
You’re a therapist, social worker, educator, or caseworker who values lived experience alongside professional training.
You read memoirs that wrestle with big questions of family, identity, ethics, and resilience and you're looking for a story that stays honest when the answers aren't simple.
Even if you do not see yourself in these descriptions, you may simply enjoy a human story told without easy answers.
About The Author
Adopted Between Worlds
I publish under the pen name Atticus Galán Scholl. I am a Colombia-born international adoptee raised between German and U.S. cultural worlds. I write about adoption, belonging, and identity, with honesty and care for the people at the center of these stories. I aim for clarity, compassion, and language that feels true to lived experience.
Why a pen name?
I publish under the pen name Atticus Galán Scholl to protect the privacy of children, friends, and family members connected to this story and because naming has been central to my life. Through adoption, I carried multiple names before and after the process, all assigned by others. This time, I chose my own name and what it represents.
Atticus is drawn from Atticus Finch, the principled lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, not as a claim to virtue, but as a personal point of origin. When I read the book at 15, it shaped my early understanding of integrity, empathy, and the responsibility to stand up for what is right. I am also aware that later published work and public debate complicated Atticus’s legacy for some readers. I do not use “Atticus” to hold up a flawless hero. It reflects American moral conviction and the courage to tell hard truths with care. To Kill a Mockingbird was also the first school-required book and film I genuinely enjoyed, and it stayed with me. I use it as a reminder of the standard I want to reach and the humility required to keep learning and listening.
Galán honors Luis Carlos Galán, the Colombian reformist leader assassinated in 1989 for standing up to corruption and cartel violence. Since the idea of returning to Colombia ignited in me in 2000, I read extensively about Colombian history, and Galán’s assassination stood out as a defining national wound. He signified hope and the possibility of a better future. This name represents Colombian heritage, idealism, and speaking truth to power.
Scholl honors Sophie and Hans Scholl of the White Rose, a nonviolent resistance group against Nazism, executed in 1943 for distributing anti-regime leaflets. I first learned about the Scholls in my high school German class, but it wasn’t until the film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days that I fully grasped how brave they were in such a dangerous time. It represents German roots, conscience, and choosing what is right even in darkness.
I chose these names not to claim their stature, but to anchor myself to values I am committed to practicing with humility and accountability. They represent who I aspire to be and serve as a constant reminder of how much I have yet to learn.
Beyond the memoir, this project includes a resource hub designed to help anyone touched by adoption find trusted support more easily and feel less alone.
Publication planned for February 14, 2027
Adopted Between Worlds
Time until Publication
Book is published!
The Story Behind The Project
Book Trailer
Adopted Between Worlds
A story of adoption, identity, and the families that shape us.
Two adoption journeys across continents and decades and the foundation for the resources and support offered here.
What This Memoir Is About
Adopted Between Worlds
Adopted Between Worlds traces two adoption journeys across three continents. The first follows Atticus, an adoptee born in Colombia, adopted by a German family, and raised in the United States, returning as an adult to search for his biological family. The second journey begins years later when Atticus becomes an adoptive parent, confronting the realities of childhood trauma, the limits of love, and a decision that reshapes his family forever. Together, these journeys explore adoption, identity, and what it means to belong across the different worlds we call home.
Why This Book Matters
Adopted Between Worlds
Across Colombia, Germany, and the United States, I have lived between worlds shaped by adoption. First as an adoptee who went searching for answers, and later as a parent learning what love alone cannot heal. Adoption is often framed as either a rescue story or a tragedy. This memoir tells the truth in between, so anyone touched by adoption can feel seen, better prepared, and less alone and better equipped to seek the support they may need.
Who This Book Is For
Adopted Between Worlds
This book is for you if…
You're an adoptee navigating identity, belonging, grief, or the pull to understand your origins and you want language for experiences that are often invisible.
You're an adoptive parent (or hoping to become one) who wants a candid, compassionate view of what love can't magically fix, and what support actually looks like when trauma shows up at home.
You are part of the adoption constellation, including birth family, siblings, extended family, or partners, and want a human story that respects the complexity of real people and real choices.
You’re a therapist, social worker, educator, or caseworker who values lived experience alongside professional training.
You read memoirs that wrestle with big questions of family, identity, ethics, and resilience and you're looking for a story that stays honest when the answers aren't simple.
Even if you do not see yourself in these descriptions, you may simply enjoy a human story told without easy answers.
About The Author
Adopted Between Worlds
I publish under the pen name Atticus Galán Scholl. I am a Colombia-born international adoptee raised between German and U.S. cultural worlds. I write about adoption, belonging, and identity, with honesty and care for the people at the center of these stories. I aim for clarity, compassion, and language that feels true to lived experience.
Why a pen name?
I publish under the pen name Atticus Galán Scholl to protect the privacy of children, friends, and family members connected to this story and because naming has been central to my life. Through adoption, I carried multiple names before and after the process, all assigned by others. This time, I chose my own name and what it represents.
Atticus is drawn from Atticus Finch, the principled lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, not as a claim to virtue, but as a personal point of origin. When I read the book at 15, it shaped my early understanding of integrity, empathy, and the responsibility to stand up for what is right. I am also aware that later published work and public debate complicated Atticus’s legacy for some readers. I do not use “Atticus” to hold up a flawless hero. It reflects American moral conviction and the courage to tell hard truths with care. To Kill a Mockingbird was also the first school-required book and film I genuinely enjoyed, and it stayed with me. I use it as a reminder of the standard I want to reach and the humility required to keep learning and listening.
Galán honors Luis Carlos Galán, the Colombian reformist leader assassinated in 1989 for standing up to corruption and cartel violence. Since the idea of returning to Colombia ignited in me in 2000, I read extensively about Colombian history, and Galán’s assassination stood out as a defining national wound. He signified hope and the possibility of a better future. This name represents Colombian heritage, idealism, and speaking truth to power.
Scholl honors Sophie and Hans Scholl of the White Rose, a nonviolent resistance group against Nazism, executed in 1943 for distributing anti-regime leaflets. I first learned about the Scholls in my high school German class, but it wasn’t until the film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days that I fully grasped how brave they were in such a dangerous time. It represents German roots, conscience, and choosing what is right even in darkness.
I chose these names not to claim their stature, but to anchor myself to values I am committed to practicing with humility and accountability. They represent who I aspire to be and serve as a constant reminder of how much I have yet to learn.
Beyond the memoir, this project includes a resource hub designed to help anyone touched by adoption find trusted support more easily and feel less alone.
Publication planned for 2/14/27
Adopted Between Worlds
Time until Publication
Book is published!
Get In Touch
You’re not alone.
Whether you’d like to stay connected through occasional updates or reach out with a question or resource, we’d love to hear from you.
Get In Touch
You’re not alone.
Whether you’d like to stay connected through occasional updates or reach out with a question or resource, we’d love to hear from you.
Get In Touch
You’re not alone.
Whether you’d like to stay connected through occasional updates or reach out with a question or resource, we’d love to hear from you.