The Boy in The Orange Van: From Childhood Dreams to The American Dream

The Boy in the Orange Van is a memoir that begins with joy, veers into grief, and ultimately becomes a generational triumph. It tells the story of a Dutch-born Turkish boy who loses his father too young, fights his way through poverty and displacement, and builds a multimillion-dollar transportation company in Chicago - all while carrying the spirit of his father and the memory of their family's beloved orange Volkswagen van. Born in 1977 in Hengelo, Netherlands, Api lived a vibrant childhood filled with family road trips, warm holidays, and simple magic - until the day everything changed. When his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the family returned to a remote Turkish village, leaving behind their modern life for dirt roads and hardship. Api, the oldest son among five siblings, suddenly became the emotional head of a grieving family. At 19, he left for America with no English, no money, and no safety net - just his father's work ethic and an unshakable desire to create a better life. He delivered pizzas, cleaned gas station bathrooms, and studied English in the mornings. Over time, he broke into the limousine industry, driving Chicago's elite and building the foundation of what would become a transportation empire. But the memoir is not only about survival or success. At its heart is also a love story - an interfaith, intercultural marriage that redefined Api's sense of home. He fell in love with Karla, a Christian Mexican-American woman with roots just as humble and dreams just as big. Together, they built a life grounded in mutual respect, raising their children to honor both Eid and Christmas, and to celebrate the beauty of being open-hearted citizens of the world. The book's emotional crescendo comes when Api takes his wife and children on a road trip back through the Netherlands and Turkey - revisiting the paths he once walked barefoot. At his father's grave, he introduces his family to the man who taught him everything - a moment that closes a lifelong circle of longing, love, and fulfillment. The Boy in the Orange Van will resonate with readers of The Glass Castle, From Scratch, and Educated. It's a story of one man's journey across continents, across cultures, and across generations - a story about the strength of family, the power of memory, and the beauty of building something new without forgetting where you came from.