Looking for a title

[Stuart]

I'm trying to remember the title of a book I read when I was younger.

The book was about a boy who started life as a beggar on a planet somewhere. I think he was sold to a family of interstellar traders and we follow his life has he goes though life.

I know it's not much to go on, the book is at least 30 years old if that's any help.

Anyone have any clues?

[Karen]

The book sounds like Robert Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy. The boy was a slave, sold to an apparent beggar who was more than what he seemed. He wasn't sold to the interstellar traders, but joined them under other circumstances that would be a spoiler to recite. The boy's original identity also becomes an issue.

[Stuart]

Boom!

That's the one!

Nice catch Karen.

[Karen]

Glad to help out! :-)