The Adoption Experience: Families Who Give Children a Second Chance

by Ann Morris

This is a book of real life stories of adopters which takes the reader through every stage of the adoption process starting with the moment when they decide that adoption is the right option for them to the stories of adoptees brought up by adoptive parents. In between, the book looks at all the different types of adoption that are carried out by all sorts of families from all sorts of children of every race and age and with every kind of problem. They range from babies who are only days old when they are taken into an adoptive family to teenagers with a multitude of psychological and physical problems. The book looks at both the success and failure of these adoptions. Its aim is to inform and enlighten professionals, adopters, potential adopters and all those whose lives have in some way been touched by adoption or want to know more about it. In 15 chapters it includes more than 70 real life stories which are all told from the heart sometimes in a moment of crisis and sometimes at a time of joy. They are not analysed, they are true stories about how it feels to be at the centre of adoption. All the stories, which have been recounted over the past 10 years, are reflective of adoption today in Britain. The book also includes a chapter on the legal aspects of adoption and a further chapter of useful information and addresses.

Genres: Adoption

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 1999

Reviews

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of real people's stories about adoption from a variety of views and points in the adoption process. Well worth reading if you are considering adoption or part of the adoption 'triangle' (adoptee, adoptive parent, birth parent) as it gives perspectives from all stages of adoption, and all kinds of domestic adoption. This book is all about families in the UK, but I think this would be just as interesting to read if you were adopting domestically in any other country. Some of the procedure might be different but the emotion is definitely going to be a similar experience. (Note that it will not inform as much about international adoptions because it deals with contact with birth parents, a prolonged introduction period, etc.) What I really liked was that it is not all good or bad experiences, but a mix of adoptions that went well and those that even broke down in the end. Throughout it all is a sense of truth of experience, bringing the challenges and joys of adoption into a sharper reality for the reader.