Unspoken

by Liz Harvie

'I was two when the woman I called Mummy told me, "You came out of another mummy's tummy." I assumed there must've been something inherently wrong with me - why else would a mother give up her baby?' In 1974, at just eight weeks old, Liz Harvie - born Claire Elaine Watts - was adopted and renamed Elizabeth. Although brought up in a 'perfect' household, the trauma of being taken from her biological mother never left Liz. When she asked, 'What does my real mum look like? Will she come back for me? Why did she abandon me?' she was 'Your birth parents were not married. They couldn't look after you.' Aged twenty-eight, Liz reconnected with her birth mother and finally learned the shocking truth. Yvonne had not abandoned her. A social worker had snatched her ten-day-old baby from her arms. Liz became one of 185,000 victims of forced adoption between 1949 and 1976 in England and Wales. As a young, unmarried mum, Yvonne was deemed unfit as a parent by the government, churches, adoption agencies - and her father. Liz and Yvonne are still struggling to cope with their devastating separation. As Liz says, 'The trauma of being a forced adoptee is lifelong.'

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Reading adoption stories always brings up a rollercoaster of emotions. This was a well written account of a forced adoption that tells her experience with her adopted parents and then eventually meeting her biological parents.
This brings awareness to the forced adoptions of the 1970s.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel so badly for the author. I wonder if she would have experienced so much anguish about her adoption if her adoptive mother had been at all nurturing. How amazing that the author’s birth parents turned out to be so lovely! I hope that all the victims of forced adoption find a supportive community and start to heal.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written account of what it feels like to be a forced adoptee.
Two of our daughters in law were adopted and this has given me an insight as to why they both have found it difficult to fit into our large loving family.

[Baljinder Kaur]

Beautifully written, heartbreaking in parts

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! It was really interesting, and I really enjoyed hearing about the author's life. I enjoyed the little snippets from her past, and it was so cool when she got to meet her birth parents.

[Kimberly Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite often, when you hear the word adoption, you have a positive view of all facets of it. This story by Liz Harvie presents an alternate view of adoption and the effects it may have on the adoptee. This was a well written story detailing the thoughts of an adoptee and the trauma that reverberated throughout her life due to the removal from her biological family. There were many assumptions that Liz believed throughout her life such as, her mother did not want her. These thoughts deeply affected Liz. This story detailed forced adoptions that occurred in the 1970’s, which I wasn’t even aware of. The feelings of grief and loss was portrayed in this story. My heart broke for Liz and the emotional trauma she has endured. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering adoption. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Unspoken by Liz Harvie. This book was a well written account of a forced adoption in the UK. It was full of a lot of emotions that I’m sure were difficult to live through and then write about at a later date. I’m not sure I understand the difference between a forced adoption and a regular adoption from the point of view of the adopted child. It is definitely very traumatic for the mother. That is clear to me. I really don’t feel that adopted children suffer as much as this book seems to convey that they do. I welcomed the opportunity to read an account of forced adoption.

[Lisa Carlile · Rating 4 out of 5]

an emotional read based on the adoptee viewpoint. from finding out she was adopted to eventually meeting her birth mother, she was it filled in all the questions that arise in this situation.
well written.

[Celeste Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow adoptee (not forced) reading Liz’s book was a whole host of emotions. It made me sad for little me, brought insight and awareness to areas I hadn’t shed light on and most importantly made me and my experience feel heard and validated. I don’t know anyone else who is adopted and it is has been a huge cause of deep traumas in my life that’s had a massive negative impact for the best part of my life. I had never come across any books about adoption so was both excited and nervous to read this book knowing it would stir my traumas and emotions. I’m very grateful to have been able to read Liz’s story to help me on my trauma healing journey and her story was both very hard to read and very healing/happy with the eventual meeting of her birth parents and finding out they had in fact wanted her and always thought about her. I can relate to so much of the whirlwind of emotions and to have read that just one person has been through similar makes me feel less alone. Adoption is a traumatic event that so many don’t realise the true extent of the long lasting impact. Thankyou Liz for pouring your heart out on paper and sharing your story

[Luisa Gatto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is well written and the story is really painful. But I found that the book doesn't convey the emotions the author talks about.

[Susan Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully well written book that refreshingly corrects the societal narrative on adoption, highlighting the trauma caused by adoption to the adoptee in childhood and then lifelong as an adult. I recommend this book to everyone.

[Sam Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and thoughtful account which courageously challenges repressive saviourship narratives of adoption. Harvie writes with fantastic insight and incisiveness, creating a vital read.

[Carey Kairine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book too slow to start with, but then got interesting, and I couldn't put it down