Adoption Memoirs: Inside Stories

by Marianne Novy

Adoption Memoirs tells inside stories of adoption that popular media miss. Marianne Novy shows how adoption memoirs and films recount not only happy moments, but also the lasting pain of relinquishing a child, the racism and trauma that adoptees such as Jackie Kay and Jane Jeong Trenka experienced, and the unexpected complexities of child-rearing adoptive parents Emily Prager and Jesse Green encountered.



Novy considers 45 memoirs, mostly from the twenty-first century, by birthmothers, adoptees, and adoptive parents, about same-race and transracial adoption. These adoptees, she recounts, wanted to learn about their ancestry and appreciated adoptive parents who helped. Birthmother Amy Seek shows why open adoption is not simple, and many other memoirs tell stories that continue past reunion.



Adoption Memoirs will enlighten readers who lack experience with adoption and help those looking for a shared experience to also understand adoption from a different standpoint.

Genres: Adoption, Nonfiction, Memoir

245 pages, Hardcover

Published June 28, 2024

Reviews

[Christina E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the mother of an internationally adopted child from Vietnam, I found Marianne Novy’s book Adoption Memoirs: Inside Stories both compelling and eye-opening. Most of the books on adoption that I had previously read were written by adoption professionals with the goal of providing guidance and advice to prospective or current adoptive parents. Some books were also written by adoptive parents but, again, focused on providing advice. Dr. Novy’s book is refreshingly different because it reviews and integrates forty-five memoirs written by birthmothers, adoptees, and adoptive parents, and addresses both same-race and transracial adoption. People often assume that adoption always has a happy outcome but, as Novy demonstrates through these memoirs, such happy outcomes are often mixed with profound feelings of loss and sorrow and some outcomes are not happy at all. Loss is a central theme in adoption memoirs and validating that for all members of the “adoption triad” – birthparents, adoptees, and adoptive parents – is critical for navigating the journey. I highly recommend this book for not just those in the adoptive triad but also adoption social workers, teachers, pediatricians, and others who may play a part in adoption. Kudos to Dr. Novy – your book has made a very important contribution to the adoption literature!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating overview of memoirs written by adoptees, by women who have given up children for adoption, and by adoptive parents. I didn't expect such a wide range of experiences and emotions, and each page brought revelations - the adoptees who felt they had to perform gratefulness, the adoptive parents who wondered if they were good and loving enough, the women who relinquished children but did not forget their loss. There's a strong case made for open records and the opportunity for adoptees to find birth parents if they so choose, even though these reunions aren't always joyous, tidy endings. Novy examines how differences of class, race, nationality and dis/ability affect adoptees and parents, and how agencies fail to adequately prepare adoptive families. The book concludes with a timely commentary on how the Dobbs decision will affect women, which I'd encourage everybody to read. As for me, I'll be looking up a lot of the memoirs mentioned in this book for my further reading.

[Cassandra G. Ruane]

Adoption Memoirs is must reading for anyone whose ever been involved in, or planning, an adoption and would be instructive for any family interested in their own family dynamics. The dynamics of adoptive families reveal in relief universal patterns of family interactions – the roles and relationships - among family members. Adoption Memoirs is a thorough and well-reasoned handbook and an interesting read. Cassie Ruane

[Saaaf Duolingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books have expanded my perspective as much as Adoption Memoirs. Marianne Novy presents an extraordinary collection of stories that illuminate aspects of adoption rarely discussed in mainstream culture. The voices of birth mothers, adoptees, and adoptive parents come together to create a powerful and multifaceted narrative. The book is thoughtful, compassionate, and deeply insightful. Whether you have personal experience with adoption or are simply interested in understanding it better, this is a book worth reading and discussing.

[Thsif Qoyum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The memoirs discussed throughout this book reveal the lifelong nature of adoption experiences. Novy does an excellent job showing how questions of identity, family, culture, and belonging continue to shape people's lives over time. The sections on adoptees searching for their ancestry were especially memorable. This is a book that invites reflection and encourages meaningful conversations about adoption and family.

[Raymond Thurs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoption Memoirs is one of those rare books that manages to be informative, thought-provoking, and emotionally engaging all at once. The author clearly has a deep respect for the individuals whose stories she discusses. By exploring memoirs from different viewpoints, she creates a nuanced portrait of adoption that avoids stereotypes and simplistic conclusions. I finished the book feeling both better informed and more compassionate.

[Tammy Dubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came into this book knowing very little about adoption beyond common media portrayals. Marianne Novy presents a much richer and more complex picture through memoirs that reveal both joy and pain. I found it educational and emotionally impactful.

[Ben Bordofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What impressed me most was the variety of voices represented. Birth mothers, adoptees, and adoptive parents all contribute to a fuller understanding of adoption. The book encourages empathy without oversimplifying difficult issues.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book, surveying the memoirs of a number of adoptees--some bitter, some fine.

[Amanda Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and eye-opening book that explores adoption from multiple perspectives. I learned so much about experiences that are rarely discussed openly

[Arely · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for readers interested in family relationships, identity, and belonging. The memoirs discussed are moving, and Novy's analysis helps connect them into larger themes.

[Solo Gospel9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated how the author examines adoption from perspectives that are often ignored. The discussion of race, identity, and reunion experiences was especially enlightening.

[Andrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoption Memoirs offers a balanced exploration of adoption's rewards and challenges. It avoids simplistic conclusions and instead encourages readers to consider multiple viewpoints.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoption Memoirs offers a balanced exploration of adoption's rewards and challenges. It avoids simplistic conclusions and instead encourages readers to consider multiple viewpoints.

[Theo What · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book combines scholarship with genuine compassion. Even though it analyzes memoirs, it never loses sight of the real people behind the stories.