Loving Someone Else's Child

by Angela Elwell Hunt

Covers all aspects of raising another person's child, discussing role definition, goal setting, making adjustments, adapting to change, dealing with stress and hurt feelings, and responsibilities and rights of surrogate parents

238 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1992

About the author

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly six million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.

Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.

Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.

Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.

In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

Reviews

[Colin Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took my time with Angela Elwell Hunt’s Loving Someone Else’s Child, sometimes leaving months between readings. It’s not long or challenging; I’m just not a self-help book kind of guy (my father gave it to me). Thankfully, this book doesn’t want you relying on yourself; it wants you relying on God. If you’re in any of the circumstances covered—a stepparent (with or without kids of your own), foster parent, adoptive parent, a grandparent raising grandchildren or some other form of parental surrogate—you’re probably aware of your need for Him.

Loving Someone Else’s Child is consistently encouraging, but not in a rose-tinted glasses sort of way. Not all stories end well in the book. Not all stories end well in life, but Hunt consistently reminds the reader of the goodness of God, the value you play in the child’s life and the value of the kids themselves. She acknowledges the trials and angers of raising someone else’s child(ren), but consistently brings the reader back to the Bible and God’s values and expectations.

Let’s face it: you’re not reading this book unless you’re in this step-in parent situation or attempting to understand it. One of the main strengths of the book is that it shows the reader a variety of circumstances—some that break your heart, others that make your angry, whether the stories are familiar or not—all of which draw you back to prayer for your own family and the families listed. For me, that’s the measure of a good Christian book: As long as it’s Biblically sound, if it gets you closer to Jesus, use it. If not, chuck it. Loving Someone Else’s Child easily makes the grade with practical and encouraging instruction. Three stars and reaching higher.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a good read for anyone looking to explore fostering children. The author's account of her experience is enlightening and thought provoking. This story chronicles an experience from years ago and finishes within the past year...God bless Miss Hunt and her efforts!