"Who makes adoption a success? We the kids and parents in the new family as we change shape to accommodate each other."With more than 70 real life stories, revealing moments of vulnerability and moments of joy, this book provides an authentic insight into adoption. These stories take the reader on a journey through every stage of the adoption process, from making the initial decision to adopt to hearing from adoptees, and offer an informative and emotive account of the reality of families' experiences along the way. It includes chapters on adopting children of all ages as well as sibling groups; adopting as a single parent; adopting as a same sex couple; adopting emotionally and physically abused children; the nightmare of adoption breaking down; contact with birth parents; tracing and social media and more. Real Life Stories will be an informative and refreshing read for adopters, potential adopters, professionals and all those whose lives have in some way been touched by adoption or want to know more about it.
Ann Morris' book is a nice addition to JKP book stable on adoption. As with many books on the subject it works well as both a straight cover to cover reading 'primer' for those wanting a fuller picture of the realities of adoption, before taking the lunge themselves; and as a dip in and out reference book to remind yourself that you are not alone and that other actual people have been in exactly the same place as you.
It includes chapters on adopting children of all ages as well as sibling groups; adopting as a single parent; adopting as a same sex couple; adopting emotionally and physically abused children; the nightmare of adoption breaking down; contact with birth parents; tracing and social media and more.
Whilst a number of the chapters don't apply to my situation the voices within in still connected with me. When in did apply, it was quite timely as for me, reading it coincided with the time of year that we do letter contact to our daughter's birth family , so the chapter on contact was a nice reminder of how straight forward our situation is compared with some others. Personally I do always find reading about other people's adoption experiences does help to ground me and stop me going occasionally mad, or getting frustrated (as often with myself as with my daughter).
Well worth adding to your adoption book shelf (physically or virtually).
MoMo’s Book Diary recommends Ann Morris’ “Adopting – The Real Story” as a fascinating 5 star read for anyone with an interest in adoption.
Ann Morris has updated her earlier book The Adoption Experience which was published in 1999. I found this an emotional and highly insightful book which shares a wide range of voices and experiences, good and bad, but anyone considering adoption would find this a very useful tool.
Adoption touches so many people on a daily basis, be it as birth parent, adoptee or adopter. Processes may have changed over the years but human feelings are still as raw and scary as ever - on all fronts.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication.