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Small: A true story that I sometimes wish was just a novel
Inspired- Writer’s Digest
Helped me understand this challenge in a way no text or therapy manual ever could. -Jennifer Gerlach, Therapist
An unforgettable memoir about attaching in adoption, loving someone with Reactive Attachment Disorder, healing from trauma, and recovery despite all odds.
A page-turning true story, Small is a must-read for anyone involved in adoption, parenting difficult children, and healing wounded hearts. Ani's struggle with Reactive Attachment Disorder will stay with you long after you turn the last page. From the orphanage to adoption and her first steps toward healing, Ani's story will forever change the way you see childhood trauma and what it means to parent with love.
Abandoned at birth, Ani spent the first year of her life completely alone, fed only by propped bottles, touched only when she needed changing. When she was adopted into a loving family at age two, she had no foundation for experiencing love and attachment.
What is it like to parent children with Reactive Attachment Disorder? This brief 'case study in prose' shows symptoms, behavioral interventions and treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder in toddlers and children.
NOW INCLUDES a Reactive Attachment Disorder CHECKLIST to help define the disorder, clarify symptoms, and facilitate treatment of toddlers, children and teens.
Helped me understand this challenge in a way no text or therapy manual ever could. -Jennifer Gerlach, Therapist
An unforgettable memoir about attaching in adoption, loving someone with Reactive Attachment Disorder, healing from trauma, and recovery despite all odds.
A page-turning true story, Small is a must-read for anyone involved in adoption, parenting difficult children, and healing wounded hearts. Ani's struggle with Reactive Attachment Disorder will stay with you long after you turn the last page. From the orphanage to adoption and her first steps toward healing, Ani's story will forever change the way you see childhood trauma and what it means to parent with love.
Abandoned at birth, Ani spent the first year of her life completely alone, fed only by propped bottles, touched only when she needed changing. When she was adopted into a loving family at age two, she had no foundation for experiencing love and attachment.
What is it like to parent children with Reactive Attachment Disorder? This brief 'case study in prose' shows symptoms, behavioral interventions and treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder in toddlers and children.
NOW INCLUDES a Reactive Attachment Disorder CHECKLIST to help define the disorder, clarify symptoms, and facilitate treatment of toddlers, children and teens.
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2018
103 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 7, 2023
Raw, compassionate, insightful. Eva writes of her adopted daughter’s struggle to accept and receive love and of her own pursuit to win her daughter’s heart. This book gives a small window into the life of children who suffer from RAD - Reactive Attachment Disorder.
November 26, 2019
Small. Yet riveting, emotional, heart wrenching, and hopeful. We don’t learn the end of the story—only the beginning of the journey towards hope and true healing. I felt so powerfully sad for the young abandoned baby in a Ukrainian hospital. And then her adoptive mother! She said Ani was a warrior, but a woman who fights through the struggle of a toddler from hell—who went through hell and then brought it home with her—is the greatest warrior of all. For she is the one that gave that child a chance at feeling love. And protected her other children at the same time. Wow.
Couple of thoughts. Loved the poetic style of writing. Fitting and impressive to portray so much in such few words. I loved it at the same time as wishing for more. How did the other children feel and did they all grow to love Ani? We really only get a small taste of the story.
Sad and sadly predictable how the education system was an utter failure for Ani and for her mother who actually needed its help and support.
Triangulation of adults and manipulation is very real and nearly impossible to see. We need to be so careful not to cast judgement from within or without.
The family is essential to a child. Especially in a world where the state and majority continue to infringe upon the rights of parents—often claiming to know better. I shudder to think what would have happened to Ani if CPS had gotten their hands on her which very likely could have happened with all her claims of abuse.
Very eye opening about reactive attachment disorder. Very thought provoking.
Adoption in any kind of situation is difficult. Bless all those parents that accept that calling and push through the trials towards love.
Couple of thoughts. Loved the poetic style of writing. Fitting and impressive to portray so much in such few words. I loved it at the same time as wishing for more. How did the other children feel and did they all grow to love Ani? We really only get a small taste of the story.
Sad and sadly predictable how the education system was an utter failure for Ani and for her mother who actually needed its help and support.
Triangulation of adults and manipulation is very real and nearly impossible to see. We need to be so careful not to cast judgement from within or without.
The family is essential to a child. Especially in a world where the state and majority continue to infringe upon the rights of parents—often claiming to know better. I shudder to think what would have happened to Ani if CPS had gotten their hands on her which very likely could have happened with all her claims of abuse.
Very eye opening about reactive attachment disorder. Very thought provoking.
Adoption in any kind of situation is difficult. Bless all those parents that accept that calling and push through the trials towards love.
April 4, 2020
Oh my! I know this affects many families!
This story was very similar to our adoption from Russia, except we were matched with children before we went to visit. Our son was also Sergei. Our daughter was Vika (Viktoria). Our daughter was 2 years old, the size of a 4 month old at 15pounds & 27”. She was friendly with everyone. A Chinese woman picked her up when I was holding our son. Then she began to walk out the door! Our daughter just waved! I was screaming and crying! Then came the first grader screaming and crying. She still couldn’t speak well. I had to pin her. I had to do safety holds. I cried. Our son learned to slide under his bed so he wasn’t hurt.
Thankfully, our daughter’s problems were from the inability to speak clearly, childhood apraxia of speech (cas) and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the most severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Our daughter still believes in fantasy as a teen. I pray Ani has continued to try to live a good life. I know many, many families who live like this. Not all adopted kids get RAD. Most respond very well to love and stability. My heart is still thumping in my chest from reading this. I know how real it is.
This story was very similar to our adoption from Russia, except we were matched with children before we went to visit. Our son was also Sergei. Our daughter was Vika (Viktoria). Our daughter was 2 years old, the size of a 4 month old at 15pounds & 27”. She was friendly with everyone. A Chinese woman picked her up when I was holding our son. Then she began to walk out the door! Our daughter just waved! I was screaming and crying! Then came the first grader screaming and crying. She still couldn’t speak well. I had to pin her. I had to do safety holds. I cried. Our son learned to slide under his bed so he wasn’t hurt.
Thankfully, our daughter’s problems were from the inability to speak clearly, childhood apraxia of speech (cas) and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the most severe form of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Our daughter still believes in fantasy as a teen. I pray Ani has continued to try to live a good life. I know many, many families who live like this. Not all adopted kids get RAD. Most respond very well to love and stability. My heart is still thumping in my chest from reading this. I know how real it is.
January 23, 2019
I just finished reading Small last night. What a beautiful account of a family's challenge to help a daughter be able to accept love. I am thankful the author was courageous to share this and hope her daughter continues to heal. As a therapist, this book helped me understand a corner of this challenge just a little bit better in a way no text or therapy manual ever could. I highly recommend to anyone, especially families and clinicians encountering children dealing with trauma and attachment issues.
September 1, 2019
Very interesting
How very sad 😢 it almost seems impossible to know problems start at such a young age. My daughter is a school teacher for special needs children 6 out of the ten have autism. It takes special people to work with these children and I can not imagine taking on a life journey with my child having this sort of disorder. My prayers go out to you and your family for what you have endured and continue enduring.
How very sad 😢 it almost seems impossible to know problems start at such a young age. My daughter is a school teacher for special needs children 6 out of the ten have autism. It takes special people to work with these children and I can not imagine taking on a life journey with my child having this sort of disorder. My prayers go out to you and your family for what you have endured and continue enduring.
January 17, 2020
This book is based on a true story. However, I want to let people know that reactive attachment disorder is a spectrum disorder. That is not mentioned in the book. The child described in this book has a very severe case of r.a.d. The disorder is certainly complex and the author does an excellent job exposing the frustration families face and the feelings the children are at war with. Over all encouraging. Told in phrases.
August 30, 2020
This book gives the reader a good insight into life with a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder, but in a unique way. I have worked with families parenting children with RAD before, but this book gave me a better understanding of how heartbreaking and devastating this can be for a family. How any marriage and family survive this is beyond me, but I hold out hope that some families can find the help and interventions to get through.
August 13, 2019
Small
This was nothing like I expected. I thought I was getting a book (novel). Although very interesting and informative, not my book of choice. How I wish the parents of these types of children much love for their pain and sorrows. I had no idea this type of condition existed. God bless all in these children's lives and those that love them.
This was nothing like I expected. I thought I was getting a book (novel). Although very interesting and informative, not my book of choice. How I wish the parents of these types of children much love for their pain and sorrows. I had no idea this type of condition existed. God bless all in these children's lives and those that love them.
May 9, 2020
I Didn’t Like the Writing Style
I thought this would be a regular story about a child with RAD, but it’s written in a very different style, that I didn’t care for at all. It’s not written using sentences. I can’t even explain it. It’s not easy to follow, and it’s very vague. Not for me.
I thought this would be a regular story about a child with RAD, but it’s written in a very different style, that I didn’t care for at all. It’s not written using sentences. I can’t even explain it. It’s not easy to follow, and it’s very vague. Not for me.
March 10, 2018
Poem for a child
It reads like a poem. A parents love for a child that can't be loved like other children. Difficult to fathom for parents who don't have a child like this. Best thru Kindle Unlimited
It reads like a poem. A parents love for a child that can't be loved like other children. Difficult to fathom for parents who don't have a child like this. Best thru Kindle Unlimited
December 4, 2019
The writing is so good. The reality of living with a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder is tragically and beautifully described by a mother who worked to connect with a daughter trapped in a prison which was created and built around her.
March 10, 2020
Small is a wonderful heart felt, heart wrenching account of a troubled child and her devoted mother. I highly recommend this book for anyone, but especially for a parent who is having a hard time connecting with their child and feels alone or broken from the situation.
September 21, 2020
I am always hesitant about books written in verse, but it was pretty effective in communicating the frustration and disjointedness of life with an adoptive girl who has RAD. This is a short read that will get you thinking and discussing about adoption.
January 13, 2021
How to even rate a book like this? So brave of this mother to work so hard and stick with her daughter. Also, to write about it to help others. Sheds new light on adoption, more resources needed for mental health crisises in young children, school needs etc. Hard, but good read.
July 23, 2023
Couldn't put it down!!
I really liked this book. When I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I finished it all in a day. I did shed some tears. I would recommend it to anyone who likes books like this. Can't wait to read more!!!!
I really liked this book. When I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I finished it all in a day. I did shed some tears. I would recommend it to anyone who likes books like this. Can't wait to read more!!!!
February 19, 2018
Intense, emotional, and full of hope!
May 20, 2018
A great resource for any parents of children with attachment disorder, or any other parent who feels like they can’t do enough to help their child
June 20, 2019
I liked the book, but it was too short. It ended too quickly! I’m thankful someone is writing about this difficult topic, though!
September 25, 2019
Beautiful, sad, and true.
My sister has reactive attachment disorder, and this book is heartbreakingly accurate.
My sister has reactive attachment disorder, and this book is heartbreakingly accurate.
November 2, 2019
So intense. I feel for both mother and child
January 4, 2020
Full of heart, raw emotion, pain and hope.
July 11, 2022
Seriously the best book I have ever read to understand RAD ( Reactive Attachment Disorder) Very quick read but one that I think everyone should read.
Read
August 7, 2022Written in verse, this quick read provides valuable insight into the realities of RAD for both child and family.
September 17, 2020
A quick listen to-Gave me so much understanding for stories I'd heard over the years.
May 19, 2019
An amazingly sad and hopeful book. A great read and a fascinating look into life with attachment disorder.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews