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Mother Mother
An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here.
A married couple in California grapples with race, betrayal, love, and loss when their son comes home from a Guatemalan orphanage.
Contemporary art museum curator Julie Cowan achieves her dream of motherhood through adoption, but her life is far from perfect. Her pathologist husband, Mark, is distracted by his gorgeous, young intern, while her hotshot new museum director boss doubts Julie's curatorial chops. And Julie's six-year-old son, Jack (born Juan), may never recover from trauma inflicted by early life spent in a Guatemalan orphanage.
Then Jack suffers a major health crisis, and everything pales next to saving his life. As much as Julie clings to being Jack's "only" mother, she needs to find his Guatemalan mother to unlock his medical history. Julie hires a professional searcher, and what she learns turns her world upside down. At the same time, Jack's birth mother, an indigenous Ixil Maya, navigates her own tumultuous path, beginning with surviving a horrific massacre.
In this gripping tale told from alternating perspectives, both mothers must draw on fierce inner strength to reckon with their life choices.
A married couple in California grapples with race, betrayal, love, and loss when their son comes home from a Guatemalan orphanage.
Contemporary art museum curator Julie Cowan achieves her dream of motherhood through adoption, but her life is far from perfect. Her pathologist husband, Mark, is distracted by his gorgeous, young intern, while her hotshot new museum director boss doubts Julie's curatorial chops. And Julie's six-year-old son, Jack (born Juan), may never recover from trauma inflicted by early life spent in a Guatemalan orphanage.
Then Jack suffers a major health crisis, and everything pales next to saving his life. As much as Julie clings to being Jack's "only" mother, she needs to find his Guatemalan mother to unlock his medical history. Julie hires a professional searcher, and what she learns turns her world upside down. At the same time, Jack's birth mother, an indigenous Ixil Maya, navigates her own tumultuous path, beginning with surviving a horrific massacre.
In this gripping tale told from alternating perspectives, both mothers must draw on fierce inner strength to reckon with their life choices.
306 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2020
About the author
Jessica O'Dwyer
2 books25 followersJessica O'Dwyer is the adoptive mother to two children born in Guatemala. Her essays have been published in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Adoptive Families, and West Marin Review. She lives in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 1, 2020
With everything going on in our world these days, chances are you’ve not thought much about the many difficult issues surrounding adoption. But that’s the territory writer Jessica O’Dwyer has staked out for herself. It is part of her makeup as she is the mother two children adopted from Guatemala and, as such, has a lot of personal experience exploring these issues.
Her first book was the page-turning memoir Mamalita about her journey to adopt her two children. With Mother Mother, she’s turned her real-life experience into a novel.
This is the story of Julie Cowan, an upper middle class married woman from the San Francisco area who works in a small, prestigious art museum. She is invested in her career but desperately wants to be a mother and, after too many failed attempts with husband Mark, they decide to adopt.
And so begins the adoption merry-go-round, and O’Dwyer is an expert at cataloguing its heartbreaking twists and turns. Guatemala was a hotbed of adoptions for many years until the government there, realizing that perhaps many of the babies were being stolen, shut it down. Julie and Mark are trying to adopt a child during the period where the last of such adoptions are permitted and find themselves racing the calendar.
The couple is not alone and, along the way, they meet and bond with many American parents who are going through the circuitous process with many of the same emotions. No two cases, it seems, are ever exactly alike.
The Cowans’ first attempt fails, and it would make many couples turn elsewhere, but Julie and Mark carry on. Their second adoption attempt turns up a little boy named Juan whom they fall in love with. They are able to visit him in person at a central Guatemalan hotel where all the adoptive parents stay.
They buy him gifts, play with him, and do the best they can while cooped up in the hotel. The process takes years and just when it seems the legal machinations are about to go their way, Juan is transferred from a foster family to a large orphanage. It seems he might slip from their fingers but somehow, Julie and Marc are able to adopt him legally.
All the while, Julie wonders about the mother who gave Juan up. Why did she do it? Is it possible that Juan was taken from her?
This is where O’Dwyer uses a storytelling device that elevates Mother Mother. The author doesn’t merely have Julie and the reader imagine what happened. She switches gears to tell the story of how Juan came to fall into the adoption process, and it is a harrowing tale. Suffice it to say that Guatemala was, during much of its recent history, a very violent country. Its citizens are still poor and ripe for abuse.
While the book regularly delves into Juan’s ancestry, it is principally concerned with Julie’s life and how she and Marc adapt to the new child in their home. Julie Cowan recalls one of the posts another adoptive mother had written: “Our kids come with a long, slow on-ramp. Nothing happens quickly. You’ll lose friends and be alienated. . . .”
Julie finds herself feeling more and more alienated from her sister who gets pregnant very easily and seems oblivious to the tone-deaf advice she dispenses to Julie. But the toughest adjustment Julie must make is to the small boy himself.
Life is so different from Guatemala in the middle-class Cowan house that it might as well be Mars. Juan cannot conceive that Julie’s husband Mark is not just a visitor. The boy asks when the visitor will be leaving and Julie at first doesn’t understand who he means. When it dawns on her, she explains.
“Mark lives here too. He’s your dad.”
She paused to let the information sink in, then point to herself. “I’m your mom. Mommy.”
But episodes like those seem mild compared to what’s to come. Upon going to a mostly all-white school, Juan decides he wants to be called Jack and begins acting out, physically threatening Julie’s safety. He drags his fingernails across her face and attacks her with a hammer. Someone suggests Julie should send him back.
As Julie adjusts, she meets another mother who does just that. This other parent has adopted two girls from Haiti after giving birth to two sons. When one of those sons becomes sexually interested in one of the adopted girls, the mother sends the girls to another adoptive family.
It’s a heart-wrenching decision, but Julie clearly sees echoes of her own situation in that family. She decides the answer is to embrace more Guatemalan culture but, at this point, Mark is clearly no long a supporter. Mark, who up to this point has been a willing participant in Juan/Jack’s adoption, sets off on his own journey, meeting a younger woman who becomes pregnant with Mark’s child.
Author O’Dwyer shows time and again that adoption is not for the faint-hearted. Her sister may not understand and husband Mark might quit but for Julie, adoption and Juan/Jack’s well-being is all-consuming and soon, she’s off on a return trip to Guatemala where, in a twist that is conceivable though somewhat unlikely, Julie comes face to face with Juan/Jack’s biological mother Rosalba. By then, the reader is only too familiar with how and why the poor mother gave up her son.
Rosalba’s story provides insight into what the adoption process is like for the biological mothers of Guatemala who are almost too young and uneducated to know what is happening to them.
The reader can see what the mothers experience from each other’s perspectives. O’Dwyer does a compelling job of juxtaposing the adoption experience in a way that is rarely done. And will Julie have the nerve to reveal to Rosalba that her lost son is the boy Julie now calls Jack? The book seems to beg the reader for an answer to the question: What would you do?
Her first book was the page-turning memoir Mamalita about her journey to adopt her two children. With Mother Mother, she’s turned her real-life experience into a novel.
This is the story of Julie Cowan, an upper middle class married woman from the San Francisco area who works in a small, prestigious art museum. She is invested in her career but desperately wants to be a mother and, after too many failed attempts with husband Mark, they decide to adopt.
And so begins the adoption merry-go-round, and O’Dwyer is an expert at cataloguing its heartbreaking twists and turns. Guatemala was a hotbed of adoptions for many years until the government there, realizing that perhaps many of the babies were being stolen, shut it down. Julie and Mark are trying to adopt a child during the period where the last of such adoptions are permitted and find themselves racing the calendar.
The couple is not alone and, along the way, they meet and bond with many American parents who are going through the circuitous process with many of the same emotions. No two cases, it seems, are ever exactly alike.
The Cowans’ first attempt fails, and it would make many couples turn elsewhere, but Julie and Mark carry on. Their second adoption attempt turns up a little boy named Juan whom they fall in love with. They are able to visit him in person at a central Guatemalan hotel where all the adoptive parents stay.
They buy him gifts, play with him, and do the best they can while cooped up in the hotel. The process takes years and just when it seems the legal machinations are about to go their way, Juan is transferred from a foster family to a large orphanage. It seems he might slip from their fingers but somehow, Julie and Marc are able to adopt him legally.
All the while, Julie wonders about the mother who gave Juan up. Why did she do it? Is it possible that Juan was taken from her?
This is where O’Dwyer uses a storytelling device that elevates Mother Mother. The author doesn’t merely have Julie and the reader imagine what happened. She switches gears to tell the story of how Juan came to fall into the adoption process, and it is a harrowing tale. Suffice it to say that Guatemala was, during much of its recent history, a very violent country. Its citizens are still poor and ripe for abuse.
While the book regularly delves into Juan’s ancestry, it is principally concerned with Julie’s life and how she and Marc adapt to the new child in their home. Julie Cowan recalls one of the posts another adoptive mother had written: “Our kids come with a long, slow on-ramp. Nothing happens quickly. You’ll lose friends and be alienated. . . .”
Julie finds herself feeling more and more alienated from her sister who gets pregnant very easily and seems oblivious to the tone-deaf advice she dispenses to Julie. But the toughest adjustment Julie must make is to the small boy himself.
Life is so different from Guatemala in the middle-class Cowan house that it might as well be Mars. Juan cannot conceive that Julie’s husband Mark is not just a visitor. The boy asks when the visitor will be leaving and Julie at first doesn’t understand who he means. When it dawns on her, she explains.
“Mark lives here too. He’s your dad.”
She paused to let the information sink in, then point to herself. “I’m your mom. Mommy.”
But episodes like those seem mild compared to what’s to come. Upon going to a mostly all-white school, Juan decides he wants to be called Jack and begins acting out, physically threatening Julie’s safety. He drags his fingernails across her face and attacks her with a hammer. Someone suggests Julie should send him back.
As Julie adjusts, she meets another mother who does just that. This other parent has adopted two girls from Haiti after giving birth to two sons. When one of those sons becomes sexually interested in one of the adopted girls, the mother sends the girls to another adoptive family.
It’s a heart-wrenching decision, but Julie clearly sees echoes of her own situation in that family. She decides the answer is to embrace more Guatemalan culture but, at this point, Mark is clearly no long a supporter. Mark, who up to this point has been a willing participant in Juan/Jack’s adoption, sets off on his own journey, meeting a younger woman who becomes pregnant with Mark’s child.
Author O’Dwyer shows time and again that adoption is not for the faint-hearted. Her sister may not understand and husband Mark might quit but for Julie, adoption and Juan/Jack’s well-being is all-consuming and soon, she’s off on a return trip to Guatemala where, in a twist that is conceivable though somewhat unlikely, Julie comes face to face with Juan/Jack’s biological mother Rosalba. By then, the reader is only too familiar with how and why the poor mother gave up her son.
Rosalba’s story provides insight into what the adoption process is like for the biological mothers of Guatemala who are almost too young and uneducated to know what is happening to them.
The reader can see what the mothers experience from each other’s perspectives. O’Dwyer does a compelling job of juxtaposing the adoption experience in a way that is rarely done. And will Julie have the nerve to reveal to Rosalba that her lost son is the boy Julie now calls Jack? The book seems to beg the reader for an answer to the question: What would you do?
November 20, 2022
Mother Mother was so complete! One interwoven story of two mothers with very different places, cultures, circumstances, families, identities, and experiences with being a woman and a mother. This was something new for me, and it was captivating and provocative. I just loved the alternation between two different narrators, each telling a powerful story of motherhood, love, loss, and tragedy; it was so well done and skillfully served the purpose of juxtaposing yet uniting two poignant perspectives on motherhood. I appreciated the fictional story that drew on nonfictional elements of international adoption in Guatemala, Guatemalan civil war, and aspects of Guatemalan culture. The author illuminated the pain, problems, and privilege wrapped up in the institution of international adoption, acknowledging race, belonging, marriage, privilege, poverty, oppression and agency. I feel like the choices each mother made along her journey were presented without judgement, honoring both the complexity involved and the different expressions of love and sacrifice behind those decisions. Through this book, I felt some of the emotional intensity and depth of motherhood in two very different lives. It checked all of boxes for me. And a 10/10 ending 👏🏻
P.S. I finished the first half in 3 weeks and the second half in one sitting.
P.S. I finished the first half in 3 weeks and the second half in one sitting.
August 1, 2020
I devoured this book during the summer of COVID-tine. The dual storylines captivated me and the characters stayed with me through the days even when the novel wasn't in my hands.
As a writer in the world of adoption, I especially loved the way the main character, Julia, evolves throughout the novel as she is able to see more and more from her child's perspective. This story is, as I teach in my workshops, a beautiful example of the evolution of an Either/Or mindset to BothAnd heartset that needs to happen for parents-by-adoption in order for the entire family to benefit.
Brava to author Jessica O'Dwyer on her first foray into fiction. I loved learning more about the homeland of one of her characters, and that she didn't shy away from some really horrid parts of humanity that some children -- and their first parents -- have to face as part of their own history.
-- Lori Holden, author of "The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption"
As a writer in the world of adoption, I especially loved the way the main character, Julia, evolves throughout the novel as she is able to see more and more from her child's perspective. This story is, as I teach in my workshops, a beautiful example of the evolution of an Either/Or mindset to BothAnd heartset that needs to happen for parents-by-adoption in order for the entire family to benefit.
Brava to author Jessica O'Dwyer on her first foray into fiction. I loved learning more about the homeland of one of her characters, and that she didn't shy away from some really horrid parts of humanity that some children -- and their first parents -- have to face as part of their own history.
-- Lori Holden, author of "The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption"
July 9, 2020
Jessica O'Dwyer's follow-up book to her memoir Mamalita, Mother Mother does not disappoint. Although it is fiction, much of what she writes about in regards to international adoption in Guatemala and the Guatemalan civil war is very much real. Told in two narratives, an American woman who desires to become a mother through international adoption and a birth mother, who makes the difficult decision to place her son adoption. Mrs. O'Dwyer covers complex topics such as infertility, adoption, institutionalized care, adoptee trauma, rehoming, family, motherhood, rape, adoption coercion and fraud, white privilege, and balancing motherhood and career ambitions just to name a few. The ending of the book is incredible and leaves you crying at the end. A must-read for any adoptive parent!
Thank you, Jessica and NetGalley for the privilege of reading the advanced copy of this novel!
Thank you, Jessica and NetGalley for the privilege of reading the advanced copy of this novel!
August 9, 2020
A heart wrenching novel about the two side of an adoption. The story goes back and forth between the Guatemalan mother of a young boy, and the North American family that adopts him.
This story is well written and keeps one reading. Having grown up in Guatemala, and still having ties there made me appreciate the research she did on Guatemala, and of the armed conflict which ripped through the country for many years.
This story takes us on a long journey for the adoptive family as they try to get their child out after five years of paperwork which was already in the works, and on top of that a looming shutdown of adoptions in the country. This story keeps you wanting to find out what happens, to both sides of the adoption process.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Apprentice House Press for a copy of this book.
This story is well written and keeps one reading. Having grown up in Guatemala, and still having ties there made me appreciate the research she did on Guatemala, and of the armed conflict which ripped through the country for many years.
This story takes us on a long journey for the adoptive family as they try to get their child out after five years of paperwork which was already in the works, and on top of that a looming shutdown of adoptions in the country. This story keeps you wanting to find out what happens, to both sides of the adoption process.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Apprentice House Press for a copy of this book.
June 28, 2020
An intriguing novel about international adoption. A fictional story, but some parts could easily be true. A husband and wife go through the adoption process in Guatemala, but because of a ruthless government and rules that make no sense, it takes five years before they are able to bring home their son. The family of three goes through ups and downs and during it all the idea of their son's birth mother weighs heavily.
The ending of this adoption story is beautiful and truly gave me chills. The writing is engaging until the very end.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author.
The ending of this adoption story is beautiful and truly gave me chills. The writing is engaging until the very end.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author.
October 4, 2020
The juxtaposition of the two women at the center of this story is sometimes cringe-inducing. Julie is a white, upper-middle-class museum curator from the Bay Area who tells herself "Everything works out for my highest good" when going into a job interview. Rosalba, an Indigenous woman in the mountains of Guatemala, knows better. She's already survived the annihilation of her birth village and the deaths of multiple family members. Over the course of this short, riveting novel, O'Dwyer reveals how international adoption--the institution that binds Julie and Rosalba together--is both inherently problematic (when it's not a straight-up criminal enterprise, that is) *and* populated by loving people who are doing their best. While Julie struggles first to finalize the adoption of baby Juan, then to help him adapt to life with her and her husband in the U.S., Rosalba simply tries to survive. In addition to weaving a high-stakes and heart-wrenching narrative, O'Dwyer's strength is in not judging her characters. As Julie learns more about the complexities of adoption, race, and global politics, she becomes increasingly brave and empathetic to the hard choices mothers make. At its best, O'Dwyer seems to imply, this is what adoptive motherhood can do. Harm, loss, and grief part of the package, but at least we can bear honest witness.
March 26, 2023
Julie and her husband are not able to have children so they turn to international adoption from Guatemala on the cusp of adoptions from Guatemala being closed permanently. They are matched with a beautiful baby boy and spend many years waiting to be united with him until his adoption can be finalized. Once he is in the US the trials have just begun as Julie's marriage is tested, her demanding career (and boss) drain her, and she puts every ounce of energy into parenting her child. Alternately, we hear the story of the birth mother. It is absolutely gut-wrenching. I was captivated by this novel... and that ending. That ending. Wow.
September 25, 2020
“Mother Mother” is a riveting novel about two worlds thousands of miles apart and how they are intricately intertwined. Julie and her husband Mark are an affluent couple who seemingly have everything they want—except a child. They embark on adopting a baby from Guatemala, spending several long years embroiled in that country’s nightmarishly bureaucratic and corrupt system before they can finally take their traumatized son home. That’s when things become even more complicated. Meanwhile, we learn about the harrowing history of Guatemala through the testimony of their son’s birth mother, who as an infant survived a massacre and grew up in a tiny village encumbered by poverty and ongoing violence. The novel tackles difficult dilemmas about adoption and privilege head on, yet with grace and sensitivity. O’Dwyer’s exquisitely visual depictions of both worlds made me feel like I was right there—in the physical environment, and inside the hearts and minds of the two mothers. “Mother Mother” is a triumph.
September 18, 2020
I had the honor of being given an advance copy of Mother Mother by Jessica O'Dwyer. Jessica has written a beautiful story showing th complexities of adoption. The story gives insight into the struggles of both the adoptive and biological mothers of young Jack. The story touches on so many aspects of the adoption process from struggles with infertility, to lost referrals, disrupted adoptions as well as reasons that birthmothers may have chosen adoption as the "best" option for their child. Jessica also deals beautifully with the real struggles after the child is "home." It is not all sunshine and roses.
Like Jessica, I am obsessed with Guatemala and its history and culture. Jessica did a beautiful job at integrating Guatemalan culture and it's tragic history into her story.
I hope that there is a sequel soon!
Like Jessica, I am obsessed with Guatemala and its history and culture. Jessica did a beautiful job at integrating Guatemalan culture and it's tragic history into her story.
I hope that there is a sequel soon!
August 24, 2020
This was an extremely well done story about an American couple who experienced infertility, Julie and Mark. To grow their family they chose international adoption through a Guatemala program. They spend years trying to bring their child home, a process many American families have been trapped in. Some spent years trying to bring a child home only to have programs shut down completely, leaving the child to languish in care homes that are described in this book in raw, horrible details.
The author writes with such expertise about the highs and lows of international adoption, it’s unpredictability and the consequences on the children who become available for adoption. Having spent extensive time in Guatemala, I found her description of the country and it’s personality to be incredibly accurate.
She weaves in the story of her child’s birth mother and how she came to place him for adoption. It’s beautiful and painful. I enjoyed how she showed the progression of Julie from someone who envied her child’s birth mother for having given birth, to desperately wanting her child to know his biological identity and his story. This is a path many real life adoptive parents take and I think this story is an educational opportunity for them all.
After all is “done”, Julie experiences great disappointment in her friends and her family with regards to her son Juan, who doesn’t look like her and sticks out in their community. She experiences racism, prejudice and downright rudeness when she is out and about with Juan. She does all the things adoptive parents do to try to assert themselves as “real” parents. She even meets other adoptive parents, one of whom takes her on a devastating journey of “rehoming” her adopted children after not being able to accept them as “her own”.
This story touches on so many hallmarks of adoption, specifically older child and international adoption. Her entire identity and relationship to herself and everyone around her morphs as the story develops and the ending is beautiful.
Anyone with curiosity about international adoption, or wanting to support a friend who has adopted should consider reading this book. As an adoption professional I will most certainly be recommending it to my adoptive families.
The author writes with such expertise about the highs and lows of international adoption, it’s unpredictability and the consequences on the children who become available for adoption. Having spent extensive time in Guatemala, I found her description of the country and it’s personality to be incredibly accurate.
She weaves in the story of her child’s birth mother and how she came to place him for adoption. It’s beautiful and painful. I enjoyed how she showed the progression of Julie from someone who envied her child’s birth mother for having given birth, to desperately wanting her child to know his biological identity and his story. This is a path many real life adoptive parents take and I think this story is an educational opportunity for them all.
After all is “done”, Julie experiences great disappointment in her friends and her family with regards to her son Juan, who doesn’t look like her and sticks out in their community. She experiences racism, prejudice and downright rudeness when she is out and about with Juan. She does all the things adoptive parents do to try to assert themselves as “real” parents. She even meets other adoptive parents, one of whom takes her on a devastating journey of “rehoming” her adopted children after not being able to accept them as “her own”.
This story touches on so many hallmarks of adoption, specifically older child and international adoption. Her entire identity and relationship to herself and everyone around her morphs as the story develops and the ending is beautiful.
Anyone with curiosity about international adoption, or wanting to support a friend who has adopted should consider reading this book. As an adoption professional I will most certainly be recommending it to my adoptive families.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2020
The mothers at the core of Jessica O’Dwyer’s novel love their children. As in all families, mistakes are made, good intentions go bad, tantrums are thrown. But these mothers are strong and fierce and determined to do their best for their child. The story follows Julie and Mark, a San Francisco couple who adopt an infant from Guatemala and, in a parallel story, Rosalba, as she grows to womanhood in a rural Guatemalan village. Their stories take you into the stylish but back-biting contemporary art world of San Francisco and into the corrupt and violent but naturally beautiful countryside of Guatemala.
When Julie and Mark decide to adopt a baby from Guatemala, their decision is based in practicality. It is relatively affordable, compared to some options; children there are in need; an agent takes care of all the paperwork. Unfortunately, theirs is one of the cases that become ensnarled in government red tape and corruption. The baby they fell in love with, supported financially and visited as often as they could, is five years old when he officially becomes their son and can move with them to their home in San Francisco. This five-year process takes a toll - Julie’s job suffers, her relationship with her sister grows awkward and her marriage shows some cracks. But it also makes Julie even more resolute to get this child and make a home. Once safe in the U.S., the adjustment and issues are huge. Among those issues is the reality of an ethnically mixed family, which changes their lives forever and in ways not anticipated. Julie finds support in online sites, meeting other adoptive families, utilizing resources for families with Guatemalan children and working to grow with her son.
In a tiny rural village in Guatemala, the newborn Rosalba is discovered, the only survivor of a brutal retaliatory massacre. She is not so much adopted as absorbed into a family from a nearby village. She is unaware that her parents are not her birth parents and accepts her place in the household - maybe working a little harder than her brothers and sisters, maybe required to take on the most back breaking work, but it is not an unhappy place for her. She grows into a good and kind person and even though her education is meager, she excels in whatever she gets. When the opportunity to work as a maid for a rich family in the nearest city arises, Rosalba is selected for the job. If anything, here she works even harder, but she is able to send money to help her family and she grows to like the job and the comfortable environment with this new family. But Rosalba is naive and a bit of flattery and one mistake changes her life.
There are fathers in this story, but there is no doubt that this story is about mothers, in all their blundering glory. Mother Mother is a gripping journey and delivers an emotional punch you will not soon forget.
When Julie and Mark decide to adopt a baby from Guatemala, their decision is based in practicality. It is relatively affordable, compared to some options; children there are in need; an agent takes care of all the paperwork. Unfortunately, theirs is one of the cases that become ensnarled in government red tape and corruption. The baby they fell in love with, supported financially and visited as often as they could, is five years old when he officially becomes their son and can move with them to their home in San Francisco. This five-year process takes a toll - Julie’s job suffers, her relationship with her sister grows awkward and her marriage shows some cracks. But it also makes Julie even more resolute to get this child and make a home. Once safe in the U.S., the adjustment and issues are huge. Among those issues is the reality of an ethnically mixed family, which changes their lives forever and in ways not anticipated. Julie finds support in online sites, meeting other adoptive families, utilizing resources for families with Guatemalan children and working to grow with her son.
In a tiny rural village in Guatemala, the newborn Rosalba is discovered, the only survivor of a brutal retaliatory massacre. She is not so much adopted as absorbed into a family from a nearby village. She is unaware that her parents are not her birth parents and accepts her place in the household - maybe working a little harder than her brothers and sisters, maybe required to take on the most back breaking work, but it is not an unhappy place for her. She grows into a good and kind person and even though her education is meager, she excels in whatever she gets. When the opportunity to work as a maid for a rich family in the nearest city arises, Rosalba is selected for the job. If anything, here she works even harder, but she is able to send money to help her family and she grows to like the job and the comfortable environment with this new family. But Rosalba is naive and a bit of flattery and one mistake changes her life.
There are fathers in this story, but there is no doubt that this story is about mothers, in all their blundering glory. Mother Mother is a gripping journey and delivers an emotional punch you will not soon forget.
July 26, 2020
This novel deftly weaves the stories of two mothers, a privileged American career woman who adopts a baby boy from Guatemala and the poor indigenous woman who gave him up so he could have a better life. I’m not an adoptive mother. But O’Dwyer’s vivid writing hooked me from the first page. In addition to being a riveting tale with some well-executed plot twists, Mother Mother delves into the corrupt and complicated world of Guatemalan adoption and the history behind it, such as the brutal civil war that wiped out entire villages. An adoptive mother of two Guatemalan children herself, O’Dwyer does a masterful job of depicting the very real but often hidden struggles adoptive families face. She gives the suffering of Guatemalan mothers equal attention. This is a beautiful, powerful book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
June 20, 2020
In this artfully written novel 'Mother Mother', Jessica O'Dwyer explores the emotions, the joys, and the travails of two women, desperately trying to be mothers. One, a white American, becomes a mother through adoption, and the other, an indigenous Ixil Maya woman, by giving birth to a beautiful boy. Their stories-- a mixed race adoption and an impoverished Guatemalan life-- are interwoven in the narrative as each mother tries to discover who she is and how to mother. 'Mother Mother' gives you a real glimpse into the realities of adoption, the power of love, and the joys of becoming a mother. Highly recommeneded.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reading copy
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reading copy
June 29, 2020
One of my top books of the year! Mother Mother is a touching & painful look at overseas adoption & the struggles tied to becoming a mother.
The story unfolds in two points of view. Julie, a successful gallery curator who, after years of infertility, embarks on the adoption process with her husband, Mark. Their road to become parents is littered with heartbreak & deceit. After years of trying, they finally bring Juan, a beautiful young Guatemalan boy home to California. What follows is a challenging beginning as a family that will leave you in tears.
There is also Rosalba, Juan’s biological mother, a Ixil Mayan woman who recounts her life story to us in detail. From her violent beginnings to giving her child up to where she stands today.
A beautifully written story!
The story unfolds in two points of view. Julie, a successful gallery curator who, after years of infertility, embarks on the adoption process with her husband, Mark. Their road to become parents is littered with heartbreak & deceit. After years of trying, they finally bring Juan, a beautiful young Guatemalan boy home to California. What follows is a challenging beginning as a family that will leave you in tears.
There is also Rosalba, Juan’s biological mother, a Ixil Mayan woman who recounts her life story to us in detail. From her violent beginnings to giving her child up to where she stands today.
A beautifully written story!
July 6, 2020
Wow is such a minuscule word to describe this book, but I can’t think of a better one. Terrific, excellent and superb do not even begin to describe the power of this novel. I am also an adoptive mother and know this topic well and even I was blown away by the story. The author did a great job of creating the different voices of the characters and in creating the atmosphere around their lives. I could see them in my minds eye as I read. I love the way she interwove the stories of the two mothers as the story progressed. The end was not at all what I expected and was absolutely brilliant. I am not much of a crier, yet this book did bring tears to my eyes and I felt incredibly moved by it. I hope you take the time to read it. You won’t be sorry you did.
June 15, 2020
This is the gripping story of two mothers, told with alternating points of view. It contrasts the life of a privileged white woman who adopts a child from Guatemala with the much different experience of the child's impoverished Guatemalan birth mother. Each woman goes through a harrowing journey and each story kept me completely absorbed and wanting to know more. The author does a particularly good job of showing the difficulties of parenthood, no matter who you are. She also gives the reader an inside view of working in the the rarefied world of museums and fine art.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
June 16, 2020
A book that looks at adoption through two mother's eyes...the eyes of a birth mother and and adoptive mother, this book is a captivating read for anyone interested in the fabric of adoption. The story weaves back and forth between the adoptive mom and the birth mom so the reader sees how each feels, how each lives, after an adoption. I definitely recommend it for anyone who has adopted or is contemplating adoption.
October 3, 2020
You know how sometimes you request a book because you think you’ll quite enjoy it, but it’s not top of your list? Then you read it and you wonder why on earth it wasn’t? Yeah, that!
This is a story I hadn’t read before - a look at what it’s like to want a child so badly when you’re unable to see a pregnancy to term. This is a story of how adopting a child affects your marriage, family and lifestyle. A story of the reasons that might lead you to give up a child for adoption, and the misery it can bring. A story of a young boy, raised in a Guatemalan orphanage and suddenly thrown into life in America with a white family and trying to find his way.
This was such an eye-opener for me - not only have I had the privilege of never needing to understand the adoption system, but I also had no idea of the history of violence in Guatemala. It’s complicated, it’s brutal and it’s heartbreaking, much like this story.
This took me on an emotional rollercoaster and I’m still stunned and in awe of the way O’Dwyer tells this beautiful story of race, motherhood, love and loss.
This is a story I hadn’t read before - a look at what it’s like to want a child so badly when you’re unable to see a pregnancy to term. This is a story of how adopting a child affects your marriage, family and lifestyle. A story of the reasons that might lead you to give up a child for adoption, and the misery it can bring. A story of a young boy, raised in a Guatemalan orphanage and suddenly thrown into life in America with a white family and trying to find his way.
This was such an eye-opener for me - not only have I had the privilege of never needing to understand the adoption system, but I also had no idea of the history of violence in Guatemala. It’s complicated, it’s brutal and it’s heartbreaking, much like this story.
This took me on an emotional rollercoaster and I’m still stunned and in awe of the way O’Dwyer tells this beautiful story of race, motherhood, love and loss.
June 25, 2020
Mother Mother is a wonderful read that outlines the process of adopting a Guatemalan child by an American couple. Told from both the viewpoint of the adoptive mother and the birth mother, it is truly heartwarming and emotional. The lengths the adoptive family must go through along with the struggles of the birth mother. Many other aspects are covered too. Career aspirations and challenges, family and marital relationships, experiences of other adoptive families. There is something in this novel for everyone. Highly recommended! I struggled to put it down as I had to know what came next.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.
June 21, 2020
Wondering what your next book should be for book club well look no further Mother Mother is it. It covers all the bases for a well-versed group discussion: adoption, family, marriage, motherhood and privilege. Jessica O'Dwyer first novel Mamalita: An Adoption Memoir is based on her adoption of her daughter from Guatemala in the face of overwhelming adversity. I assume she used her knowledge from her experiences as the background here. O’Dwyer shows us the realities of adoption. I found that to be very educational and heartbreaking. At the same time, she does a great job for tourism for Guatemala. The story is told with alternating points of view a woman with white privilege and a woman living in impoverished Guatemalan. This is an excellent read. I highly recommend it!
Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2020
Mother Mother
#jessicaodwyer
Releases October 1
Thank you @apprenticehousepress for this gifted copy
With alternating POV you have Julie a successful woman who has experienced years of infertility and is on the journey of international adoption through a Guatemala program with her husband Mark. Which is not an easy feat. taking years They finally get to bring their son home. Then you have Raosalba the sons biological mother where she shares her life story and what led her to the point they are at.
Mother Mother does an amazing job showing the realities of wanting to become a mother as well as a look into the struggles of overseas adoptions. A beautifully written book that will have you in tears by the end.
Adoption stories really hit home for me... my Mom was adopted....and my oldest daughter is beyond INTRIGUED by the idea of it and is always asking her to tell her stories of any kind about it.
#jessicaodwyer
Releases October 1
Thank you @apprenticehousepress for this gifted copy
With alternating POV you have Julie a successful woman who has experienced years of infertility and is on the journey of international adoption through a Guatemala program with her husband Mark. Which is not an easy feat. taking years They finally get to bring their son home. Then you have Raosalba the sons biological mother where she shares her life story and what led her to the point they are at.
Mother Mother does an amazing job showing the realities of wanting to become a mother as well as a look into the struggles of overseas adoptions. A beautifully written book that will have you in tears by the end.
Adoption stories really hit home for me... my Mom was adopted....and my oldest daughter is beyond INTRIGUED by the idea of it and is always asking her to tell her stories of any kind about it.
June 13, 2020
This is a wonderfully written book detailing the journey of adoption of a child from Guatemala by American parents.
It is harrowing in places and quite graphic - especially when you encounter the 'other' mother's story.
The story is well written, the characters are detailed and rich and the ending of the story ties both of the characters' stories together.
I look forward to reading more from Jessica O'Dwyer.
It is harrowing in places and quite graphic - especially when you encounter the 'other' mother's story.
The story is well written, the characters are detailed and rich and the ending of the story ties both of the characters' stories together.
I look forward to reading more from Jessica O'Dwyer.
August 18, 2020
“Rich white people paid money for babies that were brown? The thought was unbelievable.” Mother Mother, Jessica O’Dwyer.
Mother Mother by Jessica O’Dwyer weaves a powerful and poignant story about international adoption, privilege, and motherhood. It is told in two narratives: one of an American mother and one of a Guatemalan mother. While it is a novel, the writing is raw and straightforward like a memoir. The author’s personal experience with the adoption process in Guatemala makes the story fiercely believable and educational. The stunning cover is by Guatemalan artist Hugo González Ayala. This book blew me away. This book is one that I will remember always. I highly recommend.
Thank you @apprenticehousepress @mediamindbuck for my free copy.
Mother Mother by Jessica O’Dwyer weaves a powerful and poignant story about international adoption, privilege, and motherhood. It is told in two narratives: one of an American mother and one of a Guatemalan mother. While it is a novel, the writing is raw and straightforward like a memoir. The author’s personal experience with the adoption process in Guatemala makes the story fiercely believable and educational. The stunning cover is by Guatemalan artist Hugo González Ayala. This book blew me away. This book is one that I will remember always. I highly recommend.
Thank you @apprenticehousepress @mediamindbuck for my free copy.
July 21, 2020
Mother Mother by Jessica O’Dwyer begins with the emotional, bureaucratic, and logistical obstacle course that Julie Cowan, a museum curator, and her husband, Mark, a pathologist, navigate while adopting their toddler son from Guatemala. This page turner novel does a masterful job of portraying the joy of becoming parents and the difficult adjustments on marriage and careers. I liked Julie and felt as if I was thrown off balance right along with her as unexpected events unfolded.
Although Julie and Mark are as prepared as any adoptive parents could be, they are tested by both the love and anger Juan throws at them, the reaction of friends, families and strangers to being white parents with a brown son, trying to keep up with their careers, and the effort needed to keep their marriage intact. A second narrative, that of Juan’s birth mother in Guatemala, is well integrated into the novel and contributes to the suspense and rich complexity of this story. I highly recommend this intriguing book.
Although Julie and Mark are as prepared as any adoptive parents could be, they are tested by both the love and anger Juan throws at them, the reaction of friends, families and strangers to being white parents with a brown son, trying to keep up with their careers, and the effort needed to keep their marriage intact. A second narrative, that of Juan’s birth mother in Guatemala, is well integrated into the novel and contributes to the suspense and rich complexity of this story. I highly recommend this intriguing book.
June 16, 2020
I don't know if I ever wanted something to happen in a book more than I wanted Juan to finally be able to live with Julie and Mark! Your heart aches for everyone involved in the difficult transnational adoption process, which I learned so much about, as the author herself is an adoptive mom. I loved how Juan (later Jack)'s birth mother's story was woven into the narrative of Julie and Mark's much more privileged California life, and how the story does not shy away from discussing the difficult truths about white privilege, adoption, poverty, etc.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
December 11, 2020
After three miscarriages, Julie Cowan is convinced that she will never bear children. However, her desire to be a mother remains as strong as ever, and more so when she sees the picture of four months old Juan Rolando. Despite challenges at work, rigors of international adoption, family issues, endless delays, and contrary opinions, Julie remains resolute in bringing home her Guatemalan son. After years of fighting the good fight, Julie finally and legally brings five-year-old Juan home. Or so she thought. But the battle is not over. And Juan's birth mother, an indigenous Ixil Mayan, has everything to do with it.
'Mother Mother' is the first novel written by Jessica O'Dwyer. This story contains various themes; motherhood, international adoption, love, pain, violence, infidelity, and a tinge of racism. The author tells her story from Julie's perspective using the third-person narrative and then from Juan's birth mother's perspective using the first-person narrative. Thus, giving the reader a comprehensive and objective view of the story. The author masterfully narrates her story with a blend of flashbacks and foreshadowing and still keeps the reader captivated and in suspense. The author evokes vivid imagery of the story in the mind of the reader. The protagonists' backstories are rich and in-depth, and character development is top-notch. The author skillfully captures her characters' distinct personalities in a relatable manner. The author builds her story from a captivating start to an ovation-worthy finish that left me asking for more.
I was wholly invested in this book from the first page to the last. I connected with the characters, feared their fears, empathized with their pain, celebrated their triumphs, and understood their thoughts, choices, and decisions. I felt the horror of the brutality meted out on the Ixil Mayans, the uncertainties of Julie's seemingly endless wait for her son, the debilitating rigors of international adoption, and heaved a sigh of relief when she finally brought Juan home. This book enlightened me about Guatemala and gave me an insight into the challenges adoptive families face before and after adoption.
This book's strength lies in the author's ability to leverage her experience as an adoptive mother of Guatemalan children to create this literary masterpiece. There is absolutely nothing I dislike about this book. However, I must state that this book contains graphically violent narratives that some may find disturbing. It also includes a scene of sexual assault, although the author did not use vulgar words in describing the incident.
I would recommend this book to actual and potential adoptive families and everyone else who enjoys a great read. 'Mother Mother' by Jessica O'Dwyer is an emotionally gripping and professionally edited book that ticks all the boxes of an excellent story. I hold no reservations in awarding it a 5-star rating.
'Mother Mother' is the first novel written by Jessica O'Dwyer. This story contains various themes; motherhood, international adoption, love, pain, violence, infidelity, and a tinge of racism. The author tells her story from Julie's perspective using the third-person narrative and then from Juan's birth mother's perspective using the first-person narrative. Thus, giving the reader a comprehensive and objective view of the story. The author masterfully narrates her story with a blend of flashbacks and foreshadowing and still keeps the reader captivated and in suspense. The author evokes vivid imagery of the story in the mind of the reader. The protagonists' backstories are rich and in-depth, and character development is top-notch. The author skillfully captures her characters' distinct personalities in a relatable manner. The author builds her story from a captivating start to an ovation-worthy finish that left me asking for more.
I was wholly invested in this book from the first page to the last. I connected with the characters, feared their fears, empathized with their pain, celebrated their triumphs, and understood their thoughts, choices, and decisions. I felt the horror of the brutality meted out on the Ixil Mayans, the uncertainties of Julie's seemingly endless wait for her son, the debilitating rigors of international adoption, and heaved a sigh of relief when she finally brought Juan home. This book enlightened me about Guatemala and gave me an insight into the challenges adoptive families face before and after adoption.
This book's strength lies in the author's ability to leverage her experience as an adoptive mother of Guatemalan children to create this literary masterpiece. There is absolutely nothing I dislike about this book. However, I must state that this book contains graphically violent narratives that some may find disturbing. It also includes a scene of sexual assault, although the author did not use vulgar words in describing the incident.
I would recommend this book to actual and potential adoptive families and everyone else who enjoys a great read. 'Mother Mother' by Jessica O'Dwyer is an emotionally gripping and professionally edited book that ticks all the boxes of an excellent story. I hold no reservations in awarding it a 5-star rating.
October 12, 2020
Mother Mother is an emotional, gripping tale of two mothers, thousands of miles apart and how their paths get intertwined in the process of seeking motherhood.
Julie and Mark make their minds to adopt a child from Guatemala country through an international adoption program, after years of trying to conceive one. In the process they spend several years for approval of paperwork, along with many other American parents, entangled in the country's rigid and corrupt constitutional laws, only to find the programs shut down mid-way. Meanwhile, their son Juan gets shifted from foster care to an orphanage with harrowing ministrations that traumatizes him at such a delicate age. Only when Julie had given up all hope she surprisingly receives the approbation of the paperwork regarding their son's adoption. But this only marks the beginning of the struggle Julie encounters in the path to becoming a mother. As Julie tries to give a home to Juan, he struggles to adjust in a white society, in a perfect family and constantly fears loss due to the trauma inflicted upon him during his orphanage days. And in turn giving a challenge to Julie to constantly evolve as a mother and adapt to Juan's world. She tries every possible way to love and care for Juan and above all to let Juan know that he is loved. On the other hand we are narrated the tumultuous journey of Juan's birth mother in the Guatemalan country along with a detailed description of the country's civil war and its harrowing repercussions. Her story highlights the beauty and pain in the struggle of a mother giving away her child for a better upbringing thus erasing prejudices related to the character of the mother.
The author has gracefully described the struggle of both the mothers. While being dragged between the envy towards Juan's birth mother and constant nagging of her boss to curate innovative ideas for her contemporary art museum, Julie discovers motherhood through a emotional and painful struggle. Rosalba after giving away her son never stops thinking, loving and praying for his wellbeing.
But will Julie get past her insecurities to get Juan educated of his homeland and his birth mother?
Overall, this story touched so many aspects of adoption which include the struggle in the process itself, mental health of the children being adopted, racism, rehoming, orphanages, marriage and motherhood. These aspects made it feel real and heartwarming. The dual narration reasonably justified the turns that the plot took. And the ending was heavenly emotional. I devoured every single detail, emotion and was overwhelmed with this uniquely magnificent story.
Thank you Netgalley and Apprentice House Press for this ARC and Thank you to Jessica O'Dwyer for this wonderfully crafted piece.
Julie and Mark make their minds to adopt a child from Guatemala country through an international adoption program, after years of trying to conceive one. In the process they spend several years for approval of paperwork, along with many other American parents, entangled in the country's rigid and corrupt constitutional laws, only to find the programs shut down mid-way. Meanwhile, their son Juan gets shifted from foster care to an orphanage with harrowing ministrations that traumatizes him at such a delicate age. Only when Julie had given up all hope she surprisingly receives the approbation of the paperwork regarding their son's adoption. But this only marks the beginning of the struggle Julie encounters in the path to becoming a mother. As Julie tries to give a home to Juan, he struggles to adjust in a white society, in a perfect family and constantly fears loss due to the trauma inflicted upon him during his orphanage days. And in turn giving a challenge to Julie to constantly evolve as a mother and adapt to Juan's world. She tries every possible way to love and care for Juan and above all to let Juan know that he is loved. On the other hand we are narrated the tumultuous journey of Juan's birth mother in the Guatemalan country along with a detailed description of the country's civil war and its harrowing repercussions. Her story highlights the beauty and pain in the struggle of a mother giving away her child for a better upbringing thus erasing prejudices related to the character of the mother.
The author has gracefully described the struggle of both the mothers. While being dragged between the envy towards Juan's birth mother and constant nagging of her boss to curate innovative ideas for her contemporary art museum, Julie discovers motherhood through a emotional and painful struggle. Rosalba after giving away her son never stops thinking, loving and praying for his wellbeing.
But will Julie get past her insecurities to get Juan educated of his homeland and his birth mother?
Overall, this story touched so many aspects of adoption which include the struggle in the process itself, mental health of the children being adopted, racism, rehoming, orphanages, marriage and motherhood. These aspects made it feel real and heartwarming. The dual narration reasonably justified the turns that the plot took. And the ending was heavenly emotional. I devoured every single detail, emotion and was overwhelmed with this uniquely magnificent story.
Thank you Netgalley and Apprentice House Press for this ARC and Thank you to Jessica O'Dwyer for this wonderfully crafted piece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2020
I began reading this book right after I finished the Little Fires Everywhere series on Amazon. The relationship between mother and child I find is still so understated and needs more revealing in all the forms possible so I dove in eagerly.
This book captures a fascinating story of adoption, it is the first book I've read that brings the birth mother and adoptive's mother story together. The writing was enjoyable and made for a pleasant read, some phrases I 'liked'
"She was empty. Rowan was gone" - This took me from 0-100 as I have a little understanding of how she feels and it moved me to tears.
Another favorite line "The smell of corn alcohol and old clothes came in like a second person" - Jessica knows how to put sentences together
Also, "Boys like that grew up to run the world, or atleast run the country and every business in it" thanks for recognizing white man privilege
I have to credit the author for turning my attention to Guatemala, thinking of the people there and really making a nation ‘come alive’ to me. I feel like I must go there someday, for now, I can pray.
However, there are a few things that have affected the rating I gave it.
One, the cover - it doesn't do the book justice, if I saw it in a store, I would not pick it up.
Two, the stereotypes/adultification bias - I understand that the author is writing from her point of view - a white woman, One'd hope it won't but it really shows. For example, I absolutely disliked the fact that a pre-teen/young teen is described in such a sexualized manner having 'curves' and the size of her breasts, could have closed the book there and then. I took more notice of it because we know that black children are usually sexualized early on and adult characteristics assigned to them. Also the descriptions of powerful legs and strong shoulders? really? are black girls & women not allowed to be dainty at all?
In a book that can describe people as peach I wasn't expecting that skin would be described as black, whose skin is actually black?
Although my connection with the main character was limited, what happened to her was totally unnecessary and I hope the culprit gets his just desserts. I hope for a happy ending for her, birth mother and their son.
Recommended!
(What a joy it is to discover and read books for free in exchange for a review, thanks Netgalley :D)
This book captures a fascinating story of adoption, it is the first book I've read that brings the birth mother and adoptive's mother story together. The writing was enjoyable and made for a pleasant read, some phrases I 'liked'
"She was empty. Rowan was gone" - This took me from 0-100 as I have a little understanding of how she feels and it moved me to tears.
Another favorite line "The smell of corn alcohol and old clothes came in like a second person" - Jessica knows how to put sentences together
Also, "Boys like that grew up to run the world, or atleast run the country and every business in it" thanks for recognizing white man privilege
I have to credit the author for turning my attention to Guatemala, thinking of the people there and really making a nation ‘come alive’ to me. I feel like I must go there someday, for now, I can pray.
However, there are a few things that have affected the rating I gave it.
One, the cover - it doesn't do the book justice, if I saw it in a store, I would not pick it up.
Two, the stereotypes/adultification bias - I understand that the author is writing from her point of view - a white woman, One'd hope it won't but it really shows. For example, I absolutely disliked the fact that a pre-teen/young teen is described in such a sexualized manner having 'curves' and the size of her breasts, could have closed the book there and then. I took more notice of it because we know that black children are usually sexualized early on and adult characteristics assigned to them. Also the descriptions of powerful legs and strong shoulders? really? are black girls & women not allowed to be dainty at all?
In a book that can describe people as peach I wasn't expecting that skin would be described as black, whose skin is actually black?
Although my connection with the main character was limited, what happened to her was totally unnecessary and I hope the culprit gets his just desserts. I hope for a happy ending for her, birth mother and their son.
Recommended!
(What a joy it is to discover and read books for free in exchange for a review, thanks Netgalley :D)
September 29, 2020
This was a spellbinding story. I loved and hated the characters at different intervals, each one pulled at me. Written with so many complex emotions, this is not an easy read, and it's not one of those fluffy "feel good" reads either. What it is, is intense, beautiful and triumphant in many ways. I felt for Julie, the woman who wants it all- the career, the man and the child... but especially the child. The thought of adoption is scary on it's own- and still a bit taboo today. Bring another country's politics and customs into the make? It feels impossible. Then there's raising a child up that wasn't with their adoptive family from birth, trying to understand the scars of a past that you couldn't help. Family has always been important to me, and I feel like I would have many of Julie's feelings. Do you search for the birth mother? Is it better for the child? And if you find them, are you still "Mom"? How does one decide what the right thing to do here is?
On the plus side, the book had a good flow. It was beautifully written and intensely interesting. On the other hand, it's not a subject I would ever feel completely comfortable with.... and I may have wanted to slap all the adult characters at least once throughout the story. Honestly, I finished this book weeks ago and have been trying to come to terms with how I feel about it. For me, this is a four star book- It's gorgeous and I highly recommend it.... but it can hardly be considered a light or fast read.
On the adult content scale, there's violence (high levels of physical as well as sexual), language, and abuse. It's definitely not geared toward children. I would give it a seven.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Apprentice House Press in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!
On the plus side, the book had a good flow. It was beautifully written and intensely interesting. On the other hand, it's not a subject I would ever feel completely comfortable with.... and I may have wanted to slap all the adult characters at least once throughout the story. Honestly, I finished this book weeks ago and have been trying to come to terms with how I feel about it. For me, this is a four star book- It's gorgeous and I highly recommend it.... but it can hardly be considered a light or fast read.
On the adult content scale, there's violence (high levels of physical as well as sexual), language, and abuse. It's definitely not geared toward children. I would give it a seven.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Apprentice House Press in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!
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