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Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family
Where does she come from?
Who are her genetic parents?
Who is she?
Does she even want to know?
With almost no information of her genetic heritage, adoptee Rebecca Daniels follows limited clues and uses DNA testing, genealogical research, thoughtful letter writing, and a willingness to make awkward phone calls with strangers to finally find her birth parents.
But along the way, she finds much more.
Two half-sisters.
A slew of cousins on both sides.
A family waiting to be discovered.
With the assistance of a distant cousin in Sweden and several other DNA angels on the internet, Daniels finally comes face to face with her birth mother just months before her passing. Join in on this author’s discovery of family and self in Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find her Birth Family
“Finding Sisters is an excellent example of what it takes to solve a family mystery. Yet it’s also a captivating story of human relationships in the age of secrecy-revealing DNA databases…. Refreshingly honest and personal. Like no other DNA success story, Finding Sisters uses footnotes and family tree diagrams to show exactly how the search unfolds. This makes the book a clever hybrid of a memoir and a case study” - Richard Hill, author of Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA
Who are her genetic parents?
Who is she?
Does she even want to know?
With almost no information of her genetic heritage, adoptee Rebecca Daniels follows limited clues and uses DNA testing, genealogical research, thoughtful letter writing, and a willingness to make awkward phone calls with strangers to finally find her birth parents.
But along the way, she finds much more.
Two half-sisters.
A slew of cousins on both sides.
A family waiting to be discovered.
With the assistance of a distant cousin in Sweden and several other DNA angels on the internet, Daniels finally comes face to face with her birth mother just months before her passing. Join in on this author’s discovery of family and self in Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find her Birth Family
“Finding Sisters is an excellent example of what it takes to solve a family mystery. Yet it’s also a captivating story of human relationships in the age of secrecy-revealing DNA databases…. Refreshingly honest and personal. Like no other DNA success story, Finding Sisters uses footnotes and family tree diagrams to show exactly how the search unfolds. This makes the book a clever hybrid of a memoir and a case study” - Richard Hill, author of Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA
- GenresNonfictionAdoption
126 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2021
21 people are currently reading
1272 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Daniels
4 books7 followersRebecca Daniels (MFA, PhD) taught performance, writing, and speaking in liberal arts universities for over 25 years, including St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, from 1992-2015. She was the founding producing director of Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, OR, and directed with many professional Portland theatre companies in the 1980s. She is the author of the groundbreaking Women Stage Directors Speak: Exploring the Effects of Gender on Their Work (McFarland, 1996, 2000) and has been published in multiple professional theatre journals.
After her retirement from teaching, she began her association with Sunbury Press with Keeping the Lights on for Ike: Daily Life of a Utilities Engineer at AFHQ in Europe During WWII; or, What to Say in Letters Home When You're Not Allowed to Write about the War (2019), a book based on her father’s letters home from Europe during WWII.
She had always known she was adopted, but it was only as retirement approached, and with a friend’s encouragement, that she began the search for her genetic heritage through DNA testing. Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family (Sunbury Press, 2021) explores how DNA testing, combined with traditional genealogical research, helped her find her genetic parents, two half-sisters, and other relatives in spite of being given up for a closed adoption at birth.
Her new grief memoir about her late-in-life second marriage and sudden widowhood called That Day And What Came After: Finding and Losing the Love of My Life in Six Short Years was published, also by Sunbury in June of 2024.
After her retirement from teaching, she began her association with Sunbury Press with Keeping the Lights on for Ike: Daily Life of a Utilities Engineer at AFHQ in Europe During WWII; or, What to Say in Letters Home When You're Not Allowed to Write about the War (2019), a book based on her father’s letters home from Europe during WWII.
She had always known she was adopted, but it was only as retirement approached, and with a friend’s encouragement, that she began the search for her genetic heritage through DNA testing. Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family (Sunbury Press, 2021) explores how DNA testing, combined with traditional genealogical research, helped her find her genetic parents, two half-sisters, and other relatives in spite of being given up for a closed adoption at birth.
Her new grief memoir about her late-in-life second marriage and sudden widowhood called That Day And What Came After: Finding and Losing the Love of My Life in Six Short Years was published, also by Sunbury in June of 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 20, 2021
Rebecca Daniels was adopted by loving parents and had little interest in searching for her biological family until much later in life. When she did begin her search, she used DNA testing and some of the various genealogical sites such as Ancestry.com to make connections with distant relatives and begin her search for the truth.
I found this to be a very interesting story of a quest to find biological connections and most especially the stories behind them. While DNA is incredibly helpful in finding lost family, it does not always provide all the answers, and investigation has to be done. Daniels provides a thorough history of her investigation, what she learned, and the connections she made along the way.
The story is not as full of emotion as I personally may have wanted. It is more analytical and detailed in nature. The author explains the reason for that and her somewhat emotionally detached personality, and it is perfectly understandable. Since I am a very emotional person and thrive on emotional connections, it wasn't quite as fulfilling for me as it might be for others. But for those who love a good puzzle and want to learn more about genealogical research, this will be an informative and enjoyable read.
I appreciated the section in the back of the book that provides information about available genealogical sites and the many options they offer.
I downloaded this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
I found this to be a very interesting story of a quest to find biological connections and most especially the stories behind them. While DNA is incredibly helpful in finding lost family, it does not always provide all the answers, and investigation has to be done. Daniels provides a thorough history of her investigation, what she learned, and the connections she made along the way.
The story is not as full of emotion as I personally may have wanted. It is more analytical and detailed in nature. The author explains the reason for that and her somewhat emotionally detached personality, and it is perfectly understandable. Since I am a very emotional person and thrive on emotional connections, it wasn't quite as fulfilling for me as it might be for others. But for those who love a good puzzle and want to learn more about genealogical research, this will be an informative and enjoyable read.
I appreciated the section in the back of the book that provides information about available genealogical sites and the many options they offer.
I downloaded this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
February 8, 2022
Rebecca Daniels always knew that she and her brother were adopted. In fact she can't remember when her parents even told her. It was so early in her childhood. Since her parents were so loving she never had the desire to find her real birth parents. She never had the longing and the feeling that something was missing in her life. In her teens, she learned she had a degenerative inherited eye disease. But when it went into remission, she dismissed the idea of finding out more about her birth family and their health information. One day, a friend who was going to take a DNA test convinced her to take one too. The author's cousin, a Ph.D in genetics with over 20 years work experience in the field, explained to her how DNA works.
After the test was taken, Rebecca Daniels lucked out when someone contacted her from Sweden and said, "I think we are related." Thomas worked in a lab dealing with DNA and was fascinated with genealogical research. She could not have found a better person to help her along the way. Thus, began the story of her journey to find her birth family.
This is a beautiful memoir of her journey. Along the way she met and bonded with several family members on both sides of her family. Others, rejected her. And some real surprises were discovered leading to unexpected hurdles. Her own birth mother was also adopted! Her only regret was that Thomas, who appeared so suddenly in her life and gave her so much encouragement and help, suffered from depression and disappeared later.
This book really resonated with me. Several friends of my parents were adopted, gave children up for adoption or adopted children themselves. Some never learned about their adoption until all their immediate family members had passed on. Others had children contact them when the children were in their 30s. Some family reconciliations went well and the children were warmly embraced. Unfortunately, others were too late to meet birth parents, who had passed on. Some were rejected by their birth families. Coming from a family of 10 aunts and uncles and over 40 cousins, several of us became interested in genealogy after a family reunion was held over 45 years ago to introduce our newly found cousin to our family. Thanks to a tiny ad placed in a local newspaper.
This book is much more than a memoir. The author explains, how DNA tests work as well as giving a list of resources, where to research, and compares the different companies that offer DNA testing.
A very worthwhile book for those interested in genealogical research as well as those searching for birth parents.
After the test was taken, Rebecca Daniels lucked out when someone contacted her from Sweden and said, "I think we are related." Thomas worked in a lab dealing with DNA and was fascinated with genealogical research. She could not have found a better person to help her along the way. Thus, began the story of her journey to find her birth family.
This is a beautiful memoir of her journey. Along the way she met and bonded with several family members on both sides of her family. Others, rejected her. And some real surprises were discovered leading to unexpected hurdles. Her own birth mother was also adopted! Her only regret was that Thomas, who appeared so suddenly in her life and gave her so much encouragement and help, suffered from depression and disappeared later.
This book really resonated with me. Several friends of my parents were adopted, gave children up for adoption or adopted children themselves. Some never learned about their adoption until all their immediate family members had passed on. Others had children contact them when the children were in their 30s. Some family reconciliations went well and the children were warmly embraced. Unfortunately, others were too late to meet birth parents, who had passed on. Some were rejected by their birth families. Coming from a family of 10 aunts and uncles and over 40 cousins, several of us became interested in genealogy after a family reunion was held over 45 years ago to introduce our newly found cousin to our family. Thanks to a tiny ad placed in a local newspaper.
This book is much more than a memoir. The author explains, how DNA tests work as well as giving a list of resources, where to research, and compares the different companies that offer DNA testing.
A very worthwhile book for those interested in genealogical research as well as those searching for birth parents.
January 30, 2022
Both a mystery and a memoir rolled up into one, 'Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family,' keeps the reader wondering what is going to happen next the whole way through!
I was captivated by the author's journey, and to put it simply, every twist in the story made me feel like I was reading a bestselling mystery novel. Rebecca Daniels writing was not only passionate and full of real, heartfelt emotion, but factual as well.
I loved the amount of scientific data about DNA and genetics testing that she included. It really helped me better understand how the process of finding long lost relatives actually works.
Not only did Daniels find her biological mother after an entire lifetime of not knowing who she was, but she also found two half sisters and many cousins. Unfortunately, by the time Daniels reconnected with her mother, the woman, Glenna had suffered a stroke and was experiencing some memory loss. Glenna struggled to remember Daniels' birth father's name, a situation that was frustrating and saddening to both women.
Daniels and her half sister, April had to gently work with Glenna to coax information out of her when she was having a cogent moment and not pressure her to try and remember things when she was already having a bad health day. Something about the strength of the relationships between this group of women who had only just met, but who had been related all of their lives, was incredibly touching and profound.
This is a book not only about reconnecting with lost family, but about sisterhood and the way that we all eventually have to care for our older parents when the time comes. I have never read another book like this one and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good winter read!
I was captivated by the author's journey, and to put it simply, every twist in the story made me feel like I was reading a bestselling mystery novel. Rebecca Daniels writing was not only passionate and full of real, heartfelt emotion, but factual as well.
I loved the amount of scientific data about DNA and genetics testing that she included. It really helped me better understand how the process of finding long lost relatives actually works.
Not only did Daniels find her biological mother after an entire lifetime of not knowing who she was, but she also found two half sisters and many cousins. Unfortunately, by the time Daniels reconnected with her mother, the woman, Glenna had suffered a stroke and was experiencing some memory loss. Glenna struggled to remember Daniels' birth father's name, a situation that was frustrating and saddening to both women.
Daniels and her half sister, April had to gently work with Glenna to coax information out of her when she was having a cogent moment and not pressure her to try and remember things when she was already having a bad health day. Something about the strength of the relationships between this group of women who had only just met, but who had been related all of their lives, was incredibly touching and profound.
This is a book not only about reconnecting with lost family, but about sisterhood and the way that we all eventually have to care for our older parents when the time comes. I have never read another book like this one and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good winter read!
January 29, 2022
“This was it; the moment I had been waiting for. I had seen several photos and heard lots of anecdotes about my birth mother, but now I was going to find out who she was in person.”
There is no other connection on earth like the bond between a mother and child. They give birth to us, raise us and hopefully get to see us become successful adults.
But what happens when that bond is broken? What happens when a child is put up for adoption and information about their birth mother is not preserved?
This is just what happened to author Rebecca Daniels. Rebecca was given up for adoption as a baby in the 1940's and, record keeping being what it was back in that time, not much information was known about her birth mother. However, Rebecca found that for much of her life, she wasn't very curious about her true origins. It was only shortly before her retirement, when a friend began looking into her own ancestry, that Rebecca decided to try and discover who her biological parents were. Little did she know, she was about to go on quite an adventure to find out.
After submitting her DNA to an online ancestry site, several matches came back, but none were close relatives. However, she was soon contacted out of the blue by a match who claimed to be her distant cousin in Sweden. Thomas, Rebecca's Swedish cousin, worked in a DNA lab and was very interested in helping her find her biological family. Through months of research, Rebecca's mother, Glenna was located as well as two half sisters.
Everything about this memoir fascinated me, from the science behind the DNA test, to the family trees of her biological family that the author helpfully includes. This is a memoir about family and reconnection that would stir the heart of any reader!
There is no other connection on earth like the bond between a mother and child. They give birth to us, raise us and hopefully get to see us become successful adults.
But what happens when that bond is broken? What happens when a child is put up for adoption and information about their birth mother is not preserved?
This is just what happened to author Rebecca Daniels. Rebecca was given up for adoption as a baby in the 1940's and, record keeping being what it was back in that time, not much information was known about her birth mother. However, Rebecca found that for much of her life, she wasn't very curious about her true origins. It was only shortly before her retirement, when a friend began looking into her own ancestry, that Rebecca decided to try and discover who her biological parents were. Little did she know, she was about to go on quite an adventure to find out.
After submitting her DNA to an online ancestry site, several matches came back, but none were close relatives. However, she was soon contacted out of the blue by a match who claimed to be her distant cousin in Sweden. Thomas, Rebecca's Swedish cousin, worked in a DNA lab and was very interested in helping her find her biological family. Through months of research, Rebecca's mother, Glenna was located as well as two half sisters.
Everything about this memoir fascinated me, from the science behind the DNA test, to the family trees of her biological family that the author helpfully includes. This is a memoir about family and reconnection that would stir the heart of any reader!
January 29, 2022
With the help of the vast knowledge of the internet and one intrepid Swedish cousin, Rebecca Daniels found her birth family after a lifetime of never knowing them. 60-something years after being given up for adoption, Daniels found herself curious about her birth family.
After having lived a happy, simple life with a loving adoptive family, Daniels never found herself with the burning curiosity that many former adoptees face. But she did wonder if there might be health issues in her future that she did not know about and so, with the help of an internet ancestry site, she began looking for her true origins.
What she found was a cousin. Thomas lived in Sweden and was Daniels' very distant cousin. But, as someone who worked in the DNA field, Thomas was very interested in her story and knew how to help.
Between the two of them, they managed to come up with a name that turned out to be that of Daniels' biological mother, Glenna. Although she had been found, at the age of 86, Glenna had recently suffered a stroke and was consequently dealing with a lot of memory loss. This meant that a lot more work was still required from Daniels in order to find out her father's name and any more details about her adoption. Luckily, with the help of the two half sisters that she also discovered, those details soon began to reveal themselves.
Not only was this memoir compelling, but it was beautifully written, too. Daniels has a true talent for storytelling that becomes apparent very quickly as you read along. Some of the revelations that she discovered took my breath away but ultimately this seemed like such a rewarding experience for everyone involved. This book gets five stars for enjoyment and for the miracle that is DNA testing!
After having lived a happy, simple life with a loving adoptive family, Daniels never found herself with the burning curiosity that many former adoptees face. But she did wonder if there might be health issues in her future that she did not know about and so, with the help of an internet ancestry site, she began looking for her true origins.
What she found was a cousin. Thomas lived in Sweden and was Daniels' very distant cousin. But, as someone who worked in the DNA field, Thomas was very interested in her story and knew how to help.
Between the two of them, they managed to come up with a name that turned out to be that of Daniels' biological mother, Glenna. Although she had been found, at the age of 86, Glenna had recently suffered a stroke and was consequently dealing with a lot of memory loss. This meant that a lot more work was still required from Daniels in order to find out her father's name and any more details about her adoption. Luckily, with the help of the two half sisters that she also discovered, those details soon began to reveal themselves.
Not only was this memoir compelling, but it was beautifully written, too. Daniels has a true talent for storytelling that becomes apparent very quickly as you read along. Some of the revelations that she discovered took my breath away but ultimately this seemed like such a rewarding experience for everyone involved. This book gets five stars for enjoyment and for the miracle that is DNA testing!
January 27, 2022
Rebecca Daniels has known from a young age that she and her younger brother were adopted. However, she always felt loved by her adoptive parents and didn’t think much about who her birth parents were.
One day, quite some time after her parents died, a friend, told Rebecca that she was going to have DNA testing and that Rebecca should as well. After giving it some thought, she decided to do it. Her main objective was to find out about any genetic health problems in her birth family.
After submitting her DNA, lots of results started coming in. A bunch of distant cousins, including one in Sweden, Thomas. It turned out to be excellent that she reached out to him as he was really into ancestry and genetics, himself and was very knowledgeable. Via email, he was able to lead Rebecca down the path of finding closer relatives. She eventually found her birth mother who was still alive and living with Rebecca’s half sister. Rebecca arranged to meet them and spend time with them. They lived in a different state. Eventually, she goes on to find more connections including a half sister on her paternal side.
Rebecca shares a lot of information about the steps she took in her search but in such a way that it never got boring. In fact, I couldn’t put the book down and read into the wee hours of the morning. I am a huge fan of the television show ‘Long Lost Family’ so, when I found out about this book, I knew I had to read it. If you enjoy well written memoirs, this book is for you. If you are interested in ancestry and DNA testing and results, this book is for you! I highly recommend it!
One day, quite some time after her parents died, a friend, told Rebecca that she was going to have DNA testing and that Rebecca should as well. After giving it some thought, she decided to do it. Her main objective was to find out about any genetic health problems in her birth family.
After submitting her DNA, lots of results started coming in. A bunch of distant cousins, including one in Sweden, Thomas. It turned out to be excellent that she reached out to him as he was really into ancestry and genetics, himself and was very knowledgeable. Via email, he was able to lead Rebecca down the path of finding closer relatives. She eventually found her birth mother who was still alive and living with Rebecca’s half sister. Rebecca arranged to meet them and spend time with them. They lived in a different state. Eventually, she goes on to find more connections including a half sister on her paternal side.
Rebecca shares a lot of information about the steps she took in her search but in such a way that it never got boring. In fact, I couldn’t put the book down and read into the wee hours of the morning. I am a huge fan of the television show ‘Long Lost Family’ so, when I found out about this book, I knew I had to read it. If you enjoy well written memoirs, this book is for you. If you are interested in ancestry and DNA testing and results, this book is for you! I highly recommend it!
January 10, 2022
Reading this memoir was just the type of singular experience that every book lover longs for. Rebecca Daniels writes her story the way only someone with a lifetime of experience can. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing and her viewpoints and found myself getting lost in the book as I read along. But I'm getting ahead of myself now.
What is this book about, you may be asking? Well, picture this: You're a young girl growing up in suburban Oregon during the 1950's. You're adopted. You've always known this, it's just a part of your life and even though you are curious about who your birth parents might be (and why they decided to give you up) you are very happy with your adopted family and not overly eager to find them.
Flash forward to 50-something years later. Now it's 2015 and internet ancestry sites are all the rage. You decide to submit your DNA to one such website, not assuming you'll get any results. However, after your DNA is analyzed, you end up with far more matches than you bargained for.
This is the true story of author Rebecca Daniels' journey into her own past which she writes about in her memoir, ' Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family.'
Although Daniels did not immediately get a match for any direct family members through the website, she was soon contacted by a distant cousin from Sweden, who promised to help her track down her birth mother. Eventually, after painstaking research, Daniels' birth mother was located as well as two half-sisters and a bunch of close and distant cousins.
This memoir tells the story of one woman's reunion with the family she had known about, and the quest to find herself in a 60+ year old series of events.
What is this book about, you may be asking? Well, picture this: You're a young girl growing up in suburban Oregon during the 1950's. You're adopted. You've always known this, it's just a part of your life and even though you are curious about who your birth parents might be (and why they decided to give you up) you are very happy with your adopted family and not overly eager to find them.
Flash forward to 50-something years later. Now it's 2015 and internet ancestry sites are all the rage. You decide to submit your DNA to one such website, not assuming you'll get any results. However, after your DNA is analyzed, you end up with far more matches than you bargained for.
This is the true story of author Rebecca Daniels' journey into her own past which she writes about in her memoir, ' Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family.'
Although Daniels did not immediately get a match for any direct family members through the website, she was soon contacted by a distant cousin from Sweden, who promised to help her track down her birth mother. Eventually, after painstaking research, Daniels' birth mother was located as well as two half-sisters and a bunch of close and distant cousins.
This memoir tells the story of one woman's reunion with the family she had known about, and the quest to find herself in a 60+ year old series of events.
January 15, 2022
Being the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Alec and Mary Daniels, Rebecca always knew she was an adoptee like her younger brother, Toby. However, it never bothered her that much. She had everything a child should have, including loving parents and grew into an astute career woman.
However, at the end of her career, she embarks on an adventure to discover her birth family heritage, out of curiosity. Finding Sisters is the story of her expedition as she explores the link between Genealogy and DNA.
Daniels does a great job tackling the mystery surrounding her birth and adoption. With every word, sentence, paragraph, and page, I find Rebecca’s memoir quite inspirational. True, especially for those who feel lost and experience an emotional pull to find their blood families or those, like herself who “had strong and happy adoptive families and felt no emotional pull to find more family members” but doing so out of simple curiosity.
I loved the way the she keeps the readers updated with the evidence while still holding their attention to the very last word. Rebecca Daniels writes with so much heart. She opens the door to your imagination. Throughout the book, you are left wishing that she makes a connection and when she makes a discovery and finally a connection, you feel a good relief.
The story is so well-rounded and compelling to read. I loved the book!
However, at the end of her career, she embarks on an adventure to discover her birth family heritage, out of curiosity. Finding Sisters is the story of her expedition as she explores the link between Genealogy and DNA.
Daniels does a great job tackling the mystery surrounding her birth and adoption. With every word, sentence, paragraph, and page, I find Rebecca’s memoir quite inspirational. True, especially for those who feel lost and experience an emotional pull to find their blood families or those, like herself who “had strong and happy adoptive families and felt no emotional pull to find more family members” but doing so out of simple curiosity.
I loved the way the she keeps the readers updated with the evidence while still holding their attention to the very last word. Rebecca Daniels writes with so much heart. She opens the door to your imagination. Throughout the book, you are left wishing that she makes a connection and when she makes a discovery and finally a connection, you feel a good relief.
The story is so well-rounded and compelling to read. I loved the book!
January 4, 2022
In a globe robust with family mysteries the world of science has always had a solution up its sleeve with one of its best inventions being that of DNA. For many, the results from DNA tests have helped flesh out family trees who they may or not recognize, while for others, including children adopted as children or conceived through donor sperm it can help in resolving longstanding questions about their birth parents.
‘Finding Sisters’ a memoir by Rebecca Daniels can just be described as a perfectly written DNA success story that blends both science and some good old fashioned sleuthing. In this very personal journey, Rebecca who was adopted while very young is riddled with the task of getting to know who she is and who her biological parents are. In this quest, Rebecca decides to play detective and follow some limited clues while also utilizing DNA testing and some genealogical research. However, while on this pursuit she finds more. Can she handle what she has been longing to find out and how does she feel when she finally meets her biological mother, her half-sisters and her cousins. At first, she wasn’t convinced that she really wanted to go on this journey but once she started, she wanted to know more.
Though I am not a big fan of genealogy research I found this memoir to be quite entertaining. Any author can just go ahead and provide useful scientific information but I just loved how Rebecca does it while blending all this with her storytelling skills, while sharing her personal journey. The book is also highly informative with the author offering some quality information about available genealogical sites thus rendering it the perfect read for genealogical research enthusiasts and anyone who fancies a sincere, straightforward and intelligently constructed story.
‘Finding Sisters’ a memoir by Rebecca Daniels can just be described as a perfectly written DNA success story that blends both science and some good old fashioned sleuthing. In this very personal journey, Rebecca who was adopted while very young is riddled with the task of getting to know who she is and who her biological parents are. In this quest, Rebecca decides to play detective and follow some limited clues while also utilizing DNA testing and some genealogical research. However, while on this pursuit she finds more. Can she handle what she has been longing to find out and how does she feel when she finally meets her biological mother, her half-sisters and her cousins. At first, she wasn’t convinced that she really wanted to go on this journey but once she started, she wanted to know more.
Though I am not a big fan of genealogy research I found this memoir to be quite entertaining. Any author can just go ahead and provide useful scientific information but I just loved how Rebecca does it while blending all this with her storytelling skills, while sharing her personal journey. The book is also highly informative with the author offering some quality information about available genealogical sites thus rendering it the perfect read for genealogical research enthusiasts and anyone who fancies a sincere, straightforward and intelligently constructed story.
January 7, 2022
"Finding Sisters was very interesting & close to my heart because I, too, am an adoptee who found her birth family after an exhaustive search. I hadn't appreciated DNA's nuanced complexities until Ms Daniels explained them. Her detailed, unique story exemplifies that a successful search requires far more than determination - it takes guts, emotional energy, science (and help to understand it!) as well as quite a bit of luck.
Ms Daniels takes the reader along on her roller coaster journey unravelling unexpected real life mysteries and the emotional experiences of meeting total strangers who are suddenly her family. Overall, a captivating story only Ms Daniels could tell, and an interesting study of the complexities of history and human nature. Well done!”
Ms Daniels takes the reader along on her roller coaster journey unravelling unexpected real life mysteries and the emotional experiences of meeting total strangers who are suddenly her family. Overall, a captivating story only Ms Daniels could tell, and an interesting study of the complexities of history and human nature. Well done!”
January 30, 2022
Sometimes, truth can be stranger than fiction. This was the case for author Rebecca Daniels when she did a simple DNA test to find her biological family and discovered a lot more than she bargained for. Finding not only her biological mother, but also two half sisters would be enough to throw anyone for a loop, but between that and discovering other dramatic details from her family, Daniels found herself with a lot to process.
At the beginning of the memoir, Daniels writes that: “For various reasons, many adoptees feel emotionally incomplete without knowing their genetic parentage, but I had never been one of those people. I had, on balance, a very happy and what one could call a normal middle-class suburban childhood, and as an adult, I had no serious desire to search for my genetic parents.”
However, after a friend decided to do a DNA test to find out her own heritage, Daniels agreed to do one, too, if only to discover if she had any latent medical issues that might be genetic. The DNA test did not net her any results, but it did find a distant cousin living in Sweden who decided to help Daniels find her birth family.
Being very familiar with genetics through his work in DNA himself, Thomas was able to find Daniels' mother and two half sisters in only a short time. Glenna, Daniels' mother, was 86 years old and living in Omaha, Nebraska. After recently suffering a stroke, Glenna was having trouble recalling the name of Daniels' birth father, but she still remembered Daniels, herself and was delighted to see her long lost child again.
The writing was excellent and transfixing. Though Daniels included a lot of the research and genetics her story shines through without getting boughed down with the details. In fact, I am sure most readers would want to know the details and the science involved.
Proving that family connections can be everlasting despite what might be unusual circumstances, 'Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family,' is the story of a woman's quest to find herself and the eternal love of a mother and siblings.
At the beginning of the memoir, Daniels writes that: “For various reasons, many adoptees feel emotionally incomplete without knowing their genetic parentage, but I had never been one of those people. I had, on balance, a very happy and what one could call a normal middle-class suburban childhood, and as an adult, I had no serious desire to search for my genetic parents.”
However, after a friend decided to do a DNA test to find out her own heritage, Daniels agreed to do one, too, if only to discover if she had any latent medical issues that might be genetic. The DNA test did not net her any results, but it did find a distant cousin living in Sweden who decided to help Daniels find her birth family.
Being very familiar with genetics through his work in DNA himself, Thomas was able to find Daniels' mother and two half sisters in only a short time. Glenna, Daniels' mother, was 86 years old and living in Omaha, Nebraska. After recently suffering a stroke, Glenna was having trouble recalling the name of Daniels' birth father, but she still remembered Daniels, herself and was delighted to see her long lost child again.
The writing was excellent and transfixing. Though Daniels included a lot of the research and genetics her story shines through without getting boughed down with the details. In fact, I am sure most readers would want to know the details and the science involved.
Proving that family connections can be everlasting despite what might be unusual circumstances, 'Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family,' is the story of a woman's quest to find herself and the eternal love of a mother and siblings.
January 10, 2022
Rebecca Daniels – Finding Sisters – Reviewed 1/9/22 – Read 1/1/22
The past, do you want to know or not? Rebecca Daniels finally took that step, and the search began!
When a friend suggested that Rebecca do a DNA test, a new journey began. Not only would this journey be a difficult one, one that where Rebecca would have to face some of her own fears, putting herself out there as she had never done before, making phone calls to unknown people, and learning how to search the systems that could lead to that one thing that she now realized that she wanted to know more about, her birth parents.
Rebecca found a little more than she thought would be found along the way. During her younger years, she had yearned for a sister; well, she not only found one, but she also found two half-sisters, a bunch of cousins, and a family that had been previously unknown to her. One of those cousins became not only a cousin but an invaluable source of information and help. This cousin taught her about navigating the many types of searches that would one day lead to the answer from her search. The most incredible thing she found was that many of those became her friends; even though they were unrelated, the search continued till that final day.
Join Rebecca as she navigates and explains the systems that will lead to birth parents…
What did I like? I am one of those lucky ones, as I grew up with my family and never had any doubts about who my parents were. But, many do not have that luxury, and for so many reasons that none of us can ever imagine, they do not know their parents. The world around us has changed, and now we have many ways through DNA testing to find birth parents, siblings, and other members of our families.
What will you like? Rebecca not only wrote about her journey in finding her birth parents and other family members, but she has also explained to us the many ways to accomplish the task of learning how to do this for ourselves. With the help of DNA testing, genealogical research, and a ton of perseverance, one may begin their journey for hopefully the same end results. Check out this fantastic story by Rebecca Daniels today, “Finding Sisters” is available NOW!!!
• ASIN: B09GV6CS5B
• Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc
• Publication Date: 9/21/2021
• File Size: 2725 KB
• Print Length: 163 pages
• Genre: Extended Families, Evolution, Genetic Science
The past, do you want to know or not? Rebecca Daniels finally took that step, and the search began!
When a friend suggested that Rebecca do a DNA test, a new journey began. Not only would this journey be a difficult one, one that where Rebecca would have to face some of her own fears, putting herself out there as she had never done before, making phone calls to unknown people, and learning how to search the systems that could lead to that one thing that she now realized that she wanted to know more about, her birth parents.
Rebecca found a little more than she thought would be found along the way. During her younger years, she had yearned for a sister; well, she not only found one, but she also found two half-sisters, a bunch of cousins, and a family that had been previously unknown to her. One of those cousins became not only a cousin but an invaluable source of information and help. This cousin taught her about navigating the many types of searches that would one day lead to the answer from her search. The most incredible thing she found was that many of those became her friends; even though they were unrelated, the search continued till that final day.
Join Rebecca as she navigates and explains the systems that will lead to birth parents…
What did I like? I am one of those lucky ones, as I grew up with my family and never had any doubts about who my parents were. But, many do not have that luxury, and for so many reasons that none of us can ever imagine, they do not know their parents. The world around us has changed, and now we have many ways through DNA testing to find birth parents, siblings, and other members of our families.
What will you like? Rebecca not only wrote about her journey in finding her birth parents and other family members, but she has also explained to us the many ways to accomplish the task of learning how to do this for ourselves. With the help of DNA testing, genealogical research, and a ton of perseverance, one may begin their journey for hopefully the same end results. Check out this fantastic story by Rebecca Daniels today, “Finding Sisters” is available NOW!!!
• ASIN: B09GV6CS5B
• Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc
• Publication Date: 9/21/2021
• File Size: 2725 KB
• Print Length: 163 pages
• Genre: Extended Families, Evolution, Genetic Science
December 31, 2021
I was fascinated with Rebecca Daniels’ Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family. It is not a long read and I was able to read it in one sitting. I was intrigued how the author was able to use DNA and other investigative measures to find what she could about her biological family. I admired her courage and persistence in continuing her search. It was fascinating to see what she discovered, who she met along the way, and how she was able to deal with the information. I enjoyed reading how it all unfolded. I loved it.
I am giving Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who are interested in stories of what methods others used to find their birth families, how it affected them, and what they discovered. I, also, believe it is a must for any genealogist to read, as well.
I received a paperback copy of Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am giving Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who are interested in stories of what methods others used to find their birth families, how it affected them, and what they discovered. I, also, believe it is a must for any genealogist to read, as well.
I received a paperback copy of Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find Her Birth Family from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
January 4, 2022
I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in genealogy or finding "lost" family. It is not only a wonderfully told story of a twisty turny journey, but it is delightfully human. The writer is relatively ambivalent about finding her biological family when she embarks on the trip, and is not looking to fix herself or fill any holes. The story unfolds like a mystery, picking up characters along the way. Readable and satisfying. It wouldn't necessarily serve as a how-to for someone looking for their own relatives, but it would absolutely be instructive.
November 27, 2021
It all begins with a charming and curious distant Swedish cousin and continues on an emotional ride through dead-ends, remarkable connections, and not so remarkable connections, (cousins, thankfully distant, with, er..I'll just say, "issues".)
This book is a "must-read" for anyone engaged in genealogy through DNA testing and especially in cases where adoption is concerned. Any adoptee embarking on a quest to find birth relatives read this book first. It is filled with useful scientific information about the complexities of DNA testing but, Rebecca Daniels is a storyteller, not satisfied with just presenting dry facts she shares the arc of her very personal journey. I could identify with her joys and disappointments. Honestly, I couldn't put "Finding Sisters" down.
This book is a "must-read" for anyone engaged in genealogy through DNA testing and especially in cases where adoption is concerned. Any adoptee embarking on a quest to find birth relatives read this book first. It is filled with useful scientific information about the complexities of DNA testing but, Rebecca Daniels is a storyteller, not satisfied with just presenting dry facts she shares the arc of her very personal journey. I could identify with her joys and disappointments. Honestly, I couldn't put "Finding Sisters" down.
October 28, 2021
Although I was not previously bitten by the genealogy bug, "Finding Sisters" has given me an appreciation of the miracles made possible when science and old fashioned sleuthing go hand in hand. While Rebecca's quest and her introductions to the relatives she meets along the way provide a fascinating and inspirational read for anyone--as we root for her success with fingers crossed (or thumbs squeezed for luck like the author's newly discovered Scandinavian distant cousin Thomas )-- this book is a must read for anyone on a search of their own.
April 19, 2022
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I enjoyed this text. It was a quick but interesring read about one woman's search for her biological family. It might be an interesting take for similar individuals preparing to begin their own genetic treasure hunt.
February 11, 2022
Finding Sisters by Rebecca Daniels is a great book for anyone whose family has gone through the same rollercoaster. It was incredibly easy for me to relate to Rebecca Daniel’s story since I recently found out I had a long-lost sister who was given up for adoption when I was two. I also liked how Rebecca gives readers extra help to do their own ancestry search. She provided a lot of useful information making the searching simply.
The book was well-done, organized, and a great nonfiction read. It shows me that there are more people who have this situation than we think. The emotional rollercoaster ride from this biography was epic. I enjoyed following the writer’s journey into her family’s hidden identity and past. Past and present come face-to-face in this beautiful book.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
The book was well-done, organized, and a great nonfiction read. It shows me that there are more people who have this situation than we think. The emotional rollercoaster ride from this biography was epic. I enjoyed following the writer’s journey into her family’s hidden identity and past. Past and present come face-to-face in this beautiful book.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
February 17, 2022
I received an ARC copy from the touring host for an honest review.
Finding your roots can be a tricky subject, but for the author, Rebecca Daniels, it became a life mission of finding her roots amid so many anomalies. Anomalies that could have derailed her at any time. It was only her tenacity that helped her, and she can be very proud of her accomplishments.
The first person she encountered was Thomas, a relative living in Norway who helped her in her search. He took the time to teach her the ropes of Ancestral DNA and how to fine tune her search to be more successful. A search that took her from the US to Sweden and back to finally find a reliable trace, not only of her birth mother but her birth father as well. Long hours of correspondence with people who had no reason to trust her followed. But each time, when a different lifeline was thrown to her, she follows it just to learn more about her extended family. Some were happy to meet her, other skeptical and others simply didn't respond. But this never discouraged her, and she could truly find a place of contentment.
Her entire journey is neatly documented, giving others who have the same desire to follow through on their journey. Every detail blends well with her story, which gave me a genuine appreciation of her experiences.
Definitely a must read for people with the desire to find their own roots.
Finding your roots can be a tricky subject, but for the author, Rebecca Daniels, it became a life mission of finding her roots amid so many anomalies. Anomalies that could have derailed her at any time. It was only her tenacity that helped her, and she can be very proud of her accomplishments.
The first person she encountered was Thomas, a relative living in Norway who helped her in her search. He took the time to teach her the ropes of Ancestral DNA and how to fine tune her search to be more successful. A search that took her from the US to Sweden and back to finally find a reliable trace, not only of her birth mother but her birth father as well. Long hours of correspondence with people who had no reason to trust her followed. But each time, when a different lifeline was thrown to her, she follows it just to learn more about her extended family. Some were happy to meet her, other skeptical and others simply didn't respond. But this never discouraged her, and she could truly find a place of contentment.
Her entire journey is neatly documented, giving others who have the same desire to follow through on their journey. Every detail blends well with her story, which gave me a genuine appreciation of her experiences.
Definitely a must read for people with the desire to find their own roots.
September 19, 2025
Wonderful Story!
I'll probably reread this book because I want to get the most out of it. My husband is adopted. Finding answers to his mysterious origins has been a challenge. Thank you for sharing your process if duscovery.
I'll probably reread this book because I want to get the most out of it. My husband is adopted. Finding answers to his mysterious origins has been a challenge. Thank you for sharing your process if duscovery.
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