The Red Thread

by Ann Hood

From the best-selling author of The Knitting Circle, a mother’s powerful journey from loss to love.

“In China there is a belief that people who are destined to be together are connected by an invisible red thread. Who is at the end of your red thread?”

After losing her infant daughter in a freak accident, Maya Lange opens The Red Thread, an adoption agency that specializes in placing baby girls from China with American families. Maya finds some comfort in her work, until a group of six couples share their personal stories of their desire for a child. Their painful and courageous journey toward adoption forces her to confront the lost daughter of her past. Brilliantly braiding together the stories of Chinese birth mothers who give up their daughters, Ann Hood writes a moving and beautifully told novel of fate and the red thread that binds these characters’ lives. Heartrending and wise, The Red Thread is a stirring portrait of unforgettable love and yearning for a baby. .

Genres: Fiction, Adoption, Book Club, China, Audiobook, Adult Fiction, Asian Literature

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Ann Hood is the editor of Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting and the bestselling author of The Book That Matters Most, The Knitting Circle, The Red Thread, Comfort, and An Italian Wife, among other works. She is the recipient of two Pushcart Prizes, a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, a Best American Food Writing Award, a Best American Travel Writing Award, and the Paul Bowles Prize for Short Fiction. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Ria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. I was very disappointed with this book. I worry that people who read this book who may be considering adoption themselves will come away with the wrong idea, especially since it seems the author herself lost a child and then adopted from China. As one who has studied international adoption and worked briefly in the field, I had many issues with this story mainly surrounding the prospective adoptive families.
No family is perfect and social workers are not looking for perfect families to place children with, but they ARE looking for STABLE families. Among these prospective families, there was adultery going on during the adoption process, substance abuse, and men who were only doing it to please their wives. If these families had a proper social worker, I believe a few of them would not have been accepted due to these clear red flags. There was also a woman who was unable to love her own daughter who had special needs - she clearly would be unable to to accept anything less than a perfect child, and she clearly needed counseling before considering bringing another child into her world! (While these babies were all "healthy," realistically they were sure to have non-existent or at least incomplete medical histories. There really is no way of knowing what those babies may have inherited and what may reveal itself as they get older.) Adoption is a beautiful thing but it IS very challenging, especially internationally, inter-racially, and inter-culturally. A stable home with stable, loving parents who can handle the challenges for years to come is required in order to have a happy ending.
There was a strange emphasis on how getting a baby could "fix" everything in these couples lives, and not enough emphasis on what is best for these babies. Too much emphasis on how these babies could be financially provided for, and not enough on the need for them to have parents in a stable marriage with stable minds and emotions. I was very disappointed that at the end of the book, the one couple that didn't go through with it was the one couple that truly seemed to have their marriage together!
I did think that the birth mothers' stories were well done, but I almost felt that her portrayal of the adoptive families was disrespectful to the birth parents' in some way. Overall, this was a frustrating read for me and I don't recommend it.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Thread in Ann Hood's novel title refers to a Chinese saying that an invisible red thread links people who are destined to be connected.

The novel is about a group of American couples who hope to adopt a Chinese child, as well as the stories of how those children came to be relinquished by their mothers.

After Hood lost her own child she and her husband adopted a Chinese child. The novel was inspired by the experience.

I first read Hood when the publisher sent me her memoir Morningstar: Growing Up with Books, which I devoured in one sitting.

Hood creates amazingly realistic characters. I thought about a couple I know who went through years trying everything to get pregnant before adopting two children, one from Korea.

Maya runs an adoption agency to connect American parents with Chinese orphans. Beneath her professional and competent veneer she hides a painful past that won't allow her to move on, a guilt so deep she can't share it with her closest friends.

Chapters explore the couples who have come to her, each with their personal needs and fears, with strong or fragile relationships. Some have step-children and natural children who are disappointments. Their lives become emotional roller coasters of expectation, second thoughts, and marital stress.

Poignant stories of the Chinese children imagine mothers unwilling to give up their girl children; they are heart-breaking. China's law allowing families to have one child became relaxed to two children. It still meant that families could only afford to have one girl child.

Knitting figures into the stories; Maya knits as therapy, expectant mothers knit for their imagined children

The Red Thread would make a wonderful book club pick.

I purchased a book at my local bookstore.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The real poignancy in this novel for me was the stories of the Chinese women who had to give up their baby girls because of the barbaric "one child policy" impossed on approximately one-third of the population. How utterly heartbreaking.

Yet in this novel we rejoice with couples longing for a child who are able finally to adopt a beautiful little daughter.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I hoped to enjoy the story line of this book, I ended up being very disappointed. I work in the adoption field and fear that readers get a very wrong idea about what it's like to pursue an international adoption.

The points I would like to make about this book are:

~ families are never perfect and social workers shouldn't expect them to be, but they MUST be stable to adopt. Amongst the dynamics of the prospective adoptive families, there was adultery, substance abuse, partners who were only doing it to please their wives, unresolved infertility, a mother that couldn't accept a special needs daughter, a last minute pregnancy, unresolved grief and loss issues, etc. These are all issues that would have been massive red flags in the real adoptive world. An agency director having knowledge of these issues and encouraging applicants to move forward without addressing/resolving the issues fully - shouldn't be working in the field at all.

~babies adopted internationally may appear "perfectly healthy" on record, but there is no assurance that there will not be any challenges going forward. Grief and loss issues (to varying extremes) are an absolute, and this wasn't mentioned a single time in the book. There is certainly full disclosure on known medical history, etc. but since an abandoned child's family history is almost entirely unknown - the child's future should be accepted as an unknown. Stable families open to adopting internationally should have been better educated on the possibilities, rather than being repeatedly assured that the babies were "healthy!, perfect!, adorable!," etc.

~Home studies are conducted on prospective families and the way the book describes the process really downplays the service. If any changes occur in a household - an updated home study is required. Education for the family is a huge component to the home study. And, if either of these facts were mentioned, the story line would have played out completely different (& perhaps been more enjoyable for readers like me).

~ Finally, at the end, the agency director moves forward in a manner that is a total conflict of interest. A director shouldn't be using her own agency in this manner. She also would not be able to use an outdated home study to achieve her end goal. I could go on and on... but finding closure to unresolved grief issues over losing one child - by adopting another is also completely ridiculous.

I don't want to entirely spoil the story for others... but, what occurred in this book would never be allowed in a true adoption scenario. This kind of story completely perpetuates the negative stigma attached to adoption. If you read this book, consider it to be a completely fictional tale.

Please note: Many years ago, adoptions did evolve with less bureaucracy, monitoring, etc. However, this book was written in 2010. If you are a prospective adoptive family - please know that something is very very wrong if your adoption proceeds in a manner that resembles this story.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Hood's novel about families adopting daughters is based upon her own experience. Three years after her daughter died unexpectedly from an illness, Ann and her husband adopted a daughter from China. In the preface of her book, she tells of the Chinese belief that a silken red thread of destiny is a magical cord connecting a child's soul to all of the people, past, present, and future, who will play a part in the child's life. Over time, the thread shortens, bringing closer all those who are fated to be together.

The novel tells the stories of the parents who had to abandon their daughters, of the families who are attempting to adopt, and of Maya, the woman who runs the adoption agency in Providence that will help the American parents adopt the Chinese children. Her stories are woven like that red thread, eventually bringing together those whose lives were meant to be intertwined.

The stories of the Chinese daughters are heartbreaking and maddening. The preference for male children and the stringent policies of the government force many families to make the decision to give up their infant daughters.

"Last year she had a daughter whom she left at the police station of a different city. The year before she had a daughter whom her husband had agreed, reluctantly, to keep. She does not want her heart broken again. How many daughters can a woman lose and still love her husband? Still cook dinner and grow vegetables and smile at others? Her heart is broken into so many pieces already. One daughter who knows where? One daughter in a basket across the park waiting for someone to find her. Yet even today, only five days after this child was born, her husband had smiled at her and said, Hurry back, and Chun had known he meant hurry back so that we can try again for a son."

The American couples attempting to adopt each have their own stories, and one wonders whether each of their relationships will survive the long and harrowing adoption process.

Maya, who makes everything come together for other families, has her own demons to vanquish, for even as she helps others realize their dreams, she cannot overcome her own loss and begin to live her life again.

I read this book in 2 sittings. It moved quickly and kept me intrigued, wanting to find out how each family resolved their issues and whether they actually made it to China to complete their adoptions and bring their new daughters home. I recommend it.

[Sharon Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so grateful to have found BT. My reading experiences this year have been incredible and it's largely thanks to the thoughtful reviews I've been exposed to and the challenges we've been set. Ann Hood was our author read for the month of June was one I otherwise may never have discovered but she has gone onto my steadily growing list of favourite authors. This book was exactly the sort I love and has left me hungering for more of her work.

This passage particularly resonated with me as a mum, but also captured the essense of the book so well.

In that moment everything settled into one thing: a mothers love. There was nothing like it. Nothing. It was made up of all the other emotions, fear and dread and anxiety and hope and joy and faith.

Maya Lange has run the Red Thread adoption agency for 8 years, placing Chinese baby girls into the homes of American families, women and men, desperate for a child of their own. Not only do we gradually come to understand the heartbreak that lead Maya to this career but we meet and come to know a batch of families who have put their trust in Maya and her Red Thread agency to find them a baby to call their own. The families are all different, each with their own issues and obstacles to contend with. As if this wasnt enough we also learn the heart rending back stories and reasons the Chinese mothers were forced to give up their daughters. For a relatively short book that sounds like too much, too many stories but it wasn't at all. The chapters were short but written so well revealing important details of the dynamics at play within each of the family units.

Although a work of fiction Ann Hood has lived the adoption experience, having adopted their daughter Annabelle from China and I'm sure that added to the quality of the writing. A lovely heartfelt story I highly recommend. (3.5 rounded up to 4)

[Brynaleh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just what the world needs, more mediocre writing about clueless rich navel-gazing white Americans adopting babies from abroad. Only got the two stars I gave it because the author actually portrays narratives of the women in China who are forced to bring their babies to orphanages to be adopted by foreigners, and shows more empathy for these first mothers ("birth mothers") than your average international adoption parent. The protagonist is somewhat interesting but I essentially felt little empathy for any of the many characters (other than the Chinese mothers), which made it hard to enjoy the book.

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hoped for more. Quite well written but unlikely version of the adoption of abandoned babies from China. I note the author has done this herself but this version is rather romanticised, as if all it takes to sort out marriages is a baby - when it's more accurately the greatest strain you can place onto a marriage. Most of the characters in the story weren't even very likeable so I hardly cared what they wanted, more felt concern at the thought of harmless children, already abandoned, being handed to these dysfunctional adults. They also didn't strike me as offering much in the way of stability to an adoptive child. As a member of a family that did adopt a child and came apart at the seams before that child was even school age, I am very aware of the pitfalls and feel strongly about the well-being of the children involved.

That aside, gratuitous graphic sex was irritating and the sad circumstances of the families leaving their children out to be found in China were over-egged, piling as much dire distress and unfairness as possible onto every single case. At no point did the Westerners' guilt over the Chinese families' distress get addressed. Funny that.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about several families who adopt baby girls from China, and about the women in China who gave them up for adoption. It was really interesting to read about the different issues in the lives of the adopting families, and to think about the different reasons why a mother in China would give up her baby (apparently it's illegal to give up a child for adoption, but they do it anyway, and they try to do it so that the child will still be cared for but not by them). I did feel like the book made the adoption process seem a little to easy--the author referenced that sometimes problems and delays came up, but this group of adoptive parents had everything go smoothly and quicker than expected. Even so, I thought it was a good story.

I would have liked this book a lot better if the author hadn't felt the need to include so much sex. I had to skip lots of parts in both the stories of the adoptive parents and the birth mothers because I guess the author thought we would want all the details about how the babies were conceived, and what the adoptive parents were doing trying to have their own kids, etc. I didn't really care to know. So if you're going to read this book, be prepared for that. That's the reason I didn't rate this book higher than I did.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was in high school, I discovered Ann Hood's debut novel Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine (through a "Sassy" magazine review, if I recall correctly.) It became a touchstone novel, one that I return to often, and have grown and changed in my understanding and impact, but still love (thinking I should re-read, actually.) I was giddy when I discovered Ann writing for a parenting magazine when my kids were small, have read her books through the years, and grieved when I read that she lost her daughter to an illness.

Inspired by their adoption of a daughter from China, this was a delightful thrift store find. The red thread running through the story - the connection between a baby and the parents who are meant to raise her - connects the story and the characters.

[Carolyn Lind · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fine idea (the red thread connecting lives of adopting parents with babies from China) for a fascinating plot; the result, a decided disappointment. Why the author included so much sex is puzzling. Was it the easiest way to fill up a page? Did she think this would be the best way to entertain the reader? Must there even be an affair going on between two prospective parents?

Several flawed adoptive parents and their flawed motives for adopting did not encourage this reader to anticipate great outcomes for the children. The reader is left with the idea that somehow these guaranteed "perfect" babies are going to cure all; the match is "perfect". The result is a very distorted view of adoption.

[Elaine Nickolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spent the entire day reading this book. This was a touching story of a woman who has lost a child, and her endeavor to unite couples seeking to adopt a child.
Maya suffers a great loss and on a trip to China to try to emotionally heal, encounters a childrens orphanage. She decides that she will start an adoption agency in the states to help place these baby girls with couples who desperately want a child.
The author tells the stories of each couple and their issues; she also tells of the woman who have had to relinquish these babies. Both sides are so sad, and then we have the emotional struggles that Maya deals with each day.
This is a story I will remember for a long time.
Rhode Island, the 27th state in the 50-state challenge completed.

[Agatha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't find this too close to home to enjoy, and I was relieved to get it b/c I had been waiting on the list to get it for a long time now. Through all of the couples, the author tried to portray the complicated wellspring of sometimes contradictory and shifting emotions surrounding infertility and adoption between husband and wife, both as a couple and as individuals, and while interacting w/ those of family members, friends, support network, etc. As for the process itself, some things were the same and some were different, but I know the author went through a China adoption herself and I know that China has changed some of its processes very recently, and some of the things she describes are what I've heard couples who may have adopted a few years ago have said, so I fully believe she described the process just as it was when she was going through it. Lastly, I liked how this book portrayed the various reasons why a family in China may have to place their child up for adoption. It shows that the mothers still wildly loved their children and were forced to for economic reasons, sociological reasons, family reasons, etc. I always try to emphasize this when people say things such as, “I just don’t understand HOW a birth mother could DO that," and I don’t want my child growing up thinking her first mom did not love her, “gave her away,” etc.    All in all, I would include this book (along with The Waiting Child, The Lost Daughters of China, China Ghosts, A Single Square Picture, and Baby We Were Meant For Each Other) on a list of novels about adoption that are good but also enjoyable and interesting for the general reader who may want to learn a little more about adoption.

[Alo Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good enough to start and finish in one day. I had not read a fiction book that I could do that with for some time. I was surprised at the great number of characters introduced and how it was not an interference. Normally, books with dozens of characters can get confusing and make readers have to return to previous pages to remember who did what. This was so well put together, that I did not find I had to do this. The chapters alternated between families who were considering adoption, the woman who runs the adoption agency and the women who mothered these babies so far from the families who would someday hold them. There were so many heartbreaking moments, but they always felt real, not forced. It is obvious that the author included many aspects of her own life: the loss of a child, finding comfort in work or tedious tasks, and going through the process of adopting from China herself. The many people involved start off with their own stories and then are weaved together brilliantly. This was written with the same basic setup as The Help, although unlike that novel, this entire books changes perspectives, but remains in the third person. This worked out perfectly, as I felt like I was observing these different lives as they were, not necessarily how they saw themselves. Although it ended with closure (of sorts) for each character, this one would be worthy of a sequel.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories of the Chinese mothers who had to give up their daughters were heartbreaking. The stories of those families who were trying to adopt a child did not touch me quite so deeply. Of course, I sympathized with them and was happy with them but the majority of them were just such despicable, unlikable people. I believe that even though this was work of fiction, it was also a cathartic work for Ann Hood who underwent this process in reality. However, did she not meet any happy ,kind, moral, possibly fulfilled yet childless people who yearned for a child or another child of their own. All I can think is that the author was trying to show us that this is difficult decision and a difficult time for a couple/family and that perhaps that stress causes them to be heartless or just plain stupid. I hope that was it and not that she did not feel that many wonderful people also adopt. The only other aspect that bothered me was that a child does not miraculously solve all marital problems and especially not instantaneously. Ideally perhaps that should be so but that is not real life.Even with all of these criticisms, I am glad that I read the book and overall I enjoyed the writing so that I would be willing to try another book by this author.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Ann Hood treats the reader to a beautiful concept when she writes –“there exits a silken red thread of destiny and when a child is born this invisible red thread connects the child’s soul to all the people – past, present and future – who will play a part in that child’s life”. The book’s title refers to this exquisite inspirational Chinese proverb and follows Maya, who through The Red Thread Adoption Agency places abandoned Chinese girl babies with American parents. This is an engaging, at times emotional story told in alternating voices of the prospective parents and interspersed with the tales of how these babies came to be abandoned in China. Central to the book is also a secret buried deep within Maya and her journey of becoming whole again. The story is more moving with the knowledge that Ann Hood lost her daughter at a very young age and adopted a baby from China herself. There is a large cast of characters in this book, but Hood manages to find a place in your heart for each of them. In short a compelling story of sadness mingled with joy and happiness for those who enjoy light, engaging stories

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The redeeming feature of this book was the glimpses throughout of what the imagined birth mothers were experiencing culturally and personally as their daughters were born and given up for adoption. We don't often get that angle on adoption. It all ended a little bit too Hallmark for me...the story of adoption is a lifelong journey that can be fraught with complex stuff and the Hallmark ending serves to perpetuate the illusion we seem so invested in preserving, that being adopted and given a chance at a better life is the end of the story...

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a number of families who are going through the process of adopting babies from China. I liked it and would recommend it if you are interested in that sort of thing. However, it really wasn't a great book. First, I found it hard to keep track of the many families in the first half of the book. Second, again in the first half of the book, the individual families/characters seemed too much the same; it took a while for each character to develop a unique voice (too long in my opinion). About halfway through the book, the story and the charcters picked up steam and the book ended better than it started, but I would have liked to see more closure for some of the plot lines. For example, one husband has an affair and hides a big secret from his wife. She finds out about both and is rightfully upset, but then she's not. We really don't know why she forgives her husband -- he hasn't changed -- and that forgiveness without explanation or character growth is frustrating for me.

One last thing: Ann Hood obviously is a big knitter because four of the characters in this book knit (Oh and she has written another book entirely about a knitting circle). Come on! Not that many people knit. Can't we think of a new nervous habit to give our characters so that they seem unique...maybe even real? I know they say to write what you know, but maybe it's time to use your imagination. Let's come up with another motif. Please!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4. Grabbed by the title as the mom of a daughter from China (she had me at "ni hao"), compelled by the stories of families in the adoption process and a story of infant loss. There is a great deal of hope here, with more soap-opera-esque interactions between this travel group than ours (at least that I knew about!). But if those lost some of their grip on me, I was immediately drawn by the stories of the biological families and all the possibilities for why a family would have to give up their daughter for adoption. Definitely another reminder for an adoptive mom to send her hopes out to the universe that our child's biological parents have peace and know how loved their girl is. Can't recommend it for education about the steps of adoption, but I can't blame the author for glossing over that a bit; who would read a book about people checking the mailbox over and over, dotting i's, crossing t's, and bearing through the infinite details? But for those curious about adoption, it's a very interesting read.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This main character in this story is Maya Lange -- a woman who has a tragedy in her past. Maya opens The Red Thread adoption agency based on the experiences surrounding that tragedy. The agency places unwanted baby girls from China with American families. The novel focuses on five families seeking adoptions. However, it also includes brief stories of the birth mothers and how they came to relinquish their babies. It was an interesting concept.

The adoptive family consist of a wide array of characters. At first blush it seemed to me that all of them were somewhat dysfunctional. However, the more I thought about it, it became clear that in real life we all come to the table with our own stories and issues. Picture perfect lives don’t really exist.

The stories from the perspective of the families giving up the babies seemed a little spare. I found myself wishing to know more of the details from their side and how things worked out for them.

The book wraps up a little too neatly for my liking but I did enjoy the book for the quick read that it was.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really care for this book. It talks about six couples who are going to adopt baby girls from China. Every single one of them is going through something different. One couple has had several miscarriages, one couple had a baby with down syndrome and are afraid to try again, etcetera. There are the husbands who don't want to adopt and the wives that do, etc. While each couple was unique, I felt like I had read all of it before. And none of the problems get resolved in the end. The woman who feels like her husband chooses his first wife and daughter over their new family never has any closure or the couple who struggle with the downs syndrome girl. We're just supposed to be glad that they have their baby in the end and that it's supposed to be a magical ending.

One thing that I liked is that they did snippets from the Chinese women and the pain and heartache that they have in giving up their baby girls. I really enjoyed that. Though I feel terrible that they dreamed about better lives for their babies and ended up with some of these horrible families.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Ann Hood. I loved The Obituary Writer. I enjoyed this book just as much. The Red Thread was a recommendation and I wasn't dissapointed. I could barely put this book down.The story moved quickly. This story centers around Maya and her ownig an adoption agency known as The Red Thread. The children that Maya works with are from China, and are girls. This reading made for some interesting history also about the struggles of the Chinese mothers basically forced to give away their daughers. So sad and tragic. The story open with six couples who are interested in adoption. Their stories are intermingled throughout the book. We also find out that Maya herself has lost a child and this was the reason for opening this agency. The story is also about her guilt and struggles. Mrs. Hood, herself, has lost a child and I imagine this is a factor in her story. A wonderful read.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok but I would not recommend. I did not find any of the western characters likeable, compelling, or even interesting. I read in another review that they all kind of seemed the same and it took forever for any character development to happen....I agree.

The writing is fine but again, nothing that grabbed me. The author does spend a lot of energy on describing the dire circumstances and trauma that Chinese mothers must endure, and (weirdly) spends almost as much energy on describing the sex lives of the western characters.

Finally, nothing about this book was realistic to me. International adoption IRL is very difficult, expensive, etc. yet it's presented in this book as almost obstacle free. I got the sense that the author adopted a child from China successfully and wanted to turn the experience into a novel (I have no idea if this is true).

[Catherine Clancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book because it was recommended by someone in my FCC group. Unfortunately, I thought the American characters were very unlikable and unsympathetic and I felt absolutely no connection with any character in the book. The stories of the Chinese women were much more touching and, for the me, the book's only redeeming value. Otherwise, the writing felt stilted to me.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot of this book sounded so promising...but it ended up being "lives of the Danielle Steel characters try to adopt babies from China." Too much dialog, too much sleeze, not enough desciption. The parts about the people in China who had to give up their children was worth reading. I didn't finish it.

[McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*more of 4.5 stars

(read to fulfill "A book set in a country you've always been fascinated in" prompt)

This book came as such a shock to me. I remember picking this up at a tiny bookstore a few summers back, reading the excerpt about how every person who is destined to be with another is joined by a red thread- a Chinese proverb. I have been fascinated with China and its culture since I was a little girl so it was an easy book to buy.

Fast forward (quite a while) and I finally got the want to read something like this and OH BOY, it was good. I enjoyed every page of this book. It wasn't the most profound or the most thought-through novel I have read, but it was just a feel-good book. A perfect book for me to jump into on a -14 degree weather day.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. Found audio on Hoopla.

Author was recommended on a FB page. This book appealed to me after reading the synopsis, seeing the cover and the title.

The story is okay. I found there to be too many characters with stories of their own that were basically the same. It made for a long read. The transition was convoluted from wanting to adopt to actually bringing the child home. The last third of the book needed more time and focus.

There is profanity.

I may try another by the author.

[Nicolette Kernohan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Red Thread written by Ann Hood is the fictional story of longing, loss and ultimate realisation experienced through the adoption of new born babies from China to America.

Maya Lange runs an adoption agency in Providence, R.I. She calls it the Red Thread after a Chinese belief that there is an invisible thread that links children with all of the people who will be part of their lives. The thread can carry across oceans and shortens over time. Maya has so far arranged the adoption of over 450 Chinese baby girls. She takes the American couples through the adoption process until, after a wait of about a year, they travel to China to pick up their babies.



Maya knows that the couples will face many issues during the process and that some may even drop out. The couples rely on her efficiency and organisation. However, behind this professional front, Maya has an inner belief that there is a magical destiny bringing each of the couples and babies together. She uses this conviction so that she can cope with her tragic past; her own baby daughter died in an accident years ago and this broke her marriage apart.

For the couples in the story, the process is stressful and drawn out. Nell and Benjamin Walker-Adams are used to things coming to them almost at will and are the most impatient. Emily has to deal with her husband Michael’s daughter from a previous marriage and fears Michael will not love their adopted child as much. Whilst waiting for their baby, Sophie’s husband Theo has an affair with another parent in the group. Brooke has her heart set on adopting a baby, but Charlie is afraid that he will lose her love when the baby comes. Susannah finds it difficult to love her disabled daughter and resents her husband Carter for the love that she shows him. All of the couples have flaws, but Maya accepts them to the Red Thread Adoption Agency as they are.



Susannah is the expert knitter in the group and creates a sweater and a pink baby blanket for their new daughter. As she knits she is reminded of her mother and grandmother and that gives her comfort. Maya on the other hand took up knitting when she decided to set up the adoption agency. She knits almost mechanically and thinks of it as her lucky charm. Emily is inspired by Susannah’s knitted garments and joins a knitting class to learn how to create a sweater for her new baby herself. Sophie also considers taking up knitting, even though the last time she did so, she spent months knitting a sweater for her boyfriend only to unravel it again when they broke up. Knitting is used through the book as an emotional crutch for these mothers to be.

As the central character in the story, Maya pulls all of the strands together. Ann Hood’s life experience brings touching details to Maya’s background, in particular when she goes through a box her baby’s clothes towards the end of the book. This is because Ann Hood herself lost a daughter and then travelled with her husband and son to Changsha in China where they adopted a baby girl named Annabelle.



There are a myriad of stories here which have poignancy due to the centre of their struggles being the possibility of a prosperous new life in the USA for the Chinese infants. The adopting couples’ character flaws are well described. These weaknesses are depicted from different points of view and so the characters become more rounded to the reader.

It is heart rending to read about the young mothers who part with their newborns. There is a real cruelty by the Chinese husbands and mothers-in-law who force these women into impossible situations due to the government policy on restricting children.

All of the American couples are from similar backgrounds and all want to adopt a baby from the same adoption agency. The lack of differentiation of their background stories means that story loses some of its focus. The author keeps interest by having some of the characters change their mind about adopting, but instead of adding intrigue this tends to be an irritation.



Despite Maya’s thoroughness and because of her history, she seems to accept any couple who comes forward hoping to adopt. The couples in this group would provide financial security. However, they would appear to lack the emotional stability required to be successful in a cross-cultural adoption process.

I included The Red Thread for you here as I really enjoyed The Knitting Circle; however, this book was less satisfying for me personally. Ann Hood’s writing is still a pleasure to read and I particularly enjoyed the passages based in China.

If you are interested in finding out more about one family’s real life experience of adoption read the Larson House blog where Elsie and her husband Jeremy write about their journey to the point of adopting their daughter Nova from China. A roller coaster of emotion with a very happy ending for all concerned.

My review is available at: https://www.theknittingsquirrel.com/t...

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a challenge to read o book that takes place in the state I live. Rhode Island. I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them all. Ann Hood writes from the heart and this is just that. Maya runs an adoption agency placing Chinese girls with adoption parents. The reader learns from all prospectives about the process. Great read

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The stories of both the birth and adoptive families intertwined, was lovingly presented in story form. It spoke to the fears of the adoptive families and the hopes of the birth families.