We Adopted You, Benjamin Koo

by Linda Walvoord Girard

A story of interracial adoption about nine-year-old Ben, who was adopted from Korea, and who has questions about his adoption.

Genres: Adoption, Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really sweet children's book about what it feels like to be adopted and how to navigate your world when it comes to the various issues that will pop up in your life as an adoptee. While this book was published in 1989, the topic and the issues discussed are still very relevant today in 2022. One doesn't have to be adopted to relate to Benjamin, but it certainly helps. I'm adopted, and I wasn't even aware this book existed until recently. In 1989, I would have been a freshman in high school, but I and my siblings who are also adopted would have enjoyed reading this especially since they were adopted from South Korea.

If I'm making this book sound boring or that it's a chapter by chapter on how to address being adopted, it's not. Benjamin Koo narrates the story about how when he was a baby he was adopted from South Korea. He deals with coming to the United States, realizing he is different from his parents, learning to embrace being adopted, dealing with unkind strangers, bullies at school, and welcoming a new sibling into the family.

This book has nice illustrations and a story told in a nice conversational manner. Elementary students will find this an interesting book, and adopted children will really feel a connection to this book even more. I don't understand why my school library was discarding this book, but I grabbed it and will be adding it to my classroom library.

[Heidi Trowbridge]

Date read: October 24, 2020
Genre: realistic fiction
Grade range: Grade 2nd-6th
Reflection: I purchased this book many years ago for my son who (like Benjamin) was adopted from South Korea when he was 5 months old. He was able to relate to Benjamin and saw similarities that reflected his own life in the United States. This would be a wonderful gift for anyone building their family through International Adoption.

[Madison Gault]

Asian
Lexile Level: 590L
Grade: 3-5

[Kailee Peters]

asian american lexile level 590L Grade level 3-5

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not really a story, but rather a guidebook, from the point of view of nine-year-old Benjamin Koo, for kids who are adopted. It was a perfectly fine book on the topic, but a bit dry and not likely to interest kids who do not share Benjamin's experiences.

[Samantha Hagler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narrative is based on a true story about the narrator, Benjamin Koo Andrews, who is a nine year old boy that was adopted from Korea as an infant. Benjamin Koo has a younger sister, named Susan, who was adopted from Brazil by his parents. Benjamin Koo tells his story about growing up with his adopted parents and all of the questions he had along the way about why he was different from his parents (ex. "I'm leaving! I'm going back to Korea! I'll find my real mother, and she'll be nice to me!") By the end of the book, Benjamin Koo is happy with who he is and understands his personal story much better. The author, Linda Walvoord Girard, does not have any personal experience with adopted families, but she does a great job in portraying this diverse family as just another "normal" family. All of the illustrations, done by Linda Shute, are very realistic and colorful which would keep a young student highly focused and engaged on the story.

I would definitely use this book as a teaching tool in my classroom. This would be a great book to teach students about how to write correctly in first person (ex. "I," "our," "mine," "us"). It would also be a great discussion for a topic on diverse families, with a smaller focus on adoption. Benjamin Koo explains adoption well and on the last page of the book he includes a short letter that states, "you might have been born somewhere else or look different from your parents, but that has nothing to do with love." This book is also very culturally diverse because Benjamin Koo is from Korea, while his sister Susan is from Brazil. In the story both of these cultures are highlighted and briefly discussed (ex. party for Korean New Year, and celebration of Carnival which is a holiday time in Brazil). This could easily begin a larger discussion about the different cultures of Brazil and Korea.

[Christian Houseworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This narrative was based on a true story about the narrator, Benjamin Koo. The author, Linda Walvoord Girard, actually interviewed him and translated his story into her own words. The narrator was born in Korea and he talks about his experiences being adopted and moving to the United States. Benjamin also has an adopted sister from Brazil. This book displays a variety of cultures and shows the importance of children not losing their culture but, their adoptive parents still honoring it. For example, the author writes about the family singing traditional Korean songs, eating with chopsticks, and celebrating the Korean New Year. She also talks about the family celebrating the Brazilian Carnival and dancing the samba. The illustrator, Linda Shute, uses very realistic pictures that enhance the text and makes this book engaging for children. This book shows the love that a family has for each other and how their diversity is what brings them closer together. At the end of this book, the narrator gives some advice to children about the importance of asking questions and accepting who you are. He also doesn’t portray a birthmother as being a bad person for placing her child for adoption. He says, “If you ended up safe and taken care of, it probably means your birthmother did the best she could for you.” As a teacher, I would definitely use this book to make my students aware of adoption. I would use it to help them understand that children are adopted for many different reasons and that no one’s experiences will be exactly the same. This book can prompt a discussion about Korean and Brazilian customs and traditions. Lastly, it can really help a child who has been adopted because the author uses Benjamin’s real life experiences.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently looking for books to help my children now and future children understand and perhaps relate to feelings of other kids who have expereinced adoption. Especially inter-racial adoption. I think this book did an excellant job of providing that perspective. It is written like a 9 year old boy from Korea is telling the story of his adoption and also of his sister, who was born in Brasil. I love how the family celebrates traditions from both countries. The boy explains how he went through a time of anger toward his parents thinking they were not his "real" parents, and how he deals with teasing at school. He also discussed the first time he realized he looked different from everyone else at school. These are real issues kids face, and real feelings, and I was glad they could be addressed from the view of one who has expereinced it, and is still young. He ends the book by saying "Take it from me. I'm Benjamin Koo Andrews. I'm nine, and I know". Very cleaver. A very useful book that I may even purchase for our family's own use.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. The story is about a nine-year-old boy, Benjamin, who was adopted from Korea after his mother abandoned him. Benjamin tells of his memories with his new American family; how he thought they were the same until noticing physical differences in the mirror. Benjamin questions his role as a family member, and even tries to run away until realizing that his parents love him no matter what he looks like. The family then adopts another child, a girl from Brazil, who is embraced my Benjamin. He stands up for both of them among people who call out their differences. The story captures the moral that love, not race or physical appearance, is the most important part of being a family.

[Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Picture book

Reading Level: Early transitional

Topics & Themes: International adoption. Interracial adoption. Family bonds.

Curricular Use: Guided reading

Social: Adoption. Realization and emotions about physical differences. Negative stereotyping.

American citizenship. International v American customs. Bullies.

Literary Elements: Conflicts with self and society to create plot. 1st person insight into life of adopted child. Writer speaks directly to reader at the end.

Text & Pictures: Interaction of text and pictures

Additional Notes: The family celebrates the native culture of the children.

[Carly Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Sharon's Award

level: early transitional

genre: picture book

topic: international and interracial, adoption, families and bonds, citizenship

curricular use: shared or read aloud

social: adoption, negative steriotyping, realization of difference, becoming a citizens, international vs American customs

literary elements: conflicts between self and society, first person insight into the thought of an adopted child, at the end it relates and speaks directly to reader

interaction between pictures and text

[Sharon Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

k-3
fiction picture book
early/transitional
guided reading
international adoption/interracial adoption/stereotyping/differences
American citizenship/bullies/cultural customs
conflict-self,others/first person/text&illustrations interact
internationally adopted child discovers his differences as he grows up in a different culture

[Breanna Mcalister · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fiction children's book about adoption. This book is good to use with young children. This book is about a boy that is adopted and that is different from his family. he tells the story of how his parent adopted him. This book also talks a little bit about bullying and what other kids say about him.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for an older child, like a 6-8 year old, but it is a very nice book that deals directly with multicultural adoption. In fact, while Benjamin Koo was born in Korea, his sister is born in South America and has a very positive message of family that transends race.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from an elementary students' point of view. This is a multi-cultural family. Benjamin Koo is Korean - his younger sister is Brazilian. It handles issues like noticing he looks different from everyone else, teasing from other kids, and remarks from strangers.

[Takeisha Hannor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with a child who has a lot of questions about being adopted. He soon learns how to accept change but he is very inquisitive. This book deals with family structure and is age appropriate for all students in elementary school.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, straight-forward book about International Adoption.

[Bethany Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

9-year-old Benjamin Koo is adopted from Korea, and his family adopts a sister from Brazil

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great old book that really holds up. Author deals well with Benjamin's mixed emotions and the complexities of adoption and race. Especially good for international adoptees.