I was actually taking the month off from my book review series. I needed a mental breather from heavy topics like adoption. So I went to our library, picked up a few books that seemed like light and easy reading and got to work on the one with the pink jacket. (I judge books by their cover, it is true.)

The Bad Mother's Handbook by Kate Long (2004) launches into... more

The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes was sent to me for review. I am thankful for that opportunity because I find it to be a thought provoking and thought changing book that all who live within the realm of adoption should read. As a birth mother, I found the book to be, at times, a difficult read. As a mother, I also felt challenged by some of the themes. As someone who pushes... more

Ann Fessler's book, "The Girls Who Went Away" has received tremendous hype in the adoption world, deservedly so. Now, rumor has it that a movie is in the works. From interviews with over 100 birth mothers, Ann Fesler shares their stories and also intersperses information about adoption practices and societal attitudes of the era.

Although there have been other books about the 60's and 70's and how adoption was treated in those days, Ann Fessler's book has attracted... more

Somebody's Daughter by Marie Myung-Ok Lee just secured itself on my Top Ten favorite books list. That's a lofty statement for adoption fiction which usually tends to do nothing other than tick me off. However, this book is a must read for so many variations of people.

Sarah Thorson was adopted by her family when she was eighteen months old from Korea. Told that her Korean birth family died... more

"They told me that it'd be easy," said the birth mother. "They lied."

Adoption seems to be woven into so many television series this days, and yet rarely do they seem to "get it right." Most portrayals of adoption stories show scant evidence of any research or input from experts. Last Sunday's "Cold Case" was different. An episode aired about the murder of a young unwed mother in the sixties who had been in a unwed mothers home run by nuns.

The writers of this episode either read "The Girls Who Went Away," by Ann Fessler... more

For February, I read The Girls by Lori Lansens. Suggested by another birth mother for my book review series, I picked it up from our local library and then started wondering why my friend said this would be a good pick for my book review series. From what I could tell, the birth parent part of the story line ended with the girls' birth. (Read on to find out how I was wrong.)

The... more

The broadcaster in me was screaming as I sat and watched today's Montel show, which I recorded via the wonders of DVR. Coley and Deb have already talked about their absolute distaste for today's episode on adoption scams. As always, I have something to say, too.

First and foremost, Claud looked lovely, don't you think? Yep. I took a picture of the TV (on pause) specifically for... more

Birth mother and reform advocate Claudia Sheely, otherwise known as FauxClaud to the blogosphere, will be on Montel Williams this coming Monday, February 5th, 2007. As far as timing and channel, just go ahead and click this link, select your state and the website will tell you what channel and at what time you can find the show.

Claud was a guest on the show to talk about the need for adoption reform and regulation within our country. Her part, at the... more

Let me say, first and foremost, I am an American Idol addict. Every year, as they make their way through the auditions, I kick myself for never working up the courage to audition. Then again, due to my anxiety, I'd freeze up and be one of the horrid, awful auditions that the nation laughs at during these first few weeks of each season. And so, it's no surprise that I was watching last night's episode as the audition road took the judges to New York City.

While I've already picked out my favorite female (Sarah Burgess, also auditioned in NYC, from East Palestine, Ohio), my favorite male takes on a two-fold favoritism. Jenry Bejarano sang Gerald Lavert's "I'd Give Anything To Fall In... more

"Without a Trace" is a favorite t.v. show of mine. An episode last week dived into the world of adoption. We could see it coming. All throughout the show, we were guessing as to the relationship between a young woman being helped by an older woman. Even my husband can spy an adoption tale about to pop up.

I figured it out well before they told us that the woman was helping her daughter that she had relinquished to adoption. The young woman needed lots of help as she was badly addicted to drugs. The birth mother in the story was a.......doctor. Amazing,... more