Starting on Monday morning, I will be doing a chapter by chapter review of the book Lifegivers: Framing the Birthparent Experience in Open Adoption by James L. Gritter. I figured it was a good idea, before launching into a task, to give readers a background on Gritter, a basis of understanding what the book is about and a look at the... more

I love Shel Silverstein. I remember sitting on the floor of the library in elementary school, reading through A Light In The Attic and feeling this overwhelming sense of joy and awe. The love affair I have with his various works has continued over the years. In fact, as soon as we found out that we were pregnant with our son, I purchased a few of my favorites for his bookshelf. Whether... more

I first read Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt in the first six months after Munchkin's placement. It was as if it was written for me, published just a month after her birth. Having just reread the book I know now that my first read through was too soon after placement to handle. The book affected me emotionally at the time,... more

At our local library book sale, I recently picked up a copy of Michael Reagan's book called, "Twice Adopted." Michael Reagan, from all accounts, did not have a charmed life as some might have expected. Instead, he had an extremely sad childhood.

Despite the wealth of his parents, he did not have an ideal childhood. Both parents were ultra focused on their careers, and that allowed scarce time for their children. His parents divorced when he was three, and growing up he spent most of his school years in boarding schools.

In his book, he... more

Granted, I haven't read the book just yet though I'm ordering it as I type. Making Room in Our Hearts: Keeping Family Ties through Open Adoption by Micky Duxbury sounds like something that should be handed out to all parties agreeing to any level of openness. I have seen the book before during my searches on the topic of open adoption but a recent... more

After being previously disappointed by a "best selling" novel, I decided to try a different genre on for size. While still falling under the fiction heading, I headed for the romance books. You know the kind: small paperbacks that feature damsels in distress. However, the innuendo in this particular book was low as I chose an "inspirational" romance which basically means that religion and God are talked about more than sexual acts. It's... more

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