The essays collected here are fierce, even hard to read as a first mother, for I know some of my own daughter's emotions are buried in them somewhere, though she was not adopted out of country. Adoptionland is a valuable addition to the literature about adoption that portrays it as less than simply a wonderful act that is commemorated with special jewelry. Even the cover art--at first seemingly innocuous--highlights the obvious difference between being raised by your own kind and genetic strangers. The very blonde woman whose image is repeated several times is almost certainly not the original mother of the infant she is holding, an infant with black, spiky hair.
A note in the book states that some of the names have been changed to remain anonymity, and that the book's purpose "is to give validation to, and to voice concern for, families who have been separated by adoption." It succeeds brilliantly. Anyone considering adoption--especially adopting from another country--should read this book. I cannot praise this book enough.
The essays collected here are fierce, even hard to read as a first mother, for I know some of my own daughter's emotions are buried in them somewhere, though she was not adopted out of country. Adoptionland is a valuable addition to the literature about adoption that portrays it as less than simply a wonderful act that is commemorated with special jewelry. Even the cover art--at first seemingly innocuous--highlights the obvious difference between being raised by your own kind and genetic strangers. The very blonde woman whose image is repeated several times is almost certainly not the original mother of the infant she is holding, an infant with black, spiky hair.
A note in the book states that some of the names have been changed to remain anonymity, and that the book's purpose "is to give validation to, and to voice concern for, families who have been separated by adoption." It succeeds brilliantly. Anyone considering adoption--especially adopting from another country--should read this book. I cannot praise this book enough.