December 05, 2013
Christmas Wish List: Adoption Books
If you’re anything like us, you’re feverishly trying to get your holiday shopping done so as not to leave it all at the last minute. Does Christmas feel like it’s arriving so much sooner this year?!
Amongst all the toys, candy and other items our children receive that they will inevitably forget about in a few weeks, we’re a big proponent of including educational and thoughtful books. So just in case your shopping lists need to fill out a bit, here are some wonderful options culled from around the web.
Adoptive Families magazine posted a great round-up of new adoption books for children and adults alike. It’s extensive, and features everything from options for children, young adults, and adult memoirs. Something for everyone!
Testing the Waters: The Planned Pregnancy of a Fifteen Year Old is a memoir written by a birth mother of two, who is now married with children. The author, Elizabeth McNew wanted to share her story as well as the fact that not all teenage pregnancies are unplanned, which is a definite reality. Her hope is also to provide a different perspective for adoptive parents, a level of braveness and candidness that we applaud and appreciate.
Daughter of a Thousand Pieces of Gold was written by Chinese adoptive mom, Peg Helminksi, and it has been published to rave reviews — especially families interested in adoption, Chinese adoption and/or older child adoption. Commenting on China’s one-child policy, and telling the story of a father who dares to defy his country and culture, this is a tale that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
To Sing Frogs has special poignancy right now as it is the true memoir of a family who endeavored to adopt five children from rural Russia. John M. Simmons, father of nine (three biological, six adopted!) weaves in the story of his daughter Sarah, who was able to escape from a Russia orphanage and eventually reunite with two of her best friends. A beautiful story about multi-cultural adoption and parenting.
JB Rowley penned Whisper My Secret after finding out after her mother died that she was forced to walk away from three children in a previous life, a secret that haunted her with guilt and shame for the rest of her remaining life. This is a powerful tale that showcases how far the adoption world has come, while telling the story of a woman’s secret trials that deserve both respect and awareness.