What adoption books do you recommend to read?

Question

So far these are the books that I have read: 20 Life transforming choices adoptees need to make, 20 things adopted kids wished their adoptive parents knew, Loved by choice. Are there any really good ones, you know about adoption, adoptees, birth mothers? I'm curious of all aspects of adoption. I want to have a well-rounded view of adoption. I think this well help me understand where my birth mother came from, how my adoptive parents feel and how i feel about adoption. Oh, please list why you liked this book. Thanks so much for all answers! =)

Answer 1

I agree with Phil about the first book he mentioned. Also, Brodzinsky writes tons of things about adoption in general-a lot about loss in adoption from the perspective of the adopted child, birthparents, and adoptive families (mostly the infertile ones). Simon writes a lot about transracial adoptions (look for her work with Altstein or Roorda). The lean of these books is pro-transracial adoption so if you disagree with that, you might not like them. Hollingsworth writes anti-transracial adoption but I'm not sure if she has any books. She publishes a lot in professional journals so if there is a university or college that will allow you to access their computer databases, you could probably read those. Rojewski and Rojewski have books concerning international-Chinese-adoptions. Gads. I guess I could go on and on. Are your interests mostly just traditional/transracial adoption?

Bartholet writes about adoption. I read "Nobody’s children: Abuse and neglect, foster drift, and the adoption alternative",

Fogg-Davis wrote-"The ethics of transracial adoption"

If I think of any more, I'll let you know.

Answer 2

The book Phil mentioned and:

The Girls Who Went Away

The Adoption Reunion Survival Guide

Lost and Found

Adoption Reunions

Birthbond

The Primal Wound

Birthright

Answer 3

Agree with all the books recomended so far. I would also add Joe Soll's books on adoption healing. They have helped me immensely.

Answer 4

My favorite so far is "Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self" by Brodzinsky, Schecter, and Henig.  It goes through different stages of life of the adoptee.  It was very, very helpful for me.  

I'm reading "Birthright" by Jean A. S. Strauss right now.  It goes through the reunion process for adopted males, adopted females, birthmothers, birthfathers, and adoptive parents.  It also has some practical advice for those still searching.  Even though I'm already in reunion, I'm getting a lot out of it.

Next up for me (based on recommendations from people here and elsewhere) are "Primal Wound" by Verrier and "Journey of the Adopted Self" by Betty Jean Lifton.

I've also heard very good things about "The Girls Who Went Away" for more of the birthmother perspective.