Contemplating adoption? Read this book!
596583
Funny, inspirational, and real. Anyone that has had any experience with adoption will relate to the authors struggles. Great read!
181977
I just inhaled this book in two days. It is beautifully written, describing frankly the thoughts and feelings of an adoptive mother negotiating the process and papers that is more harrowing than giving birth (believe this from one who has done both). I highly recommend this book for anyone considering adoption.
3127525
Buy this book for your friend who is considering adoption, foster care, or even adoption advocacy. God's calling to adoption is for all believers!!! And so forth, this is a must read for any believer who truly wants to be inspired to do as James 1:27 says: "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.". Kim de Blecourt is a real person and portrays even the nitty-gritty on adoption. Adoption is a beautiful, God-given desire but it comes with great sacrifices and great cost as it would for any rescue mission. This book is incredibly thrilling. You will not be able to put it down!!!

Kim de Blecourt is also an amazing author and speaker. This book is a reflection of her loving heart. She understands that just because we face difficulties, we must follow through in obedience to what God has asked us to do. If she comes and speaks to your church/organization, you will be highly motivated and moved to also rescue the 1.4 million children awaiting a family worldwide.

Please consider buying this book for your family and friends - you will not be disappointed and all of her author proceeds go to help feed orphans through Food for Orphans. [...]
You will be blessed with this book and in the meantime, bless others!
3117691
Even if you've never been touched by adoption, open or closed, you will find this amazing story mesmerizing.  The story is told from the adoptive father's perspective, which I found both refreshing and interesting.  It is open and in-depth. All the details of their roller-coaster ride through infertility and then the adoption of their first son are shared in a beautifully written memoir.  I believe this book will be a catalyst for more thought and action toward open adoption.  Russell and Jammie are fabulous advocates and a great resource for any who are considering or are just interested in how open adoption works.  Well written, interesting, fun read.  I highly recommend this book.
2193943
Next June I will have been working in the adoption field for fourty years.  I am a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys.  I believe this book is a MUST for anyone contemplating a foreign adoption and should be considered by anyone adopting a child, foreign or domestic.  It contains critical information to be considered in accepting a placement.  Too often I have seen adoptive parents make emotional decisions which they later regreted.  If one has made the caring decision to adopt a special needs child and rationally evaluated the impact on the family and themselves as adoptive parents, then I encourage the adoption.  However, when one is in a foreign environment, exhausted, anxious to get back home, then prospective parents can make poor decisons and rush into an unsuitable placement.

This book discusses the health hazards, what to look for in a child and provides basic information to help in evaluating the placement.  Dr. Chasnoff is a champion in helping parents and children.  I am very grateful for the articles he has written and the experience and wisdom he has shared with me, my collegues and adoptive parents.

I highly recommend this book.  I am recommending my clients buy and read it.
379326
Warning: This book will shake up everything you thought you knew about adoption, orphans, and God's heart towards them. Seriously, I don't think I've ever heard a more solid approach to why adoption is so crucial to the fulfillment of God's plan for the church as a whole and for our personal lives. Whether you end up becoming an adoptive family, supporting adoption financially, or actively participate in your local community in the name of adoption--not abortion, you should seriously read this before doing anything else. The Pro-Life movement absolutely CANNOT succeed in their mission without having an understanding about God's heart for adoption. Saving a life from abortion is only the first step.

Thank you Randy for giving us the inspiration to follow through with our life-long calling as an adoptive family.
2025014
This book has applications for any Christian in understanding his/her own adoption as God's child. I plan to recommend this book to my friends, especially those that are adopting children into their family or who have been adopted into a family themselves.  My favorite aspect of the book is the author's honesty about her own faith struggles in waiting on the Lord throughout the adoption process.
2530573
I'm a little conflicted about what to write here. I haven't read the book but I have heard Derrick speak. The story is of his complex, remarkable, and spiritual journey to reunite with his son who was adopted through an "open adoption." The agreement was that Derrick would have contact with his son for the rest of his life. The adopted child was lied to, told he wasn't adopted, and Derrick was cut out of his life.

I am going through the process of adopting a baby and have specifically chosen open adoption because of the benefits to everyone -- us, the child, and the birth parents and grand parents. Whenever possible, children should know where they came from and should have a positive and age appropriate understanding of who their birth parents are and why they chose adoption. Ideally this is through a direct relationship with the birth parents. I worry that this story will deter people from wanting to give a child to adoption. It should be known that the process and attitudes are very different now. Birth fathers are given equal power in the adoption, if they choose it. Legally binding agreements regarding contact and etiquette are signed before the birth of the child.

Hopefully adopting parents will take the importance of the role of the birth father to heart after reading this but people considering placing their children for adoption will not be deterred.

Derrick a charismatic and engaging speaker. He would be a great person to interview.
648094
I think this is a MUST read for anyone choosing to proceed down the path of Transracial Adoption. While it might not be what you WANT to hear, I feel strongly that it says what we NEED to hear as painful as that might be. As a white mother of a Ethiopian baby girl, I heed the words of these adoptee's very seriously.

There is only one area in which I feel the author's fell short. For example, many of the bi-racial adoptee's would say that they were not accepted by some/many people in the black community. However, I felt the authors failed to be clear on whether that rejection was based on the fact that the adoptee's were bi-racial or that they had white parents(or perhaps both)- two very different issue's as I see it- both with their own set of responsibilites.

I also wish they would have had a clear profile of each person at the beginning of each chapter. For instance, it would be nice to know up front the race of the adoptee, the race of the parents, the age of the adoptee at interview(without having to do my own story problem to find the answer)etc. I'm also interested in knowing how -if at all- the views of children adopted internationally are different than children adopted domestically.

I will say that when I read the chapter about the girl (I forget her name right now) who was so estranged from the black community because of the lack of effort her white parents put forth on her behalf to keep her tied to her roots - I wept. How utterly tragic for this young woman to be faced with such an identity crisis. We owe these children so much more than just our love and guidence. We owe them their past as well as their future.
2901447
I highly recommend this book, especially for those considering adoption. It's a heart warming story that beautifully tells the gift adoption is both to the child being adopted and the family adopting. As a mother of two adopted children myself, I couldn't wait to share the book with my children to show them how God answers prayers, no matter how old you are! The book is great for children who can read and an equally great snuggle book.
604517
After reading a large number of books on adoption - I have finally found one that my husband has read from cover to cover! This is by far the best adoption book we have found and were truly amazed how it covered all the concerns and questions we ourselves had. Thank you Denise it will certainly be our reference manual and we will be reccomending it highly here in Ireland.
3071916
I have not been on the adoption path, yet. I am tentatively searching the edge of the storm to see if I have what it takes. Jody's book is a funny, sincere look at the unknown for most people. After reading it, I know now some of the things that my husband I should ask ourselves. I know we would be loving parents but we need to be sure we are a solid couple first. Read this book it will help you see you are not alone.
653791
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/PopDaddy-Boy-Meets-Boy-Meets-Baby/dp/099727400X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">PopDaddy: Boy Meets Boy Meets Baby</a>&nbsp;is a must read for anyone considering adoption! The joy and laughter (and yes, drama) with which Jeffrey shares their experience was a delight. A love story between two people who share a wonderful life and decide to adopt a child. How lucky for all of them to have found each other and come together as a family in the truest sense of the word. I am thrilled they have finally been able to marry; now if we could only get the rights and privileges afforded to others (aka straight people) legally available to all people it would be perfect. I look forward to reading more from this new author such as&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/GrumpyBug/dp/1514282569/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">GrumpyBug</a>.
3815999
I've read multiple books on adoption... some of them were just fluff, some were overwhelming and depressing. I found this book to be, by far, the most helpful. It does not hide the fact that adopted children come with a lot of baggage, AND it gives tons of practical advice for helping your child sort through that baggage. I found myself underlining things on every page!
2446171
I am so relieved that this book is out. While this book is about international adoption, there is an incredible amount of deception that continues to go on in domestic as well as international adoption. This is the adoption worlds dirty little secret. If youve ever thought about adoption, domestic or international this is a must read. Not to persuade you against adoption of older children but rather to educate your so you go into it with more knowledge. Changes can be made and should. What happens to families who adopt children with attachment issue and get little to no help that is promised doesnt have to happen and this book is the beginning when it comes to educating the otherwise blind adopter. A huge thank you to the author for bringing light to this very difficult and taboo subject.
1377480
Having been involved in adoptions and adoption groups for a long time, being a former adoption social worker and an adoptive mother of 2 daughters from China, I can not recommend this book highly enough. The Adoption Network: Your Guide to Starting a Support System, by Laura Christianson, is a must read for anyone interested in adoption. Her extensive background and expertise in adoptions becomes obvious in the topics that are covered and the detail that she includes. This book is written in a very organized and concise manner, with an easy to follow format. In addition to discussing the needs for, and the types of, adoption group support networks, the author covers in great detail all of the steps needed to start your own adoption support network. She includes step by step information in areas such as targeting the audience for a support network, soliciting support, planning a budget, and recruiting leadership. She then details other important components for adoption support networks such as building a resource library, developing a mentoring program, developing online connections, social events and workshops. She further includes information on training church leaders, educating the faith community and how to publicize your adoption network. The appendix is filled with resources for lauching an adoption support network and internet resources for further research and education. The author has also included handy checklists and worksheets that make the guide so simple to use and follow. All the information you will ever need is laid out step by step in a clear, easy to follow format that anyone can use successfully. This handy guide is simple enough that any layperson or adoptive parent either within or outside of the church community could easily set up their own support network. Are you an adoptive parent feeling isolated with no readily available supports? Get this book and start your own support group. Are you a member of a church who is sensitive to providing support for adoptive parents and encouragement for adoption? This book is all you will need to provide that support network. Are you part of a parent's or children's group that would like to include support for adoptive families in your community? Get this guide. After reading this book, which is also especially motivating, you will be ready to run right out and start your own support group immediately.
1836671
This story is so adorable! The illustrations are really cute! The way the author explains adoption to the young reader is really great! I highly recommend this book to families who are thinking of adoption, families who have adopted children, or even to parents who have been adopted themselves. This book is great! The story is fun to read, and I look forward to reading this to my son when he gets older.  I won this book on a Goodreads Giveaway. All of the opinions in this review are mine.