Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming Our Families-and America

by Adam Pertman

Overview

“A treasure. It is the most complete book on adoption—ever—by one of the most eloquent, knowledgeable experts in the field.” —Sharon Roszia, co-author of The Open Adoption Experience and program manager of the Kinship Center

With compassion for adopted individuals and adoptive and birth parents alike, Adam Pertman explores the history and human impact of adoption, explodes the corrosive myths surrounding it, and tells compelling stories about its participants as they grapple with issues relating to race, identity, equality, discrimination, personal history, and connections with all their families. For the first edition of this groundbreaking examination of adoption and its impact on us all, Pertman won awards from many organizations, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law, the American Adoption Congress, the Century Foundation, Holt International, and the US Congress. In this updated edition, Pertman reveals how changing attitudes and laws are transforming adoption—and thereby American society—in the twenty-first century.

“Groundbreaking . . . courageous, penetrating, engaging, and deeply personal. —David Brodzinksy, Ph.D., co-author of Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self

“Creative, insightful, and a must-read.” —Ruth McRoy, Ph.D., co-author of Openness in Adoption: Exploring Family Connections

“Pertman combines journalistic research and personal anecdotes in this stimulating overview of the trends and cultural ramifications of adoption.” —Publishers Weekly

“A valuable experience for anyone, especially the adoptive parent.” —Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781558327665
Publisher:	Quarto Publishing Group USA
Publication date:	08/17/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
Lexile:	1430L (what's this?)
File size:	447 KB

About the Author

Adam Pertmanwrites on family and children's issues for the Boston Globe. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his reports on adoption and has been awarded the Century Foundation's Leonard Silk Journalism Fellowship, the Year 2000 Media Award for exceptional dedication and commitment to children, and was honored by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for Adoption Nation. He and his wife live with their two adopted children in Newton, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Foreword Madelyn Freundlich ix

Prologue xiii

1 Don't Whisper, Don't Lie-It's Not a Secret Anymore

1 Out of the Shadows, into Our Lives 3

2 A Legal Maze from Coast to Coast 35

3 Joy and Surprises from Abroad 64

2 Sensitive Issues, Lifelong Process

4 Adoptees: The Quest for Identity 99

5 Birth Parents: A Painful Dilemma 133

6 Adoptive Parents: Infertility Begets a Family 166

3 Tough Challenges in a Promising Future

7 Special Needs, Diverse Families 201

8 The Money's the Problem 236

9 Old Lessons for a New World 266

Adoption Resources 297

Notes 301

Acknowledgments 315

Index 319

Editorial Reviews

In an updated edition, journalist turned adoption advocate Pertman presents a modern take on adoption and how it's changing American families.

Consider Kelly, a 6-year-old girl who was given up by her birth mother only later to appear as the flower girl in her wedding. Kelly's story, and that of her mother Donna, are far removed from the scene that unfolded for Sheila Hanson in 1961, when she was denied even a glimpse of her baby before he was given up for adoption. Pertman provides more than facts and resources for adoptive parents, although those are here as well. The book is a comprehensivediscussion of adoption, ranging from international adoptions, attitudes toward adoption and open adoption. The author is careful not to paint a falsely rosy picture. Adoption regulations are inconsistent, and currently, only nine states allow broad access to birth records. Racist attitudes about international and interracial adoption won't go away overnight, if ever. And while the Internet has made adoption easier, there are also many online scams. Pertman doesn't sugarcoat the problems, but he also shows the immense joy of this untraditional means of building a family. The author, an editor atAdoption Quarterly, writes in a style that is easy to read, even when the stories are heartbreaking. Hishonest presentation will be of great help to readers sorting through a maze of emotions and potential pitfalls.

A valuable learning experience for anyone, especially the adoptive parent.

Kirkus Reviews