Rating: 
Summary: A balanced, well-researched resource
Review: Before writing any review, I scan the existing feedback to make sure I'm not repeating myself. I have to say that I was more than a little confused by the less enthusiastic reviews - what book did they read? Not only does Adam Pertman include a great deal of information not previously reviewed (his statistics are the latest available) but he also NEVER implies that anyone goes through the adoption process (child, birth parent, or adoptive parent) emotionally unscathed. What he does contend is that greater access to information for all parties leads to better adjustment and more contented individuals, both with themselves and the adoption process in general.The book is a comprehensive and successful undertaking. Pertman manages to give historical perspective of both domestic and international adoption, review the evolution of legislation surrounding the adoption process and records availability, while offering a sound emotional basis for participants in the process. (Pertman was adopted himself and has also adopted children with his wife, so he comes at it from many perspectives. He also has interviewed numerous birth parents for the book, and has an open relationship with the birth parents of his children.) I was flabbergasted again and again by the empathy for all parties this author displayed all the while presenting scads of information about each step of the adoption process for the reader. He has an excellent list of resources at the back of the book. This reader is truly a must-have for anyone considering adopting a child, considering giving up a child for adoption, interested in the legal aspects of adoption and record availablity, or interested in the history of adoption.
Rating:
Summary: Adoption Nation -- A "must" read.
Review: Every serious student of adoption in the U.S. knows that the phenomenon has been transformed in recent years. The advent of open adoptions and high-profile, headline-grabbing adoptions have changed Americans' attitudes about this enormously complex and endlessly challenging way to form families. Pertman's Adoption Nation captures so much of what is compelling, controversial, troubling, rewarding, and satisfying about adoption in America. The author's honest and provocative prose provides a real-life glimpse into adoption through the lens of an author who has experienced the world of adoption firsthand, as an adoptive parent. All members of the adoption triad -- including birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents -- will find parts of themselves in this book. You may not agree with all of Pertman's claims, assertions, and conclusions, but that's hardly the measure of an important book. Rather, Adoption Nation will make you think about one of life's most important and complicated social trends and about its profound impact on so many lives. Pertman has brought the inside of adoption out for public viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Adoption Reform - this book is a must!
Review: Finally, an author who "gets it" when it comes to adoption reform, adoptee rights, and birthparent confidentiality! Would that the media and the adoption industry would also read this book and be enlightened! We'd have a lot less of an uphill battle convincing the general public that adoption practice in this country over the past 50+ years is woefully archaic and disenfranchising/infantilizing to the very people that it is supposed to be helping (the birthmother, the adoptive parents, and the adoptee). As an adult adoptee who is very active in the adoption reform movement, I highly recommend this book (and believe me, I've read just about all of the adoption related books out there). You will learn a lot about adoption issues and adoption practice that most non-adopted never even think about, and some things that even Triad members have never thought about either. Get thee a copy pronto!
Rating:
Summary: An important book
Review: I always recommend this book to anyone I know who is considering adoption, particularly transracial adoption. But I also recommend it to anyone who is interested in the meaning of family in this country -- how we define who belongs to whom. Adoption Nation is a smart, thoughtful, well-written examination of a social trend that has silently been transforming the American character. This book deserves to move beyond the adoption community to find a place on everybody's bookshelf.
Rating: 
Summary: As a family preservationist and adoptee,
Review: I am appalled by the U.S.'s becoming an "adoption nation." While I'm glad that Adam Pertman admits to being an adopter and I support his stand on open records, I must say that being separated from my natural family for over 34 years has caused me to look at adoption with a different view than most adopters. Although the family that adopted me was wonderful, no one can take the place of my natural family. What Pertman misses is the fact that adoption in itself involves changing a child's identity and lying to a child about who his or her parents truly are. Adopters are often seen as "saints" who "rescue" children from mothers who "don't want them." The reality is that most mothers would like to raise their children. Children themselves are geared to be raised in their natural families. If a child's family is TRULY not available, either through death or some other misfortune, why should an ersatz family be formed in the name of adoption? Guardianship and other alternatives can help preserve the child's natural identity while providing an honest alternative to adoption. Many people who've been "touched" by adoption are now realizing the value of natural families and the family preservationist movement is growing around the world. Pertman needs to examine more closely the mothers who've lost children to adoption and have been devastated by it. Adoption is a celebration for the adopters, but not for the mothers, fathers, and children whose families are amputated by it.
Rating:
Summary: Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution Is Transforming
Review: I found Adoption Nation to be the most encompassing book dealing with the many faceted sides of adoption that I have ever read. This book is a must read for anyone who would like to learn more about adoption; be it from the birth parents, adopted parents, or adoptee point of view - Mr. Pertman manages to cover them all! While presenting us with a better understanding of all members of the adoption triad, we are also treated to a better understanding of the origins of adoption, where adoption is today, and where it may be headed in the future. As an adult adoptee, I not only recommend this book but have also given copies to friends.
Rating:
Summary: A Wise and Compassionate Book Worth Sharing with Others
Review: I got my copy of Adoption Nation, started reading it and couldn't stop. As an late discovery, adult adoptee and teacher of ethics I appreciated the wisdom and compassion in this book. It is a 'good book', both in the sense that it is well-written and morally compelling. As a participant (adoptive parent) and reporter, Pertman has set out to present as clearly as possible the ways in which adoption touches the lives of real people. The chapters dealing with the adoption experience from the differing angles of birthparents, adoptees and adoptive parents show great empathy. I was impressed by the painful honesty with which he dissects his own experiences and his willingness to say in some matters, 'We got it wrong". Ouch! not many authors do that. Although Pertman takes a stand on many issues (most notably the corrupting role of money in adoption), the book is written in the same spirit of openness as he advocates in adoption. As an Australian, I would have no hesitation recommending Adoption Nation to friends and professionals 'down under'. Even though a small portion of it deals with US policy and processes, it deserves an international audience.
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Summary: Open records advocate/reunited birthmother review
Review: I present a review of this book from the perspective of an open records advocate and reunited birthmother. First of all, I'd like to thank Adam Pertman for writing this important book. I believe it is a must read for anyone touched by or involved in adoption, as well as everyone who wants to understand the issue better (which should mean everyone). If that happens, I believe "Adoption Naiton" will help to return dignity to all members of the "triad" and will help adoptees, in particular, to gain their basic rights to know their heritage and medical knowledge. With a greater understanding gained from this well-written book, we could see a reversal of America's antiquated adoption laws, which deny the fundamental human and civil rights of adopted persons! "Adoption Nation" is not just for adoptees, adoptive parents and birthmothers (like me), though. It is also a crucial guide for those thinking of adoption and/or already living as part of the adoption community. It is a wonderful resource for avoiding many of the drawbacks created by ignorance and/or misconceptions. Moreover, it is equally a vital educational tool for those in our social services system and government. In fact, it should be required reading, especially for those within the court system and lagislatures nationwide! Perhaps if these people, who control the very lives of those within the adoption communities, read the information imparted herein, they will finally understand the truth in adoption and will no longer impose unfair legislative practices upon the diadvantaged adoptees and their children. It's particularly important, I think, that the book was written by and adoptive father who openly asddresses the issue of the rights of the adult adopted person. It makes a strong statement from one who knows and values the most basic needs for his own child's physical and mental/emotional well being. Mr. Pertman shares not only the importance of opening adoptees' birth records, but also helps the reader to understand the outdated and bitter-sweet adoption practices that continue to exist thorughout most states inthis country. He opens up the laws which hinder tather thsn help to make adoption a wonderful opportunity for those that it can appropriately serve. The author makes a persuasive and critically important case that adoption, once a very hidden matter, actually touches the lives of almost every human being, and addresses the most basic needs for improvements in the system. It most critically accomplishes this by expertly and clearly sharing with the reader some very basic and human stories of a sometimes difficult subject. "Adoption Nation" helps readers to understand the issue of releasing adopted persons from the status of second-class citizenship and being forever treated as children. Sincerely, Ellen S. Durant Co-Pres. Adoptees' Political Action Coalition (APAC), NYC
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Read!
Review: I thought I'd read all there was about adoption until I picked up this book! Mr. Pertman's thorough research into the history, the evolution and the current state of adoption in this country will challenge you to think about this topic in ways you never have before. He tackles the tricky parts of the subject with boldness and candor and says what so many are afraid to broach. If this book could be read by every member and every POTENTIAL member of the adoption triad and their families and every professional who deals directly and indirectly with adoption, I'm convinced there'd be fewer childless couples, fewer children in foster care, fewer conflicted birthmothers and yes, perhaps fewer abortions (though Mr. Pertman deals with this issue in a very sensitive way). In other words, Mr. Pertman's book goes a long way towards bringing about the societal/cultural shift of thinking that needs to take place about adoption and communicates what I've longed to for nine years since becoming an adoptive parent. I am so thrilled that an author of Mr. Pertman's magnitude was able to say what I couldn't.
Rating:
Summary: The premier holistic book on adoption and public policy
Review: I too, met Adam Pertman when, as a new adoptive parent, he was just starting his journey into understanding adoption. As an adult adoptee working for my rights and as a member of several boards of directors for adopted-life self-help groups, I worried we'd try to get the issues of adoption across to this reporter and then read the same old human interest story. Luckily for those whose lives are touched by adoption, Pertman is not just a reporter, but a journalist; trained to give all sides and the facts, and he does just that. This sophisticated, yet clearly written book is aimed at understanding adoption from the point of view of all the parties to adoption, birth parents, adoptees, adoptive parents, adoption professionals. Adoption Nation examines all the issues of adoption; public systems and private practice, open adoption, the growing role of the Internet, adult adoptee access to information about themselves, the role of secrecy and shame in adoption, and the harm secrecy, and silence brings to adoption practice and those who live adoption. Pertman points out how International, transracial and gay and lesbian adoption are changing the face of America and perhaps the world; with the same reverberating impact on society that the racial and ethnic melting pot has always created in the United States. Adoption Nation discusses the important issues of special needs children: the thousands of children waiting for adoption in the public systems of every state, hampered only by age, race, and health and/or mental challenges. No other book brings all these issues to one forum. In reading some of the less positive reviews of this book I feel some of the reviewers may not have realized that while Pertman wants to retain the human aspect of adoption he is trying to avoid the common summation that reduces adoption to human interest or to writing a book on the emotional impact of adoption. This is the work of a journalist, not a psychologist or social worker. (See The Adoption Triangle or, Adoption: A Lifelong Search for Self or the works of B.J. Lifton, Claudia Jewette Jarratt, and many other competent and professional authors.) Pertman's book is well reserched and well documented. It is a must for anyone who wants to learn about adoption holistically, if you are a policy maker, planning to adopt, or have lived adoption and are working to change the adoption system and Adoption Nation will give you a broader understanding of adoption as a whole. Just as I would recommend Ron Nydam's "Adoptees Come of Age" to clerical counselors, I recommend Adoption Nation to anyone who wants to learn about the system and issues of adoption policy in depth.
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