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Summary: At last I could see adoption from my son's point of view
Review: This book opened my eyes to how adopted children feel. I am an educator with over 30 years experience, but I lacked empathy with the child side of the adoption experience until I found Sherrie's books. This book has helped all of us deal better with the emotions of being adopted. I read the book first and then gave it to our 20 year old son. The best review came from him when he said, "Dad, have you read this book? You really should, you know!"
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Summary: The Adoption Experience
Review: Although I was adopted 43 years ago I still have many questions and unresolved feelings. I could never understand those thoughts and feelings and would always be afraid that those I loved would some day abandon me because I was bad. After all, my birth mother left me in an orphanage, I must of been bad, RIGHT?When I first started to read Sherri's book I was dumbfounded to realize that there were other people that felt like me. It was as if Sherri was inside of me telling me what I felt. Sherri reflected my adoption experience with insight and helped me to reach a new plateau of self understanding. I am so grateful to Sherri for sharing her adoption experience so that I might comprehend my adoption experience better.
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Summary: Best book on adoption I've come across yet!
Review: This book is so true...and so readable...and, when faced with the daily challenges of parenting an adopted child, that's just what you need! I could not put it down. It has proved so useful for us, having adopted our daughter at age 5 (she is now 14). Everything had seemed fine until about a year ago, when she began to be seriously troubled. Reading this book was like looking at a mirror image of my daughter! As a result of reading it we have been able to find her appropriate therapy, and feel like we have found our own support group in a book! I thoroughly recommend this book to everyone involved in the field of adoption, and have sent a copy to our adoption agency in London.
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Summary: Best Book I have ever read to help my adoptive Daugther
Review: IN MY DAUGHTER'S OWN WORDS, "I STRUGGLED WITH 19 1/2 OF THE TWENTY THINGS SHERRIE WRITES ABOUT." THIS BOOK HELPED US TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS MY DAUGHTER HAD STRUGGLED WITH. THE ABANDONMENT ISSUE, THE BIRTH MONTH JUST TO NAME A FEW. AN EXCELLENT BOOK TO HELP FAMILES UNDERSTAND AND WORK THROUGH SOME DIFFICULTIES. I HAVE BOUGHT 6 OF THEM AND HAVE SHARED THE TITLE AND AUTHOR WITH AT LEAST 30 DIFFERENT PEOPLE. A MUST READ BOOK IF YOU HAVE A CHILD STRUGGLING WITH ADOPTION. WISH IT HAD BEEN AVAILABLE WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS YOUNGER.
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Summary: Excellent Book - Adoptee's Need for you to Know This
Review: Excellent book to describe the unique needs of adoptees.
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Summary: If only my folks had known.
Review: I am an adoptee, beginning a search for my biological family. Answers are what many adoptees are searching for, not parents. This book helped me understand many of the feelings I had growing up and still have today. Sherri Eldridge expresses so well how adoptees feel and think. This is a crucial book for all adoptive parents to read. It will be so helpful in developing close relationships to their children. Their children will love them for acknowledging their beginnings into this world. And, most importantly, their feelings about being adopted. It's a must read for adoptive parents who are striving to be the best parents they can be to their children.
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Summary: Glad to Know Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Parents K
Review: This was a really valuable book for me from the beginning stages of my international adoption journey. It was wonderful to have insight from the adoptees perspective into such issues as naming, race, etc. I would highly recommend this book. It is also a pleasant reading experience that doesn't get bogged down in theory like some of the other adoptive parent guides.
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Summary: The adoptee finally understood!!!
Review: What a helpful book this truly is to anyone yearning to understand all the emotions the adopted child experiences.
Ms. Eldridge puts it all in such simple language...so refreshing and easy to read and comprehend. She beautifully expresses the many conflicted thoughts that the adoptee experiences. I would highly recommend this book and anything written by Ms. Eldridge to any member of the adoption triad seeking help and information.
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Summary: Should be given to EVERY adoptive family!
Review: As an adoptive mother of two, foster parent and biological parent, I hope every family adopting or that has already built their family through the incredible blessing of adoption, would read this book. It's not necessarily what you'd like to hear, but it's honest and sincere. If anyone is turned off by its dialogue or its content, they may want to consider doing some soul searching as to the reality of adoption and not just the glossy exterior that sometimes happens in the hustle and bustle of bringing home your new addition. I don't question the sincerity of anyone's heart in adopting or the true gift that it is, but there is another side of the coin that often adoptive parents don't want to face. Your new addition is there because of a loss in their life. I don't know about anyone else, but that was a hard reality to swallow, but necessary for me to understand so I could walk with my girls through any hurdle they may......or may not have about their adoptions. Not all kids come through adoption with the same issues. Some come with big challenges and deeper losses, despite loving and stable homes, while others seem to sail through quite easily. No two kids, or adoption or loss is the same. This book will help you know what to look for and give a voice to what your adopted child may be feeling, consciously or unconsciously. I've never walked the steps of what an adopted child walks, so I can not say "I know how you feel" to my daughters. I can relate with my heart, but not with life experience, unconditional love and hopefully I will be able to give them the wings and freedom to find what ever they may need in life......including biological links and closure about losses they may or may not feel about their adoption into our family. While I didn't necessarily agree with all of it's content, it brought to mind many things that I hadn't thought about. I'd done A LOT of research and reading prior to our adoptions, but I've yet to read another book with this content. My girls are young still and this book has helped me to understand some of what I believe they are feeling, but don't have the words to express yet. I don't want to plant a seed that might not be there, but letting them feel what they do and help walk with them through every part of their life, including any losses they feel about their adoption, is part of my responsibility as a mother. This book is WELL worth your time. Take what you need and leave the rest if you disagree, but over all I am confident you will find it incredibly helpful. Read it and hear what it has to say.........I believe all adoptive kids will thank us for being sensitive and caring enough to learn, question and be open to the reality that is often shaded over. If your child/children don't have issues, thank God for that, but don't hide under a rock about the possibility that there is some hurt, loss and growth and adjustment for everyone in the triangle of adoption. Most of all........Thank God for the gift that shares in your life. As I've learned, they have taught me WAY more than I will ever teach them! Mother of 4 in Idaho
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Summary: Helped put words to my feelings as an adoptee
Review: This was one of the first books I read by an adoptee written for adoptees, and although it was a hard book to read emotionally, I go back to it again and again. Sherrie has a knack for putting words to feelings that are common for adoptees (not necessarily universal, but common), and for shedding light on feelings that may have been hidden or unacknowledged due to their strength or painfulness. I have read most of the other reviews, and am dismayed that people would review a book they haven't finished. I do understand how this book could offend people, but would encourage folks to read it (all the way through) with an open heart and mind. I would be highly surprised if you don't find it informative (at the least) and very helpful. I will say that I did find it hard to read emotionally, but because it was so true, not because it was not. Sherrie, thanks for having the courage to express what you, and so very many others, feel!!!!
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