Rating: 
Summary: Good solid information, very practical book
Review: This book covers a lot of ground about adoption and really gets into the thoughts of the adoptee and the adopting parents. The sections on Talking about Adoption and Bonding & Attachment are quite good. This edition also contains an updated section on International Adoption which is quite helpful. More importantly, the back of the book is full of resources and references that you can use for follow-up information. The only thing that kept this from being 5 stars is that it takes a lot of effort to read the whole thing. Many of the ideas are reinforced over and over again, which is good, but can really sap the reader. Great job overall though.
Rating: 
Summary: Exhaustive and exhausting. As exciting as a textbook.
Review: This book has it all, including too much information on adopting the older child. There are books out there that deal specifically with this issue. This is an excellent guide for parents who are seeking international, transracial, special needs, or older child adoptions, but has little information for those adopting same-race infants "fresh from the oven," so to speak. A little too much information and a little too clinical. Reads like a textbook.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: This book was part of our required reading for our home study. After reading some of the poor reviews I wasn't looking forward to reading it. Once I started reading it I couldn't believe how much information was is in this book. This book can certainly help you decide which adoption route is for you. It explains the adopted child's emotions from infant to teen and how to handle them. It explains the different issues you may be faced with in domestic, international, infant, older child, inter-racial, and special needs adoptions. Helpful hints regarding how different countries may cared for your child which may explain why what you're doing isn't working. How long it may take for an infant to adjust to your time zone. It even tells you how to respond to those rude or nosy questions/comments from your friends, family, co-workers,and strangers! This is a great book to read no matter where you are in the adoption process from just thinking about it to completed it!
Rating: 
Summary: Raising Adopted Children by Melina
Review: This is a complete work for couples or individuals planning
to adopt children over the long term. The book provides a
guided research through the various child development stages
which include adjustment to a new family, bonding, open adoption, cultural identity and special situations.
The author describes the need to have realistic expectations.
The work is a "must read" for anyone planning to adopt
a child or multiple children. The book outlines the
typical problems encountered and various alternatives to
managing the stresses of the adoption process.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Gift Anyone Considering Adoption Can Give Themself!
Review: This is the first book on adoption I read, as we prepared for our adoption classes, and it will be kept in our home as a reference for many years to come. This book effectively explains adoption terms, conditions, and issues in an easy to understand and non-condescending way. It helped my husband to understand some mixed feelings I had about adoption as opposed to conception. It addresses attachment, authority, and smooth transition. My only complaint is I wish it had focused more on older adoptions instead of infant adoptions, but then, this book is more of a broad-range reference and therefore has to cover a lot of ground. A must read for anyone considering adoption!
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