The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adoption (Complete Idiot's Guides)

Rating:
Summary: Buy the Second Edition, published in 2005!
Review: Adoption has changed a lot since I wrote the first edition of Complete Idiot's Guide to Adoption in 1997. Which is why if you want to adopt a child, you need to buy the second edition, published in 2005. ISBN: 159257274X

Rather than save a few bucks by buying someone's old used copy of the book, get the latest information! Would you make other life-changing decisions by relying upon outdated information? Adoption is definitely a (wonderful) life-changing decision.

I have completely updated the book, including the latest information on adopting babies and older children in the U.S. and other countries. I have info on using the Internet, affording adoption, avoiding fraud and much more and have updated my state-by-state adoption law chart.

I wish you success in adopting!

Christine Adamec
Author of CIG to Adoption

Rating:
Summary: Writing style is too simplistic
Review: Although this book contains most of the information that prospective parents need, the writing style was too simplistic for my taste. The author went so far as to define adoption, warning the reader that adoption is not temporary. My husband and I much preferred the Adoptoin Resource Book by Gilman.

Rating:
Summary: Writing style is too simplistic
Review: Although this book contains most of the information that prospective parents need, the writing style was too simplistic for my taste. The author went so far as to define adoption, warning the reader that adoption is not temporary. My husband and I much preferred the Adoptoin Resource Book by Gilman.

Rating:
Summary: Great place to start
Review: As a newly adoptive parent, I look back on our adoption journey, and this book was where we first started. Because the volume of adoption information available can be overwhelming, this book covers the basics and will help to introduce you to adoption and guide you in an adoption process that is right for you.

Rating:
Summary: Let's not be idiots
Review: I admire any author who compiles as overwhelming an amount of information as this book and also makes the book fun to read with its various insets and short, punchy chapters. But let's not be idiots. We're told that 'Sometimes you may be paying for the birthmother's living expenses or her medical expenses, too. But you are not paying for your child.' Adoption is now the largest unregulated industry in the U.S. An industry analysis of Fertility Clinics and Adoption Services by Marketdata Enterprises of Tampa, Florida, has placed a $1.4 billion value on adoption services in the U.S., with a projected annual growth rate of 11.5% to 2004. Religious agencies charge from a few hundred dollars to $10,000 or more; non-denominational private agencies charge $10,000 to $20,000; independent (private) adoption costs a few thousand dollars to $50,000, public agencies charge nothing, except attorney fees to finalize adoption. Color plays a major role in adoption. White infants cost as much as $50,000 in prominent and elite agencies. A child from China costs $18,000, from Vietnam $22,000, from Russia $14,000 and an African-American costs $8,000. While the baby-sales flourish in cyberspace, there are plenty of places on terra firma where they flourish, too. Marketdata's analysis describes adoptions as "complex, and stories of unscrupulous operators abound in this loosely regulated field."
The author paints a rosy picture of adoption. 'Most adopted children grow up healthy and well-adjusted. . . most real-life adoptions are positive.' Yet, there exist data showing consistent negative trends in adoption mental health and well-being. The 1996 Search Institute review of the Growing Up Adopted study is devastating news for all members in the adoption triad and cause for serious reflection. This study was the largest research ever conducted of adoptive families in the U.S., involving 715 families. If you are interested look up Sheridan, Tim (Foreword). "Relatedness Deprivation: A Review of The Search Institute Study of Adopted Adolescents and Non Adopted Siblings." August 1996. Last edited 11/2001. On-line: http://www.netaxs.com/~sparky/adoption/sir.htm.
But prospective adoptive parents should not be discouraged by alarming data. Proceed carefully and with as much knowledge as possible. Our own adoption continues to be a very positive experience (including with our birthmother), and I know several adoptive families who too are happy and have well-adjusted children.
Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

Rating:
Summary: Great place to start
Review: I don't know what my husband and I would have done without this book. All of our fear's about adoption it eased all our fear's. And had answer's to all the questions we had. This book is the Adoption Bible.It's up to date on everything .

Rating:
Summary: This Book is a need to read .
Review: I don't know what my husband and I would have done without this book. All of our fear's about adoption it eased all our fear's. And had answer's to all the questions we had. This book is the Adoption Bible.It's up to date on everything .

Rating:
Summary: A good starting point...
Review: If you are just thinking of adopting and have no idea where to begin, this is a great book. It gives details about many different types of adoption. It could really help you decide whether to go through government agencies, private agencies or international. If you have already narrowed your scope, then it is better to get a book specific to the type of adoption that you are pursuing, otherwise there will be many chapters of this book that you will skip.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely a worthwhile purchase
Review: In many ways, this book is better than all the overly earnest or psycho-babbly pastel-covered books available on adoption. In keeping with the "Idiot's Guide" approach, this book is reader-friendly, breezily-written, and full of info. I'm most impressed with the inclusion of unsentimental, nuts-and-bolts subjects like financing, avoiding adoption scams, and state-by-state adoption rules.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely a worthwhile purchase
Review: In many ways, this book is better than all the overly earnest or psycho-babbly pastel-covered books available on adoption. In keeping with the "Idiot's Guide" approach, this book is reader-friendly, breezily-written, and full of info. I'm most impressed with the inclusion of unsentimental, nuts-and-bolts subjects like financing, avoiding adoption scams, and state-by-state adoption rules.