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Rating: 
Summary: Good information, step-by-step guide
Review: Alperson has put together a very useful, well-thought-out guide to international adoption. I especially appreciated the manner in which information was organized: small, easily-understood sections presented in a manner which was respectful and did not seem to "talk down" to the reader.The information about dealing with home study agencies was especially helpful to me. The home study can seem very intimidating, and the book offered lots of reassurance. It also listed some good things to discuss with the social worker, and it was nice to sound informed and intelligent during my first meeting with her! I found this to be one of the most helpful books I had during my son's adoption. I would highly recommend it to anyone adopting, or considering adopting, internationally.
Rating: 
Summary: Reflections on a book I wrote on international adoption
Review: I began working on International Adoption Handbook when I was still waiting for a referral for my daughter from China, and I was answering queries the night before I left to get her. I saw the proofs when she had been with me a few months. That seems like a few lifetimes ago - we've been together for 3 1/2 years! I recall that the whole adoption process seemed at times so overwhelming that I wanted to be sure my book wasn't overwhelming as well. I aimed to be straightforward, concise and as accurate as possible without overloading on unnecessary information. Adoption procedures change all the time, and prospective parents have to know what they need to do but also be flexible, alert and persistent. Much of my best information as a parent has come from reading about the experiences of people who came before me, so my book drew sigificantly on what other adoptive parents had done. I'm now finishing a sourcebook on multicultural parenting for adoptive families,entitled Dim Sum, Bagels & Grits. (...) Once again, I've drawn significantly on the experiences of other families, as well as adoption experts - and adoptees themselves. Since I became a mother, I've become much more aware of the activities of adult adoptees to explore their roots and come to grips with having a somewhat divided identity. Dealing with this as a parent has been a real challenge, and, I presume, will be a growing one as my daughter gets older. I look forward to hearing from parents who have read my book. Myra Alperson
Rating: 
Summary: Outdated - But Useful for the Basics
Review: I took this book out of the library, and boy was I glad I didn't buy it before getting a good look at it! The information is woefully outdated (ie: Alperson claims that filing the all-important INS I-600A form costs only $168 - it now costs $405! She doesn't even acknowledge that all the important INS forms are now easily downloaded off the IRS website with concise instructions - a lifesaver!). While her basic information is good, there is nothing here that you can't find online. Our exhaustive pre-adoption research found that the most reliable and up-to-date info is on the web - ever-changing country guidelines, INS procedures and politics place the international adoption process in a constant state of flux. There is no way a print publication can possibly keep up with the changes. Since there is such an emotional toll with adoption, I feel that it is best to seek out only the most current info - that way you won't get your hopes up based on outdated material. Also, by using the web, you can read the stories of individual families and contact them directly to learn first-hand of their adoption experiences. I really learned how to negotiate the process from families who had recently completed adoptions in the country we had selected. They gave me the real inside information, and even helped us to choose the agency that was right for us. If I had gone on Alperson's circa 1997 advice, I would have taken many wrong turns. While Alperson's book contains some good, solid info on the aspects of international adoption that are constants - save yourself the money and avoid being confused by old data by checking out the web. If you are intent on having a "hard copy" of adoption information, be aware that this book contains serious misinformation regarding country regulations and INS procedures that may set you back.
Rating: 
Summary: What an awful book
Review: Outdated, declasse and so preachy/stupid. You'd be better using the internet to find out the real deal on international adoption than reading this insipid book.
Rating: 
Summary: Helpful But Outdated
Review: This book did have some helpful and insightful information, but most of the ligistics were severely outdated. The costs are so far below the present day costs that they never should have been printed. Also, the author seemed to have a very negative outlook toward the different avenues of international adoption except the avenues she chose to adopt through, such as independent adoption. Actually she was negative towards many aspects of international adoption unless it worked for her. She did not seem very open-minded. She just wants you to know what worked for her and the rest, well...it wasn't important. I would not recommend if you're seeking concrete unbias information.
Rating:
Summary: Casualty of an ever-changing world
Review: This book is one of the many casualties of the Web where ever changing country guidelines can be found with a click of the mouse. In Alperson's defense, a print publication of this nature is by definition static and outdated before it even hits the market. Still, this book makes for good reading and provides good advice. It is definitely worth reading, but double check the figures and requirements on the Web and elsewhere. Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely worth reading
Review: This book wasn't quite what I was looking for (more of an instruction manual, less of a personal-journey saga) but it was still definitely an interesting read. Ms. Alperson is very honest and upfront and does have great advice. This book is good moral support.
Rating:
Summary: If your even considering -- This will help!
Review: This is an excellent book. If you're only THINKING about International Adoption, this is a must. Even just for the resource chapter. There is so much information, and so many wonderful tips. Adoption is no easy process. I've found it handy to highlight really good stuff and pass on to family members so they know what they're in for! Good luck.
Rating:
Summary: Not really what the title promised
Review: While she has a lot of good information (the list of contacts at the end are great), as a Catholic-Christian, married-father adopting from Guatemala, I did not like the single-mother, pro-homosexual slant of the book. It is NOT a handbook of how to adopt internationally. It is her story of adopting a girl from China. In writing the book, she talked to a lot of people who adopted from all over the world. Their stories are spread throughout the book and add a lot to the book. Overall, I was disappointed with the book and would not recommend its purchase.
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