Adoption Stories: Excerpts from Adoption Books for Adults by Janine Myung Ja

Adoption Stories: Excerpts from Adoption Books for Adults Reviews

• 
  Valery

  Adoption Stories: Excerpts from Adoption Books for Adults is written by Janine Myung Ja, one of the founders of Adoption Truth & Transparency Worldwide Network. The book proposes that there need to be substantive changes to the adoption system, both public and private. Giving a voice to adoptees, contained herein are some of their stories, which are truly illuminating. Initially though, before the stories, there is a discussion of PAL or positive adoption language, something that must take place to empower adoptees when it comes to asking about their birth families. Adoption is amazingly a huge business enterprise, often overlooking the needs of children being adopted, and even their biological parents. This book provides a compelling backdrop to all kinds of adoptive situations, and by shining a light on these stories, opens up possibilities for improvement in the adoptive process. Highly recommend.
• 
  Grady

  ‘If you’re adopted, you have rights.’
  
  Author Janine Myung Ja is the co-founder of Adoption Truth & Transparency Worldwide Network, has researched the adoption industry, and has compiled stories about those who have been adopted and their opinions about adoption.
  
  Before the stories begin, Janine discusses the rise of PAL - Positive Adoption Language - which ‘disempowers those of us who have been told that we were orphaned as children yet astonishingly come from families – who are still alive and even searching and waiting for us! The PAL language has prevented us from finding back what is rightfully ours early on in our lives…we “adoptees’ receive poor treatment when we ask questions about our origin.’ She believes, ‘Things need to change.’
  
  Janine opens with a 1986 moment in the first story, and the quality of writing establishes a new high: ‘Standing next to the cash registers, I’m a fourteen-year-old girl from Korea (dressed like Madonna and Michael Jackson), and I loiter in the magazine/book section of Johnny’s grocery store. My hands are clutched to a random ‘True Story,’ and I am totally engrossed in this journal spearheaded by a publisher who believes truth is stranger than fiction. The company began printing stories in 1919. By the 1950s, the magazine employed submitted stories from around the US involving young women reflecting on their lot in life. By the 1980s, the short stories I’m discovering are from real women who have somehow, someway gotten themselves into trouble: All I know is that I need to know more...Do women go through such life events? It’s unbelievable. I guess you could say I am sheltered and protected…’
  
  In all of these stories the ‘commerce’ of adoption facilitators and the social system in general is examined, finding that there are many cases of ‘problematic adoption situations’ that disavow the rights of adoptees to know their biologic parents – and a similar barricade for some biologic parents who wish to know the position of their children placed in adoption. As Janine summarizes, ‘Adopted people are diverse individuals with differing points of view, yet have been stigmatized into one type of people by the industry leaders. Even though we come from various backgrounds, we've been stereotyped as if all of us are somehow ungrateful if we don't show enough appreciation, labeled as if having Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) when we don't bond as expected, or too negative when we push for answers. This little book proves that we are an assorted population with varying backgrounds, and we should not be reduced to the label of anti-this or anti-that when we ask questions—questions that make the industry uncomfortable. Rather, we should be given the right to ask questions about our background and even gain access to our adoption documents when we inquire. We have the right to ask questions—even if it makes adoption agencies uncomfortable. We should have the right to know if we have blood-related sisters and brothers, aunts, or uncles. None of us should have to go to our graves without having the opportunity to develop friendships with our next-of-kin—if we so wish…’
  
  This book, containing excerpts from Janine's "Adoption Books for Adults" collection, is completely biased on the rights of adopted people and void of influence from adoption authorities. A significant and. valuable resource for adoptees, the book is a true eye opener about a subject too seldom discussed.
• 
  Janalyn Prude

  I thought this was an awesome book about adoptees. They cover every aspect from international adoption to the orphan trains in the late 1800s and early 1900s and even talk about the first man to do an international adoption in a shocking as it may seem it is true it was Jim Jones from the mass suicide in Ghana. I even enjoyed the 10 questions at the end with the Janine the author. I thought that was a great addition to an already great book. I highly recommend this, My husband was adopted and although his situation wasn’t necessarily portrayed in this book it was still enjoyable to read. I can’t recommend it enough.
• 
  Grymm Gevierre

  As someone who has spent time in the system, this book is fantastic. Though I was never adopted (or put up for adoption) the similarities and stigma remain the same in many instances. There are things in this book that I will never know firsthand, but there is so much in here with similar feelings and public perception of any ward of the state.
  
  These stories, even for someone like me who has been in state child care facilities, are eye-opening to the problems and mindset of people who have been in the adoption world. How the system is scrutinized, and things that I haven’t even thought of (like the negative language meant to set the poor perception of adoptees) is examined in this book and it’s a refreshing and wonderful feeling to be able to see my feelings, and feelings of many of my childhood friends, brought into words in such a way that seems like someone is rooting for people like us.
  
  This is basically a challenge to the adoption system, both private and public agencies, calling them out.
  
  This is a great book, not just for people like me, but for anyone who wants to see a positive change to a group of people often ignored by society.
  
• 
  Liliyana Shadowlyn

  This book was both excellent and difficult to read. The stories are absolutely gut-wrenching and shine a light on something no-one wants to talk about. Adoption is always touted as a good thing - and on the surface it seems like it would be. Unwanted/orphaned kids get the chance to go to a good, loving home. Of course, you always expect there to be a few bad families, like the horror stories of bad foster families you occasionally see on the news, the ones that are forgotten just as quickly as they swept through the headlines. What you may be unaware of, is just how some of those kids ended up being put up for adoption, and how many of them still had loving families waiting for them to return. This is a look at the realities of adoption, from the perspective of the adopted, and has definitely prompted me to do some further reading.
• 
  Julietta Taborda

  Five star story!
• 
  Renae Pinheiro

  This was such a roller coaster ride!
• 
  Velia Duxbury

  Most enjoyable read I’ve had in ages!
• 
  Barbra Has

  Like the book a whole lot.
• 
  Jamee Wynter

  Exciting story, wonderful development.
• 
  Ned Soladine

  Powerful book indeed.
• 
  Lenor

  First of all this book contains excerpts from Janine's "Adoption Books for Adults" collection, a short book about the side of the adoptees; they all have one thing in common, they are looking for answers, they want them and they should have the right to have them. The problem is the adoption agencies that think that information must be buried the moment they find a family, they think is case closed when that is the farthest from the truth.
  
  This book covers an uncomfortable truth if I must say, the way people keep talking about the adoptees makes them a whole different target for an entirely different reason they had no say. And this is the problem, a new system, a new transparency for the adoptees when they are looking for answers that will benefit the life they are living; this is an eye-opening book, nothing is what it seems and I will recommend this book to everyone.
  
• 
  Celine Osting

  Most amazing book for discerning readers.
• 
  Toccara Oeftger

  Most enjoyable read ever.
• 
  Danika Fugere

  Utterly beautiful.
• 
  Lisandra Quarry

  Just fantastic.
• 
  Ernestine Housner

  Well written with a great plot!
• 
  Lorene Brim

  Fantastic character development.
• 
  Paulita Seidl

  One of the best books for discerning readers!
• 
  Pete Funnell

  Spectacular book I’ll read again soon.
• 
  Zora Wittmer

  A pretty awesome book.
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  Julio Fitzmier

  Superb book I’ll read it again soon.
• 
  Joella Belliard

  Pretty interesting book.
• 
  Dee

  I am not adopted and by the time I got to page 5 I was already so excited to read this book, to learn more about the way the process works and how these adoptees feel and to read the stories amongst them. I like the way that Janine has written it and how you can feel her authenticity just bleeding through the page. I have found this book to be extremely moving. I am glad that this was recommended to me to read because I have learned a lot from what adoptees feel with the process and how much is stripped away from the adoptees as well as the families that have lost their children. There are too many secrets in the way adoption is being held. If anyone is considering adoption I think this book and others like it, is something crucial to read. For example, I could not imagine living a good chunk of my life then learning that I was technically an illegal alien. It's shocking! There are some heart wrenching stories in this book and I agree that they should NOT be silenced. I like how Janine states "We are planted by Mother Nature and Father Time" I feel that this statement goes for all people. She is passionate about EVERYONE IS LOVED!
• 
  Yasmin Schweigert

  Amazing book for young readers.
• 
  Jolie Petrusky

  Unforgettable plot. I didn’t want it to end.
• 
  Young Knier

  Most addictive storyline.