Adoption Books

The author is a woman who had a baby at the age of twenty, in 1947, and gave her son up for adoption. Then, almost fifty years later, her son found her. She writes with spare elegance and unsparing honesty, and you will be hooked on the story from the first word you read. She describes with detailed frankness all of her very mixed feelings as each stage of the relationship with her son unfolds, and they gradually get to know each other. Details like, how to handle a new extended family at the holidays, are endearing to the reader. Adopted children and adoptive parents will find this book fascinating, as will birth-parents. But the quality of writing and the sheer humanness of the story make it a book that appeals to a much wider audience.

I did enjoy the love and understanding between Beth Kane and her son. I think almost everyone has been touched by adoption, and reading someone else's emotional journey can be helpful. It is wonderful that this is such a joyous reunion between mother and son, it makes my heart glad. There are so may people living with out the love of their parents or the child they gave up for adoption. I cannot imagine the heartache of the decision, especially when Beths sister Shirley had a child approximatly the same age, I know , that child was my mother. I commend Beth on her courage to write this book, and am very glad the "stigma" of adoption has changed for her and everyone else over the years , from secrets and shame, to a wonderful act of love and sacrifice. I am sure it was a difficult road, that does not end when your child is placed with their adopted family. I am even more elated for Beth's son, he forgave so freely and built a relationship with his mother and sister, Unfortunatly he never got to meet his other sister , Susan, as the family lost her to Cancer way too early. Unfortunatly he has not met the rest of the family either, and I think that is a shame. In her book, Beth shifted her focus too much towards blaming members of the family for the decision she made, and that is just not acceptable. Both Mother and Son accept and love each other, I think that excuses or blame for this very personal decisions of Beths was the one disappointment in the book for me. She has a rarity with the love and forgivness of her son, and the total support from family, she should share with her son and the readers, the strengths of family members no longer here. Yes, she did live in the projects in Oakland, but Alva , her mother was a strong, caring , loving woman, who would have given anyone the short off her back,and raised 6 children + , always taking care of others. Perhaps it is those genetics passed onto Beth's son that gave him the forgiving, understanding heart he obviously has. Aunt Beth, I am glad he found you, I wish it was while Nana and Gramma were still alive, they would have shared in your joy. We have not been as close of a family since their passing, I wish it could be different, as Your son deserves to know our entire family, and we would love to welcome him with open arms, because he is part of all of us. I do feel you did an unjustice to the family, and/or seem to have a lowly opinion of your family,You were an young adult at the time, you made an adult decision, and your family supported you. Your son was raised in a loving home, and grew to be very successful, you gave him that opportunity, and although you may feel regret, IT WAS THE DECISION YOU FELT WAS THE RIGHT ONE AT THE TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU MADE IT. I know how you were supported and helped through out Susans illness, and you would have received that same unselfish , giving support with the return of your son. but, I think you know that.

I did enjoy the love and understanding between Beth Kane and her son. I think almost everyone has been touched by adoption, and reading someone else's emotional journey can be helpful. It is wonderful that this is such a joyous reunion between mother and son, it makes my heart glad. There are so may people living without the love of their parents or the child they gave up for adoption. I cannot imagine the heartache of the decision, especially when Beth's sister Shirley had a child approximately the same age, I know, that child was my mother. I commend Beth on her courage to write this book, and am very glad the "stigma" of adoption has changed for her and everyone else over the years, from secrets and shame, to a wonderful act of love and sacrifice. I am sure it was a difficult road, that does not end when your child is placed with their adopted family. I am even more elated for Beth's son, he forgave so freely and built a relationship with his mother and sister, Unfortunately he never got to meet his other sister, Susan, as the family lost her to Cancer way too early. Unfortunately he has not met the rest of the family either, and I think that is a shame. In her book, Beth shifted her focus too much towards blaming members of the family for the decision she made, and that is just not acceptable. Both Mother and Son accept and love each other, I think that excuses or blame for this very personal decisions of Beth's was the one disappointment in the book for me. She has a rarity with the love and forgiveness of her son, and the total support from family, she should share with her son and the readers, the strengths of family members no longer here. Yes, she did live in the projects in Oakland, but Alva, her mother was a strong, caring, loving woman, who would have given anyone the short off her back, and raised 6 children + , always taking care of others. Perhaps it is those genetics passed onto Beth's son that gave him the forgiving, understanding heart he obviously has. Aunt Beth, I am glad he found you, I wish it was while Nana and Gramma were still alive, they would have shared in your joy. We have not been as close of a family since their passing, I wish it could be different, as Your son deserves to know our entire family, and we would love to welcome him with open arms, because he is part of all of us. I do feel you did an injustice to the family, and/or seem to have a lowly opinion of your family, You were a young adult at the time, you made an adult decision, and your family supported you. Your son was raised in a loving home, and grew to be very successful, you gave him that opportunity, and although you may feel regret, IT WAS THE DECISION YOU FELT WAS THE RIGHT ONE AT THE TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU MADE IT. I know how you were supported and helped through out Susan's illness, and you would have received that same unselfish, giving support with the return of your son. But, I think you know that.

One afternoon I picked up Beth's book, THANK YOU SON FOR FINDING ME, and noticed the familiar face on the cover. What would I find in these pages? What would I get from it?
I have known Beth Kane for almost two years. Beth started a Writer's Group in our community and I found that I liked her. I often ask myself, what makes this woman tick?
Once I opened the book and entered the world between the covers, I was lost to anything else. I fininshed the book in two sittings. When I crawled out from the last page, I had an answer to a question that I have had for over a year.
As I read, I knew I was at the other end of the adoption spectrum. Where as Beth had given up her precious baby boy to adoption, I adopted a young boy. Surprisingly our feelings coincided although they were different. If you haven't been there, you might not understand, but that is not what this book report is all about.
The mystery began to unravel just a few pages into her book. There is a lot of heart-ache between the covers and it didn't take long before I realized there had been a helpless, fearful, shy and battered young woman, who emerged triumphant. At the same time my question was becoming an answer. I now know why I like her.
I wondered, had I not met Beth Kane, and gotten to know her, would I have enjoyed the book as well? I don't know, but I do think knowing her did help. As I read, I felt I was right there looking over her shoulder watching the cocoon open up and a bright colored butterfly emerge. I had the feeling that the author over-came a lot of pent-up emotions, and the reunion with her son brought her the peace she needed.
Thank you Beth for sharing this wonderful story. At the risk of plagiarism, THANK YOU BETH FOR FINDING US.

Chuck Deetz
Member Mission Bay Writers

I did enjoy the love and understanding between Beth Kane and her son. I think almost everyone has been touched by adoption, and reading someone else's emotional journey can be helpful. It is wonderful that this is such a joyous reunion between mother and son, it makes my heart glad. There are so may people living without the love of their parents or the child they gave up for adoption. I cannot imagine the heartache of her decision, especially when Beth's sister Shirley had a child approximately the same age, I know, that child was my Uncle. I commend Beth on her courage to write this book, and am very glad the "stigma" of adoption has changed over the years, from secrets and shame, to understanding what a wonderful act of love and sacrifice birth mothers provide. I am sure it is a difficult road, that does not end when your child is placed with their adopted family. I am even more elated for Beth's son, he forgave so freely and built a relationship with his mother and sister, Unfortunately he never got to meet his other sister, Susan, as the family lost her to Cancer way too early. Unfortunately he has not met the rest of the family either, and I think that is a shame. In her book, Beth shifted her focus too much towards blaming members of the family for the decision she made, and that is just not acceptable. Both Mother and Son accept and love each other, I think that excuses and/or blame for this very personal decision of Beth's was the one disappointment in the book for me. She has a rarity with the love and forgiveness of her son, and the total support of family, she should share with her son and the readers, the strengths of family members no longer here. Yes, she did live in the projects in Oakland, but Alva, her mother was a strong, caring, loving woman, who would have given anyone the shirt off her back, and raised 6 children + ,and she was always taking care of others. Perhaps it is those genetics passed onto Beth's son that gave him the forgiving, understanding heart he obviously has. Aunt Beth, I am glad he found you, I wish it was while Nana and Gramma were still alive, they would have shared in your joy. We have not been as close of a family since their passing, I wish it could be different, as Your Son deserves to know our entire family, and we would love to welcome him with open arms, because he is part of all of us. I do feel you did an injustice to the family, and/or seem to have a lowly opinion of your family, You were a young adult at the time of his birth, you made an adult decision, and your family supported you. Your son was raised in a loving home, and grew to be very successful, loving man, YOU gave him that opportunity, and although you may feel regret, IT WAS THE DECISION YOU FELT WAS THE RIGHT ONE AT THE TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU MADE IT.

I know how you were supported and helped through out Susan's illness, and you would have received that same unselfish, giving support with the return of your son. But, I think you know that.

Valued resource for my daughter who is adopting a baby from Russia.

It has helped her understand just what is involved.

Thanks very much.

This book is one single woman's story of international adoption and her journey from singledom to motherhood. The author is honest and open about her feelings, even with things are less than perfect. This book gives insite into the process of adopting from Russia and gives some helpful hints along the way. I found this to be an interesting, easy read.

Adopting Natasha is a very sincere and heartfelt book that describes both the practical and emotional sides of adopting a child. It is an extremely useful guide for those contemplating an adoption, but it is also more than that... It is a testimony of a woman who went through so much in order to build a family and raise children, something that so many people take for granted. I believe it is a very important read for all parents, it reminds us all to be thankful for our children and appreciate them - they are a wonderful gift!

I thought this was an excellent book for those individuals who are preparing for or considering international adoption. I am a mother of two children who were adopted from Russia and I am buying this book for my sister who is a single-mother and on a journey to expand her family via international adoption. I found this book to be a quick read and very insightful and informative. The author provdes a description of the international adoption process, the ups and downs encountered, in addition to the preparations surrounding finances, travel, and the Russian legal system (including questions the Russian judge asks of prospective parents). Carol Lee discusses the at-home preparations she undertook for her daughter. The author is extremely forthcoming regarding the realities of adopting a non-English speaking child, the trials and tribulations, her feelings of motherhood to her daughter, and the developing parenting skills required for various situations. This book follows the author's first year of motherhood and has a wonderful and happy conclusion of that first year!

Having recently adopted from Russia on a two-trip process, we purchased this book to see how Ms. Lee's experience compared to ours. I remember before we began the process how eager I was to read about other adoption experiences, and I'm always hopeful that more stories will be published. I was very disappointed with this effort. I read this book in about 90 minutes last night. I really hate to slam anyone who has adopted and put their experience out there for the world to read, but I find I can't help myself in this case. I found the book to be insubstantial, choppy, poorly edited (found typos as well as inconsistencies in info. given), and I was frequently commenting out loud to my husband about the self-centered thought processes and behaviour of Ms. Lee. The "twist" of her finding a Russian fiance in the end only proved to further irritate and astound me. Maybe if she had spent more time on developing the whole story, I would not be so critical and skeptical of her. In the end, I was aggravated with her as well as with myself for having spent the money on this book. I will say that her descriptions of Moscow, the Russian economy and character, and the court processes were consistent with our experience. I would recommend Adopting Alyosha by Robert Klose (even though it is a bit dated) as a better alternative to this book. I was glad that Ms.Lee sought assistance for both herself and her daughter. I wish her and her family much luck in the future.

This resource will change the very lives and future of every parent and, more importantly, every child of every parent who uses it. It's foundation is the highlighting of strengths, acknowledging the resiliency of children and the growth that is possible for everyone involved in the endeavor of writing a lifebook for/with a child. It is positive in its approach, sensitive and obviously based on years of professional and personal experience.

A must for every family who child has joined them through adoption internationally.

This workbook is very helpful and different from other lifebooks in that it makes the participant(s)do the important work of articulating the adoption experience. It is not a fill-in-the-blank book. It makes the parent and the child, ponder some of the tough issues associated with adoption and to write in a way that is truthful and meaningful to the child and just as importantly, in a sensitive and affirming manner. This can only be done when the participants truly grapple with the experience of adoption. Ms. Probst is conscious of the need to have this book be a special, private and honest document for the child and written from the child's perspective. I found her compassionate, straightforward style and her specific suggestions for parents to be invaluable.

For adoptive parents who know nothing about life stories and how to present this information to their children then this book is a reasonable place to start. In my experience though, most parents have given considearable thought to the information that their children need and they would gain no further benefit from this book which contains very little information. I'm sure that this works well in the workshops that the book originated from but without that format, it does not really stand alone.

As an adoption professional I see many parents who love their children but struggle with their child's life story. Many children have joined their adoptive families through difficult or challenging circumstances and this can be hard to balance with a parent's joy of welcoming their new family member. Some parents feel that creating a lifebook for their child will focus more on the unpleasant details. I also see children who have in their minds created their own "lifebook" with details that may not be true or accurate such as "my birth mother did not keep me because I was an ugly baby".

My suggestion is always that their child has already lived this part of their life and would it not be helpful to have these memories written down in a way that the child can better understand them. It is a remarkable process to watch as a child reads their lifebook for the first time and realizes how decisions were made for them or what the circumstances of their adoption were. Each of their smiles and sighs are etched in my memory forever. They finally have a memory and a story that is their own!

It is welcoming to finally see a message I have always given to adoptive families and feel so strongly about in print. Ms. Probst's book validates and gives permission to many of the feelings that adoptive parents encounter when they begin the journey of writing their child's lifebook. Her belief of taking this journey to head and to heart and not push to just have a book is an invaluable message. By following the steps of this book, a parent is writing for their child the most loving and caring heirloom a child could ever have, a story of their beginnings before they became part of yours.

This book is incredibly readable and offers a wealth of information to parents. I love the format! Highly recommended!

BUYER BEWARE: I purchased this book and Adopting Online: Your #1 Guide to a Successful Adoption (also by Mardie Caldwell) and to my surprise THEY WERE ACTUALLY THE SAME BOOK, PUBLISHED LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS APART UNDER DIFFERENT TITLES! Nowhere did it say that one was a minimally updated version of the other.

While the information that these books contain is very good, I find it a very shady practice indeed to publish two books in this manner less than 4 months apart without informing potential buyers of the duplication. It has left me very wary of the author and the publisher. In fact, I would guess the US ISBN Agency would be interested in knowing these books are the same...

This book takes you through each part of a domestic adoption, and is vital for people who are considering a private adoption. It literally walks you through the steps and decisions you will need, and addresses concerns that many adoptive parents don't even consider until they are overwhelmed, in the middle of a situation.

If you have to buy one adoption book, this one should be the one!

Easy to read, full of helpful tip sheets & forms.

Probably best value is the directory in the back. Use it again and again!!

Adoption: Your Step by Step Guide is an easy-to-digest guide book on adoption in the 21st century. If you're looking for straight forward, honest, experienced, and encouraging information on how to pursue your adoption dream then this is the book for you. It is a quick read and filled with tons of outside resources to help you complete your adoption journey. Not only was it helpful, but the anecdotes and examples really helped make the process seem less overwhelming. Adoption is such a huge process, but this book helps make adopting a child seem within reach. Thank you!

Mardie Caldwell's wonderful book is the only one to answer all your questions about adoption. Whether you need help finding the child of your dreams or have been touched by adoption and would like to know more this book will provide the support and wealth of information you need.

EVERYTHING you need to know about adopting IN ONE BOOK, I love the authors ability to capture each situaton that can come up (including financial),lessening the fear of starting the adoption process. Many resources (if not all) are listed for every state and Canada! A must have guide if you are considering adopting.

This is a highly recommended book in the field of Foster Care and Adoption, and for dealing with the stresses and special needs of children who have lived with and seen things no child should. Reactive Attachment Disorder is a serious situation that is frequently surprising to the parents who expect a sweet child who only wants to be loved.

This book is available new and is not particularly expensive. I don't understand the ridiculously high prices being asked here for used copies. This is not a rare book.

I observed Dr. Cline work with abused children in a treatment center I used to work in. He works magic with children -I am in total awe of him and his style.

Cline is the founder of a pop psychotherapy called today "Attachment Therapy" (aka Rage Reduction, Holding Therapy, Compression Therapy, etc.). This book promotes this "therapy" in which children are restrained, poked, threatened, and yelled at until they are exhausted from hours of struggle. Says Cline/Helding: "Simple holding sessions may last for an hour or two...Even simple holding can be seen as too intrusive by those who believe that a child should only be held with the child's permission." (pp. 266-267) "Sometimes the child will scream or sob in anger or sadness. It is helpful to remember that this is the child's way of working through unexpressed feelings." (p.265) "Older, bigger children are held by two or more people..." (pp. 262-263) This is NOT therapy. It's child abuse. And it's based on the outdated notion of catharsis.

The parenting methods Cline and Helding promote are also abusive, such as setting the child up for experiencing more trauma: "One parent purposely allowed a child to become lost in a mall, but kept an eye on her as her distress level increased before being 'found.'...a recreation of the early distress/relief bonding cycle." (p. 283)

Or advising the parent to even set a poor example for the child: "Joining the children in their misbehavior can be almost as much fun....'Oh, it's time to go to your soccer game? Oh dear! I know I told you that I'd take you. Sorry, I guess I lied about that...'" (pp. 239-242)

None of this is validated by research or common sense. The treatment even meets the definition of *torture.* I can't imagine how this book got any good reviews.

For anyone thinking about adopting an older child, this book is a must read but put it LAST on your list. If I had read it first, I probably would have dropped the idea altogether. It is full of frightenning examples of how adopting an older child can lead you and your family down a path to ruin. It does give techniques to deal with and hopefully change some of the disturbing behaviors you may encounter. Most important, it tells you what issues a child has that may lead him to these behaviors.

It will arm you with knowledge needed so when you're given a referral, you'll have a much better chance of choosing a child who will grow and thrive in your family instead of tear it apart. There are so many kids waiting for adoption that CANNOT be saved no matter how you try. You owe it to yourself and your family to read this book. It can help you make the right choice that could literally save your lives.

This book can be purchased from the publisher for $24.95. It is put out through the Love and Logic Institute.

Michael Patrick Kelly, age 11, is one of his five brothers and sisters who are being sent west on an orphan train by their Ma so they can live a better life than they've had working on the streets of New York City. While his brothers and sisters are placed in good homes, Mike finds life difficult with the family he has been adopted into, especially since he had been a pickpocket out of necessity in New York and going west had been his only other choice besides being sent to Tombs Prison. Mr Friedrich, the father, believes that Mike is nothing but trouble and beats him whenever his temper rises. Gunter, the 13 yr. old who hates Mike and would like to see him sent back to NY and Tombs Prison,tries everything he can to get him in trouble. Most of the time, he succeeds, but Mike remains determined and stays with them despite Gunter's efforts. Mrs.Friedrich is a motherly woman who gladly welcomes his placement in their family, and Mike finds a true friend in Reuben, the hired hand, and Marta, who is a housekeeper for the Friedrichs. While Mike is in the wagon on the way to his new home, he overhears a whispered conversation about a man named Ulrich that disappeared. Apparently, Mr.Friedrich thinks that Mike is just like Ulrich and that he should be "taken care of". As the days pass, Mike hears more tidbits of conversation and believes that Mr. Friedrich has killed Ulrich and that he is afraid someone is going to find his out secret. Mike tries to pry more information loose out of Marta, but she only hints that she knows something which does not need concern him. When Reuben disappears after a fight with Mr.Friedrich, Mike can only fear the worst, and later while in the woods he spies a freshly dug patch of dirt. And then on a trip to St. Joseph, Missouri, he openly tells the people at the general store that Reuben is gone and that he suspects Mr.Friedrich of his murder.What will happen next to Mike--Will he find Reuben?And who was Ulrich? Read this 2nd book in the Orphan Train Quartet by Joan Lowery Nixon to find out the happy ending to Mike's story.

Caught in the Act is about a boy, Mike Kelly, who is sent on the Orphan Train but, unfortunately he is left with the Friedrichs. This German family moved to the U.S. to flee from someone or something. This fled turns to turmoil which causes Mike head to spin which might lead to be beaten or be the last victim of three or least he thinks. If you like suspense, mysteries, conflicts, abrupt uproars,or just plain old horror/ questionable murder books you shoulid read this book.

Michael Patrick Kelly, a boy who steals to feed his family, is actually a very good kid. He would shine the customer (or victim's) shoes and then pick their pocket. However, he is caught, and sentenced to five years at Tombs prison- or to be sent west to start a new life. He goes west. And that, my friend, is how everything begins. Everyone of his siblings gets good parents- except him. Hans Friedrich, a rather bulky,er, really bulky man with a temper like a bomb- ready to go off. Gunter Friedrich, a 13 year old who hates Mike and is always trying to get him into trouble. And he does,too. Mrs. Friedrich is a lovely and nice cook. The maid, Marta,is in love with a rowdy boy-who loves her back! And Rueben-the hired hand is Mike's best friend. But when Reuben suddenly disapears, and a freshly dug plot of dirt turns up that day, Mike has a creeping suspicion of Mr.Friedrich, and if he will be next...

"Caught In The Act" continues the story of the six Kelly children that were were sent away to get adopted by new families because their mother feels that she cannot afford to keep them. I read the first book in the series called "A Family Apart" and it was about the children getting adopted by new families and the second part was about Frances Kelly's adventures with her family. This book talks about how Michael Kelly is doing with the Friedrichs. Mike's main concern is that he believes that the Friedrichs are hiding something from him. He thinks this because he overheard a conversation about somebody named Ulrich. Mike's opinion is that Mr. Friedrich killed him. The story is all about Mike's adventure.

I really enjoyed the novel because it's interesting to see what life was like back in that time. So far I have read the books: A Family Apart, Caught In The Act and In The Face Of Danger. I'm going to read the whole series! If you are thinking of buying this book buy A Family Apart first.

A twelve year old boy named Mike kelly is sent west on the orphan train because he was a theif.He was adopted by the Friedrichs.Gunter a thirteen year old boy who hates Mike and lies to get him beaten and send back to New York.Will he succeed? Read this book to find out.

This book will tell you the troubles of having a disease like Chloe. If you read it I? promise that you will love it!


AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG.

THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY IF YOU DON'T WANT A SPOILER!

"Why me" This book have 191 pages.This book is write by Deborah Kent. This book is about a 15-year-old girl named Chloe Peterson. She is a normal teenager and she is very active in drama, until she gets a virus that sha can not seem to shake off. She goes to her doctor and she is given vitamins for her stress.Then, she gets a really bad sunburn, she start feeling horrible. She ends up fainting at a tryout for "The sound of music" and she lands in the hospital where she is diagrased with lupus. She has to learned how to live with lupus,and she learned to cope with a disease that is unpredictable. This book was important to me, because I learned how the people feel when they have lupus. I learned a lot from this book, and I hope people will bernefit from it.

I absolutly LOVED this book. I got it at a school fair because it sounded good. I liked it soo much that I could barely put it down. I finished it in, like, two days!! I can't wait to get the other two in the trilogy!!!

"Why me" This book have 191 pages.This book is write by Deborah Kent. This book is about a 15-year-old girl named Chloe Peterson. She is a normal teenager and she is very active in drama, until she gets a virus that sha can not seem to shake off. She goes to her doctor and she is given vitamins for her stress.Then, she gets a really bad sunburn, she start feeling horrible. She ends up fainting at a tryout for "The sound of music" and she lands in the hospital where she is diagrased with lupus. She has to learned how to live with lupus,and she learned to cope with a disease that is unpredictable. This book was important to me, because I learned how the people feel when they have lupus. I learned a lot from this book, and I hope people will bernefit from it.

This book is about a 15-year-old girl named Chloe Peterson. She is a normal teenager and she is very active in drama,until she gets a virus that she can't seem to shake off.She goes to her doctor and she is given vitamins for her "stress". Then,she gets a really bad sunburn in the middle of March,and she starts feeling horrible.She ends up fainting at a tryout for "The Sound of Music" and she lands in the hospital,where she is diagnosed with lupus.She has to learn how to live her life with lupus,and she learns to cope with a disease that is unpredictable.This book was important to me,because my mother also has lupus. I was devastated until I learned that survival is very well. I learned a lot from this book,and I hope people will benefit from it

Poignant, serious story of betrayal and a man's search for the truth, and for a way to come to terms. I felt tremendous compassion for all the major characters, probably because David portrays his parents with great depth. He also tells his story simply, without fluff - and that only adds power to his memoir. I found this book inspiring and enlightening.

I don't think I've ever read a more honest memoir covering such difficuly material. The author is unsurpassed in describing both his own, often bad, behaviors and the tough material of his family's life. Moreover, he shows very clearly what knowing "the truth" about family secrets can and cannot do.

I have studied what is called "the intergenerational transmission of trauma" and this book describes one form of it better than anything I've ever read. I also found the author's style to be both learned and lucid, often bringing in material from various experts in the field. I recommend it to anyone who has had to deal with family secrets or trauma, either in one's own life or as a professional.

David Siff is a brilliant writer whether under his birth name, or his well respected sports work as David Falkner. This autobiograpy has a new twist in every chapter, and since we know that he is Van Heflin's son from the start, we play along with his life knowing the secret he has yet to learn. A fascinating moment - lunch at a Hollywood studio commissary with Heflin in the room, and David invited to join the group.

Very well written; unusual and worthwhile firsthand story

An interesting story might lurk in "Eleanor's Rebellion," but a lot of it is lost in poor editing. This book is ruined by run-on sentences that point to the wrong objects, use of parentheses when another sentence would work better, and switching from past to present tense and back to past again David, the author (and protagonist) studied writing in college, but it's not evident in his book. The narrative sounds as though he recited into a tape recorder but did not tighten his sentences upon transcription. He discusses a scene and then goes back in time, and then jumps back to the present. He discusses wonderful photographs, which aren't included in the book. He also misuses a lot of long words in cases in which diminutive words would suffice. I was unable to read more than twenty pages at a time without cursing the editor. A final note on the format: the font used (for the first edition hardcover) is hard on the reader, in that commas look a lot like semicolons. This makes many hard-to-read sentences even harder to interpret.

David was put up for adoption by his biological mother, who visited him in the orphanage and who adopted him before his second birthday. David blames much of his life on the lie his mother told him. He cites journal reports of problems in other orphans of his time. He doesn't delve into his mother's obvious emotional problems that he might have inherited, nor does he discuss how his use of LSD might have led to some of his problems.

In the book, he is obsessed with the biological father he never knew. Perhaps some of his problems do stem from that. However, since he didn't know that he was adopted until he was middle-aged, he seems to mislay the blame of his apathy on this deep dark family secret. Instead of a victim, he comes off as a whiny brat.

David professes love for his wife when they first meet, but seems almost indifferent in her throughout the book - and in his children and siblings.

Again, I feel that a great story lies in "Eleanor's Rebellion," but the author is clearly not a writer. A spell check and a thesaurus do not an author make. There is no passion in a subject that always seems to be enveloped in enchantment.

The best virtue of this book would be its ability to teach. A high school composition teacher would do well to give copies to a freshman class to edit and correct. I may contact my high school comp. teacher; I think that he would enjoy the challenge.

INTERPRETING THE NEAR-PERFECT PHILOSOPHY OF MAHATMA GANDHI, PROFESSOR NAIR HAS GIVEN US A CONCISE FORMAT WITH WHICH TO WAGE A BLOODLESS BATTLE UPON THE WORLD OF MARKETING, CORPORATE HANGUPS AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS WHICH SEEM TO ACCOMPLISH LESS THAN WHAT THEY WERE CREATED FOR. A GOOD READ. BUT BE WARNED, YOU WILL NOT LOOK AT THINGS QUITE THE SAME WAY AFTER READING THIS MARVELOUS COMPILATION.

You don't have to know a thing about M. Ghandi to appreciate this book. Even so, to get his point across the author gives the reader examples of Ghandi's approach to life, and how we can apply it in today's society. I especially enjoyed the emphasis encouraging anyone in 'supervisory positions' to not be elitist, and to have to be more honest with their employees.Small business owners, and corporate managers would benefit greatly from reading this book because it reinforces values that, for the most part, have been forgotten. Nair's work is a more sophisticated version of the book "Who Moved My Cheese' Employees, as an anonymous gift, give this book to your supervisors.

This is a wonderful little book. I use it regularly in undergraduate and graduate courses I teach in leadership and decision making. It is a book that many students keep when the class is finished; and, it is not unusual for students to purchase additional copies to give to thier friends, colleagues, and managers.

Keshavan Nair emphasizes the need for leadership based on a fundamental moral standard, as taught and lived by Mohandus Gandhi. The Indian leader embodied a moral life centered on truth, non-violence and service to others. Nair argues that business leaders today need to follow these basic principles. He stresses that these principles - and the practices based upon them - make good business sense in the long run, as well as being crucial to the survival of society. The text combines Gandhi's experiences with Nair's exhortations on how to apply these principles in the workplace. However, Nair provides few examples of contemporary leaders who practice these principles. Thus, the book occasionally comes across as somewhat preachy, wishful, overly idealistic and out of touch with the everyday realities of business. Yet, we at getAbstract.com recommend it in the face of those realities as a counterbalance, as well as a good quick read that encourages thought.

This quick reading book focuses on the life of Gandhi as a model for leadership. The author applies lessons from Gandhi's life to the practical tasks of leadershi. Nair provides guidelines for a leader's standard of conduct and for making decisions and taking actions based on moral principles. According to Nair, even when we are in the role of follower, it is our responsibility "to raise our standards so our leaders will have to follow." This is not a book heavy on skill building. The author's purpose is to challenge us to abide by a high moral standard in our roles as leaders and followers. Reading this book is an act of self-reflection from which all of us can benefit.

As a mother who placed her child with a family for adoption, this book has helped me make some decisions on what kind of open adoption plan I want to have and how my child may feel about it later. I am a little disappointed that it's so dated and that most of the stories are from closed adoptions, but it has still been greatly reassuring for me to understand how my child may feel.

I have two adopted bi-racial children...four year old twins..they're too young to understand about adoption but this book was an excellent source to give me insight to what we may experience as they get older and understand more..having raised them since they were a month old it felt reassuring to hear other adoptees talk about their experiences and family is all that really matters..a loving family is all they really want..we're trying to provide that..

Although I applaud Jill Krementz in her effort to give voice to adopted children, I found this book limited and limiting. The over-emphasis on white children and on search and reunion is both misleading and unhelpful. For a young child unwilling or unable to find birthparents, the focus (as is so often the case in media) on reunions raises troubling questions of their own life. Although there are four African-American children, there is only one Asian child--even though Korea alone is responsible for roughly 100,000 adoptions to U.S. families. I would prefer that this book had been titled, "How it feels to be white adopted."

The one downside to this book is that it is rather dated (from the 80's) & reflects mostly closed domestic adoptions. However, it is still very helpful to hear what may go through children's heads regarding their own adoptions. There are a variety of ages and viewpoints. My husband and I felt that the range of opinions and they way things were described was probably largely based on how the children's parents had described their adoptions to them (including the terminology used... "real" parents, etc... or whether or not parents told their children that they would help them search for their birthparents down the road...). This was required ready by our agency for our 2nd adoption, but I found it very helpful in planning to create a "lifebook" for our first child. It helped me to imagine the things that our child might think or feel down the road & how I could have some impact on that by what I teach him now & over time. The book was very easy reading.

I loved the book. It really gave insight as to what kids are thinking. Very informative and very interesting. Helpful book. I do disagree with others that say it is focused on "white" children. When I read something I read it for what it is and this is a book about children's feelings about being adopted. Color and numbers of colors don't matter. It is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.