Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide (It Happened to Me) [Hardcover]

Suzanne Buckingham Slade (Author), Christopher Papile (Illustrator), Mary Sandage (Illustrator), Odelia Witt (Illustrator), Chris Washburn (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: It Happened to Me | Publication Date: August 14, 2007

The search for one's self during the challenging teen years can be even more difficult for the adopted teen. Many adopted teens have unanswered questions that may result in fear, anger, and low self-esteem. These feelings may be compounded by the isolation they feel because most friends and family members cannot fully relate to their situation.

Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide enables young adults to explore their feelings as they read the personal experiences of other adopted teens. Through these stories, adopted teens can learn how others have resolved some of their adoption issues and gain powerful insights from those who have experienced some of their same frustrations, struggles, and concerns.

Experienced adoption professionals share practical ideas and strategies for teens as they answer their questions in the "Teens Ask" sections of the book. Adoption experts, such as Hollee McGinnis (Policy & Operations Director for the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute), Judy Stigger (Director of International Adoptions at The Cradle), Kathleen Morrison (member of the board of trustees of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys), Katrina Carlisle (adoption counselor and search specialist at St. Elizabeth Coleman Pregnancy and Adoption Services), and others, provide valuable answers to teen questions. Replete with stories, pictures, and artwork by adopted teens, this up-to-date source will benefit teens as they move forward on their adoption journey.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This resource is an effective tool for adopted teens to read on their own or use together with their families. (Voya, Vol. 30, No. 5, December 2007 )

This exhaustive guide...offers comprehensive coverage....a valuable resource....especially useful.... (School Library Journal, November 2007 )

As part of a series on social issues for inquisitive teens, this book answers questions and recommends resources and coping strategies regarding adoption. Chapters include vignettes and photographs and address how teens react when they learn they are adopted, the decision to search for and meet birth parents, issues in international and transracial adoption, and adoption at an older age, among other topics. (Reference and Research Book News, November 2007 )

As an adopted teen, I had a lot of unanswered questions about my past and biological family. This wonderful resource will help adopted young adults as they explore their own histories. (Ashley Rhodes-Courter )

Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a comprehensive look at the issues, challenges and joys that youth experience as they make their journey through adoption. The voices of teens provide insight and wisdom and underscore the notion that although families take many forms, the common thread for us all is a need to belong, to be loved and to understand our history as we work to determine our future. (Rita Soronen, Executive Director )

From the Publisher

The search for one's self during the challenging teen years can be even more difficult for the adopted teen who may have many unanswered questions related to the adoption; questions that provoke fear, anger, low self-esteem, and many other emotions. These feelings are compounded by the isolation that adopted teens feel because most of their friends and family members cannot fully relate to their insecurities, fears, and frustration.

Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide enables young adults to explore their feelings as they read about the personal experiences of others. Through these stories, adopted teens will realize that there are other teens who share their same struggles and concerns. They also learn how teens found ways to resolve some of their adoption issues. Furthering the usefulness of the book is a section where various adopted teens ask questions on topics such as why birthparents place their children for adoption, how to "fit in" with an adoptive family, how to find birth parents, how to prepare to meet birth parents, current laws regarding adoption and the rights of adopted teens, special issues relating to international and transracial adoptions, and the problems teens face when they are adopted by a stepparent. These questions are answered in the book by experienced adoption and legal professionals. Replete with stories, pictures, and artwork by adopted teens, this up-to-date source will benefit adopted teens so they can move on to stable and happy lives as adults.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (August 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081085774X
• ISBN-13: 978-0810857742
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #547,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Suzanne Buckingham Slade is the award-winning author of over 80 books for children. She holds a Mechanical Engineering degree and worked in the engineering field before starting her writing career. Ms. Slade lives near Chicago with her husband, two children, and purse-sized dog named Corduroy. She spends most days doing what she loves - dreaming up new story ideas, reading new children's books, researching, and best of all - writing! She also enjoys visiting schools and sharing her love of books.

Learn more about the author at www.suzanneslade.com
Find out about her popular virtual school visits by visiting Skype an Author Network.

Book awards include:
THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT (Charlesbridge, coming out in 2012)
*Junior Library Guild Selection

CLIMBING LINCOLN'S STEPS (Albert Whitman, 2010)
*2011 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (PreK-3 category)
*2011 Notable Social Studies Trade Books For Young People
*Available in most Scholastic School Book Fairs

MULTIPLY ON THE FLY
*2011 Eureka! Silver Honor Book

WHAT'S NEW AT THE ZOO?
*2011 Teachers' Choice Children's Book Award

WHAT IF THERE WERE NO OTTERS?
*2011 Silver Moonbeam Children's Book Award

FROM SEED TO APPLE TREE
*2010 Blueberry Award Winner

SUSAN B. ANTHONY, FIGHTER FOR FREEDOM AND EQUALITY
*2008 Amelia Bloomer Recommended Titles List

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading; Great Resource!, November 8, 2007

By 

Eric C. Welch (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide (It Happened to Me) (Hardcover)

As the parents of seven children, six of whom joined our family through adoption, we are delighted to find such an informative and clearly written book for teenagers. Actually, ADOPTED: THE ULTIMATE TEEN GUIDE should be read not just by teens but by adoption workers and parents of adopted kids of any age. The book is divided into eleven chapters with titles such as "Fitting In" and "Should I Search?" and "Adopted at an Older Age." Each chapter is full of thoughtful discussions of the issues from various viewpoints, including in depth statements by many people involved in the adoption triangle, especially teenagers themselves. These teenagers express their opinions and emotions quite honestly and speak directly to teen readers of the book, who will learn they aren't alone. In addition, the book has numerous sidebars containing valuable facts relating to the world of adoption. A glossary and index add to the useful format of the book, which also has a section called "For Further Information" with a comprehensive list of organizations and agencies that deal with all aspects of adoption. We highly recommmend this book!

Sheila and Eric Welch

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas gift, November 18, 2007

By 

Patricia Evans "Adoptive mom" (Bay Area California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide (It Happened to Me) (Hardcover)

As a mother of two transracially adopted kids, I can highly recommend this book for anyone involved in the adoption triangle. Although directed to teens, adoptees as young as 11 would identify with the issues. Also adoptive parents and birthparents will gain a lot of insight into what their kids are thinking and dealing with by reading the book. It is easy to read. The text is broken up with lots of pictures, questions and answers, and sidebars with background facts. Thus you can open to any page or read for just a few minutes and it will catch your interest and make sense. I have ordered copies for grandparents and birthparents for Christmas.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource!, March 13, 2008

By 

Cynthia Dawson (Chicago Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide (It Happened to Me) (Hardcover)

The best thing about this book is that it is a great resource, not just for adopted teens, but also for adoptive parents and even birth parents. It gives perspective and insight on what questions, thoughts, and emotions adoptive teens are having.

As an adoptive parent, it gave me ideas on how to answer my son's questions and also how to have a meaningful conversation between us about his feelings. The book has teenagers express their opinions and emotions which was very interesting and informative to what my child may be thinking and feeling. Even though my son is a young teen, the book will be helpful in the years ahead when their are even more questions and discussions.

The book is written in easy to read chapters with discussions and viewpoints from various people on their adoption journey. The index is also useful for getting further information. I recommend this book to adoptive teens and also anyone that is in the adoption triangle.