Adoption: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice? Reflections by an American adoptive mother on infant adoption, birth and reunion [Paperback]

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2003

Fitzgerald is both a biological and adoptive mother and in this memoir examines the pros and cons of open, semi-open, and closed adoption practices from the point of view of adoptees, birthmothers, and adoptive parents. The adoption in 1969 of the author’s four-day-old daughter was closed, and Fitzgerald’s family only emerged from the dark woods of secrecy when her daughter’s birthmother and extended family met up with them twenty-nine years later. This wonderful joining of the respective families has enriched everyone’s life, including that of the grandchildren. Today, Fitzgerald is passionately opposed to closed adoptions and advocates the semi-open practice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: PublishAmerica (July 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592869130
• ISBN-13: 978-1592869138
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,576,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A birthmother's view, September 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Adoption: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice? Reflections by an American adoptive mother on infant adoption, birth and reunion (Paperback)

Once I began reading this book, I really couldn't put it down.The fact that I had a personal interest in it..(I am the birthmother mentioned)..made this book very compelling, indeed!It also gave me great insight into the perspectives of the adoptive parents, and revealed the feelings and the emotions of the adopted child herself.She was no longer the infant of my imagination, but a full-grown accomplished young woman with a mind of her own!Notably, this is not a book just for the benefit of the characters in it, but moreover it is a book anyone would find interesting. It is a memoir;it is an education;it's a reflection;it's real life!It will stir your emotions and challenge your previous beliefs,biases,and/or prejudices.It will stimulate new thought and bring light into the world of adoption!
Many truths spark the wisdom of this book and it will inform and delight the reader.I highly recommend it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I strongly recommend this to prospective adoptive parents, September 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Adoption: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice? Reflections by an American adoptive mother on infant adoption, birth and reunion (Paperback)

This is a very interesting combination of memoir and advocacy. Most books promote one adoption practice over the other, sometimes even with a fundamentalist air to it. Fitzgerald takes up all three practices: closed, semi-open and open, and rejects closed, or secret adoption because of her personal experience with it, but then wrestles with what might be a better practice, open or semi-open. The research cited on the issue seems, at this time, to favor the semi-open practice but leaves open the idea that there is no one-size-fits all approach. Fitzgerald's experience with the birthmother is touching and also the birthmother's belief that she could not have coped with an open adoption but would have preferred a semi-open one over secrecy. By contrast, the daughter, now an adult and a mother herself, would once more have wanted a closed adoption. Anyone looking for a straight-forward answer about adoption practices will not find one. It is truly an individual matter. Become as informed as possible and then decide for yourself what practice would be best for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough, heartfelt meditation on adoption, September 27, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Adoption: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice? Reflections by an American adoptive mother on infant adoption, birth and reunion (Paperback)

This book is a must read for anyone interested in adoption. First of all, it is very thorough, analyzing many aspects of adoption from a number of different angles. The author isn't trying to push any particular point of view on the reader, but instead gives a nice overview of the relevant issues, and at times adds her opinion. Not only is there a lot of useful information in this book, but it also is a heartwarming story about the author's adoption of her daughter and eventual reunification with the birth mother. It is a very engaging story, and should be read by anyone wanting to learn more about adoption, or anyone who enjoys a heartwarming story.