Hello, Aibek!: A Journey of International Adoption [Paperback]

Kevin Quirk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2003

International adoption is not for the faint ofheart. That's the message Kevin and Krista repeat throughout their adoptionjourney to Kazakhstan, a country that most people can't pronounce or locate onan atlas. As they learn, it takes an adventuresome spirit and an unwaveringcommitment to follow this trail of incredible joys equaled by gnawingobstacles.Hello, Aibek!A Journey of International Adoption takes you along on that trail. Kevin and Kristacircle fog-shrouded Moscow for eight hours and then, wearing $11,000 in cash,wander the airport unable to find their escort. They live with a host familywhere the wife is mostly out of town, the husband works until almost midnight,and the 5-year-old daughter is hooked on Nickleodeon cartoons. They cringe atthe tough, indistinguishable meat served at most meals and share Thanksgivingdinner at an Armenian disco with a caged bear outside.At an orphanage named Hope, they must master aforce-feeding technique called The Shovel, watch another couple considerhalting their adoption, and confront their own fears about possible cerebralpalsy. But from his first smile, a sociable baby boy named Aibek assures Kevinand Krista that they have just begun the adventure of a lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kevin Quirk is an author, editor, ghostwriter, andcounselor. His first book, Not Now,Honey, I'm Watching the Game (Fireside), was featured by ABC's 20/20,National Public Radio, Redbook, Men'sHealth, and The Washington Post. Hehelps ordinary people share their personal stories through Memoirs for Life (www.memoirsforlife.com),and he guides authors with books in psychology, spirituality, politics, andbusiness through A Writer's Eye (www.awriterseye.com). A member of the Association of Personal Historiansand the Washington Independent Writers, Kevin lives in Charlottesville,Virginia with his wife Krista and son Aibek.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (June 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410756769
• ISBN-13: 978-1410756763
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,752,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read - whether you are adopting or not!, November 4, 2003

By 

Evelyn A. Plumb (Carmel, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hello, Aibek!: A Journey of International Adoption (Paperback)

Kevin Quirk, in his book, Hello Aibek!, provides a good deal of enlightenment and entertainment for anyone. I have family members who have adopted children and I have heard their stories, but this one grabs me in a new way. It is storytelling at its best, for it includes those elements that makes this true tale one of universal interest - harrowing adventures, anxious, comic and heartfelt moments, and interesting detailed information about a far off and little known country - Kazakhstan. Although those considering adoption would indeed benefit from learning about the rather frank and very specific ups and downs of the whole adoption process in a foreign country, I feel we all could enjoy such a story. As a minister, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone I knew who was either considering adoption in a foreign land - or to anyone else who'd like to learn how steadfast determination and a willingness to love outweighs any obstacles.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Personable Baby Boy, A Personable Book, October 31, 2003

By 

Charlotte Anderson (Kingsport, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hello, Aibek!: A Journey of International Adoption (Paperback)

"Hello, Aibek" was a delight to read, becoming more delightful with each turn of the page. Even though I knew the ending - of course, Aibek is pictured on the cover - I found myself turning the pages as if it were a novel, wanting to see how it all played out. Mr. Quirk has a charmingly personable way of speaking about his and his wife's experience throughout the adoption process. As well, he includes the things about the experience that prospective parents truly want to know, aside from the information given to parents by the adoption agencies. I would recommend it to those considering international adoption, and to those just wanting to read a heart-warming story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hello Aibek! ..all the info and lots of emotion..., October 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Hello, Aibek!: A Journey of International Adoption (Paperback)

Hello Aibek! A Journey of International Adoption is more than a handbook. It is a personal, fun adventure story filled with emotion. It is well written and interesting even for those who may just be starting to consider an international adoption.

It captures the joys and difficulties of the process and made me feel like I was on the journey with them.

Nice work.