The Spirit of Open Adoption [Paperback]

James L. Gritter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

An outspoken and ardent advocate for openness in adoption, James Gritter writes of the need for members of the adoption triad to emphasize services that first and foremost benefit adoptees. Open adoption serves children first by reversing the traditional hierarchy -- by treating adoptive families as resources for birthfamilies. Adoptive parents, birthparents, and adoptees come together in a spirit of extended family that helps them replace the fear, pain, shame, and loss of adoption with honor, respect, and reverence. Drawing on the profound insights of contemporary thinkers in the fields of adoption, theology, philosophy, and literature, Gritter guides the reader along a spiritual journey that explores the candor, commitment, community, and cooperation that define successful open adoptions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: CWLA Press (Child Welfare League of America) (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878686371
• ISBN-13: 978-0878686377
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little editing could go a long way..., July 2, 2001

By 

Britt Udy "Seriously, how did I end up in my ... (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Spirit of Open Adoption (Paperback)

This book is required reading by our adoption agency. While I applaud Mr. Gritter's committment to his subject I have to say that it's a hard read. I think a little editing would have gone a long way as he tends to make his points over and over and over. Plus he feels so strongly about his opinions that he comes off a little heavy handed. On the plus side, many of the chapters (particularly the one about pain) were valuable as was the chapter on commercialization which confirmed our feeling that advertising for a baby through independent adoption wasn't right for us. Maybe the most valuable thing was that reading the book helped us understand what our agency's values were and helped us feel that we'd made the right choice for our situation. I would highly recommend another book suggested by the agency, The Open Adoption Experience. It was a wonderful and non-judgemental book written for adoptive and birth families. It covered not just the adoption itself but raising the child and other issues. It had tons of examples and really helped me think through a lot of things I hadn't considered before.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful prose on a timely topic, February 23, 1999

By 

Heather Lowe "hslowe" (Corning NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of Open Adoption (Paperback)

To hear a social worker write so beautifully about adoption was surprising and welcome. Gritter leaves the mechanics of adoption to other writers and concentrates on the quality and spiritual aspects of a good open adoption.

I've read most everything in the field of adoption, and this book stands out as one of the few to really "get" the need for openness in adoption. Gritter tackles difficult subjects with honesty and subtlety.

This book makes a nice companion to The Open Adoption Experience by Ruskai and Melina.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too dry, not enough examples and true life stories, April 11, 2001

By 

Harlan Simantel (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of Open Adoption (Paperback)

If you like intellectual musings and lofty philosophical principles about adoption, read this book. I could only take a couple chapters of Gritter. My wife read more and felt discouraged about adopting. An adoptive parent we know couldn't get through the first chapter. "Too dry", she said.

It puzzled me why the author, with many years of adoption counseling experience under his belt, wouldn't use real life stories and examples to illustrate his ideas. There's almost none. Instead he pontificates and lectures; I felt talked down to.

Fortunately, our experience with Open Adoption and Family Services in Portland, Oregon was far more positive and down to earth.