How It Feels to Be Adopted (Paperback)

~ (Author) "My parents told me that when they went to the agency to pick me up, my birthmother had dressed me in a very grown-up-looking suit..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Father Clements, Betty Jean Lifton

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

19 boys and girls, from age 8 - 16 and from every social background, confide their feelings about this crucial fact.

From the Inside Flap

19 boys and girls, from age 8 - 16 and from every social background, confide their feelings about this crucial fact.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Knopf (February 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394758536
• ISBN-13: 978-0394758534
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #79,831 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  Books > Parenting & Families > Adoption

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for all adoptive families, March 17, 1998

By	Colleen M. McDonald (Rockford, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Adoptive parents, when you buy your first picturebook about how your adopted child came into your family, purchase this book, as well. Read it immediately, and then tuck it on the bookshelf for future reference.

This book is based on personal interviews of adopted children between the ages of 8 and 16. They share their opinions on adoption and tell about their families. The range of feelings and attitudes demonstrate that there is no generic adoption experience. Some individuals are very curious about their biological parents (a few even search), and others are not. Some are satisfied with explanations about how they came to be adopted, and others can't understand why their bio parents didn't make another choice. Some feel that being adopted is an important part of their identity, while others see it as a minor issue in their lives.

Though most of the youngsters in this book were adopted as infants, the stories and photos represent a larger diversity, including inter-racial adoptions and older children adopted from foster care.

The author suggests that adopted children think about adoption more often than their parents may imagine. This book will clue parents in to adoption from children's points of view, and offer companionship to adopted children looking for others to understand "how it feels to be adopted."

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Resource For the Adoptive Child (and Parent), July 28, 2000

By	"mstret" (Allentown, PA United States) - See all my reviews

By exploring so many different children's views on adoption, Jill Krementz opens doors for adoptive parents to discuss these concerns with their children. It was intended for the older child to be able to read, but I feel that it's perfect for a parent to read together with their younger grade-school child. The sooner my child is comfortable discussing her fears and concerns about adoption with me, the easier it will be for me to put her fears to rest.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful in planning ahead & creating a lifebook for your child, July 2, 2006

By	skrapbooker "skrapbooker" - See all my reviews

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.