The COMPLETE GUIDE TO FOREIGN ADOPTION (Paperback)

by Barbara Bascom (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Thinking about foreign adoption? Know somebody who is? Warning: the journey is gratifying, but is also long and fraught with pitfalls. This comprehensive handbook has vital facts and in-depth coverage of every aspect of inter-country adoption: what to bring, how to make it through the red tape, and how to prepare for parenting a child who may have special needs. Focusing primarily on Romanian "orphans" but applicable to all overseas adoptions, Barbara Bascom and Carole McKelvey remain consistently positive while describing the very real challenges. It's obvious that these authors know their stuff. After reading this book, so will you.

Product Description
A guide to foreign adoption offers vital facts and in-depth coverage on such areas as international requirements, avoiding baby brokering, managing bureaucracy, easing an adopted child's transition, and meeting the needs of special children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; Other Printing edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671546465
• ISBN-13: 978-0671546465
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #584,115 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugh! All worst-case scenarios., October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This book does a huge disservice to the majority of adopted children who do just fine in their adopted families, with no more difficulties than birth children. The authors seem to feel that they need to present all the worst-case scenarios, but the fact is that a lot seems to have gone wrong with those they present, not JUST the bad luck of the adoptive parents. A much better book is Myra Alperson's International Adoption Handbook and Robin O. Sweet's book. Knowledge is power and you owe it to yourself and your child to be as well-informed as possible, but this book is more likely to scare parents off international adoption. That aside, it's a bit dated. The adoption procedures in many countries are now running far more smoothly and professionally. It's probably worth looking at if you are adopting from eastern Europe, but please check out some more balanced sources as well.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Guide to Foreign Adoption, March 7, 2000

By A Customer

The title and subtitle are misleading; this is not a guide to foreign adoption but rather a compendium of horror stories about the worst Romanian orphan case histories. The slant is negative, journalistically sensationalist, and repetitive. Although the subject is of interest, the book is not a guide to the process of adoption, and has very little helpful information to offer.

The focus is on the authors' good works in Romania with special needs toddlers and the book offers very little practical advice to those interested in adopting healthy infants or children internationally. Look elsewhere for guidance.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps good as applies to Eastern Europe, but nowhere else, June 9, 1998

By A Customer

I felt that the title of this book was misleading, because though the authors gave a little attention to other regions, they focused mostly on Eastern Europe. International adoptions from Eastern Europe are a very different matter from adoptions from Asia, South/Central America, etc. For families adopting from other regions, a different book would better serve them.