Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew

Very insightful and armed with lots of great advice for adoptive parents. I also feel there is a lot that adult adoptees can gain out of this book in understanding why they may react to things the way they do. Nicely written and a good resource to keep digging into.

I am currently reading this book, (--I'm six chapters in, out of 22)--and am annotating it passionately and heavily, as if I were taking a big class. In a way, I am. Mrs. Eldridge is a Christian adoption-newsletter editor, speaker, counselor, and educator, based out of Indianapolis, who is passionate about the needs of the adopted child, whether he or she is still...more

I am currently reading this book, (--I'm six chapters in, out of 22)--and am annotating it passionately and heavily, as if I were taking a big class. In a way, I am. Mrs. Eldridge is a Christian adoption-newsletter editor, speaker, counselor, and educator, based out of Indianapolis, who is passionate about the needs of the adopted child, whether he or she is still a kid or is all grown-up. I am finding Mrs. Eldridge's insights into adoptees and their loss-traumas/feelings of abandonment/senses of rejection/pain and suffering -- especially those from her own life -- to be the most profound and heaven-sent things anyone has ever written on the subject. I wish someone had pressed this book into my hands 25 years ago, (had I had the luck & if it had already been published back then, and insisted I read it. It might well have changed the course of my life. Mrs. Eldridge also has a new Yahoo group called Questions Adoptees Ask: The link is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/questionsadopteesask/ All adoptees, adoptive patents and birthparents are welome to join.   hide

looking into the heart of adopted kids. . . very interesting.

It's a pretty good "overview" book. This book covers a lot of the information prospective adoptive parents don't want to face, without going into too much detail about the tremendous pain and losses adoptees can experience. A good "starter" book before moving on to "The Primal Wound" or similar books.

Tells how it is best to 'work through things' and talk them out with the kids.Probably one of many books worth reading. The author was adopted so this helped make it very helpful.

I have just read this book, and having an adopted daughter of another race myself, I have found some of the book rather interesting. I discuss my daughter's adoption with her openly and frequently, we speak about her birth mother as if she were part of our home and family, and although at times, she may "wobble" emotionally, on the whole, her acceptance and understanding is age...more

I have just read this book, and having an adopted daughter of another race myself, I have found some of the book rather interesting. I discuss my daughter's adoption with her openly and frequently, we speak about her birth mother as if she were part of our home and family, and although at times, she may "wobble" emotionally, on the whole, her acceptance and understanding is age appropriate, i feel. The book did, however, make me think of things, I perhaps would not have thought of...   hide

This book means a lot to me

This book is really well written, a little vague in places, but it puts you right in the mind of the adoptive child. She ends every chapter with "In the next chapet we'll talk about" Which is repetitive and a bad transition, but a very good book for people who are going to adopt or have adopted.I have to disagree with David, I found it extremely useful to know what questions to ask, and what to...more

This book is really well written, a little vague in places, but it puts you right in the mind of the adoptive child. She ends every chapter with "In the next chapet we'll talk about" Which is repetitive and a bad transition, but a very good book for people who are going to adopt or have adopted.I have to disagree with David, I found it extremely useful to know what questions to ask, and what to look for and since I'm not adopted, I have no idea what the adoptive kid might be thinking. So, it's helpful to have a book come out and tell you what some of them do feel.   hide

A bit over the top in places, but a good psych backgrounder for what our kids may experience.