The Family of Adoption: Completely Revised and Updated

“An important voice in the spirited public debate over what ‘the best interests of the child’ are in the . . . untidy world of...more

“An important voice in the spirited public debate over what ‘the best interests of the child’ are in the . . . untidy world of adoption.”—Joseph P. Kahn, Boston GlobeJoyce Maguire Pavao understands the many perspectives that come into the complicated process of adoption, and she works to make the process comfortable for all participants. As a pioneering and nationally recognized family and adoption therapist, Pavao argues eloquently in The Family of Adoption that there are predictable and understandable developmental stages and challenges for every adoptee. Pavao feels that adoptive parents, as well as teachers, therapists, and all those who work with children, must come to understand these developmental stages as normal—often challenging, but normal. Full of wonderful stories that give insight into a wide variety of adoption issues, and now updated with a consideration of recent developments, The Family of Adoption is a powerful argument for the right kind of openness; it is truly the most insightful and healing book on the adoption shelf.“We’ve long needed a book like Pavao’s, which looks at adoption as an idea and a process . . . I recommend it to all readers who are affected by adoption, and isn’t that all of us?” —Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia“A commitment to placing the best interests of the child first informs every page of this excellent study of the complex psychological and social dynamics of adoptive families.” —Publishers Weekly   less