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Adoption Stories of All Kinds | Read Woke
Diverse books to encourage conversation during National Adoption Awareness Month.
I’ll never forget when my colleague shared the news that she and her husband were adopting. They were overjoyed to welcome a young child into their home, and throughout their journey, I had the privilege of witnessing the power of this life-changing experience. November, as recognized by childwelfare.gov, is National Adoption Awareness Month, established to promote adoption from foster care and raise awareness of children and teens awaiting a home. In the spirit of this month and its 2024 theme, “Honoring Youth,” consider these powerful books that can open doors to meaningful conversations with young people about adoption.Harper Becomes a Big Sister by Seamus Kirst, illus. by Karen Bunting. APA/Magination. 2024.
PreS-Gr 3– Harper is thrilled to become a big sister when her dads adopt a new baby. She picks out a stuffed animal and practices holding a doll to prepare. But when the baby arrives, Harper feels sidelined as her dads are consumed with caring for him. Daddy is too tired to play, and Dad is too busy for their usual fun. Will things change?
Roads to Family: All the Ways We Come to Be by Rachel HS Ginocchio. Lerner/Twenty-First Century. 2023.
Gr 6 Up–What makes a family? This book dives into the many ways families are created, from in-vitro fertilization to surrogacy, adoption, and more. A great guide for all ages where people from different backgrounds share their journeys.
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See No Color by Shannon Gibney. Lerner/Carolrhoda. 2015.
Gr 9 Up–Alex Kirtridge, a mixed-race girl adopted by a white family, has a passion for baseball. As a transracial adoptee herself, Gibney provides a nuanced portrayal of Alex’s struggles with identity, belonging, and her sense of Blackness. Alex loves her family and the game, but she often feels misunderstood. This coming-of-age novel opens a much-needed conversation in YA literature about race, identity, and self-acceptance.
When We Became Ours: A YA Adoptee Anthology ed. by Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung. HarperTeen. 2023.
Gr 9 Up–This powerful anthology brings together multiple perspectives on adoption, showing that there’s no single narrative. Authors challenge adoption portrayals in literature and pop culture. The editors’ note emphasizes that adoptees must tell their stories and highlight nuances and truths often overlooked in media representations.
Caught in the Haze by Sandi Van. West 44. 2022.
Gr 9 Up–This fast-paced novel in verse explores the complexities of being a South Korean boy adopted into a U.S. family. Tae is trying out for the soccer team at his new school, which has a reputation for hazing. He reconnects with Luke, a rising soccer star whom he met in an adoption group. While Tae’s adoption is visible to all—“I wear my history on the outside”—Luke keeps his own adoption a secret. Tae must navigate the pressures of hazing and the fear that Luke might betray him to fit in.
One Blood by Denene Millner. Forge. 2023.
Adult crossover–This generational saga follows Grace, a young girl raised by her grandmother, a midwife. When her grandmother is unjustly arrested, Grace flees to live with her aunt in the city, but new troubles arise. After becoming pregnant, she loses her baby to adoption without her permission or her knowledge. This story reflects the author’s unanswered questions about her adoption, encapsulating the pain of not knowing one’s roots.
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson. 37 Ink. 2024.
Adult crossover–Set in the 1950s, this gripping story intertwines the stories of Ruby and Eleanor, shedding light on a hidden adoption network among upper-class Black families. Moving between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Johnson explores love, racism, colorism, and class. It offers a unique lens on adoption and societal pressures on personal decisions and identity.
Cicely Lewis (X: @cicelythegreat) welcomes suggestions.
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