A Tale of Two Surrogates: A Graphic Narrative on Assisted Reproduction

by Elly Teman, Zsuzsa Berend, Andrea Scebba (illustrator)

A Tale of Two Surrogates explores the complicated emotional, medical, legal, and ethical issues surrounding assisted reproduction. Based on more than a decade of ethnographic research conducted by a sociologist and an anthropologist, this book presents, in an accessible graphic novel format, the intertwined stories of two fictional women who decide to become gestational surrogates. It immerses the reader in the worlds of Jenn, from California, and Dana, from Tel Aviv, as they decide to become surrogates and make sense of the process, involve their families, and manage their relationships with the intended parents. The experiences of these composite characters highlight various paths, interpretations, and experiences that are common in surrogacy. Interspersed throughout the narrative are short interludes that depict surrogacy in other countries, putting the stories of Dana and Jenn in a more global context.

With a substantial scholarly apparatus, including a discussion guide and suggestions for further reading, this entertaining graphic narrative is an excellent tool for classes in graphic medicine, medical ethics, gender and family studies, and medical anthropology. It also offers valuable perspective to anyone involved in the surrogacy process—not only surrogates and intended parents but also medical providers, lawyers, legislators, and family members.

208 pages, Hardcover

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Rachel]

Using comics to teach about medicine and health: that’s the purpose behind the Graphic Medicine series. At first, the series might not seem to have any Jewish content. However, “A Tale of Two Surrogates: A Graphic Narrative on Assisted Reproduction” by Elly Teman and Zsuzsa Berend with art by Andrea Scebba (The Pennsylvania State University Press) portrays the difference between the surrogate process in the United States and Israel. Berend, a sociologist, and Teman, an anthropologist, used their two decades of research to offer composite characters, the Israeli Dana and the American Jenn, in order to discuss ethical and medical questions related to surrogacy.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...

[Jacquie Delman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first depiction of surrogacy that feels truly accurate and depicts real feelings and a multitude of obstacles. Thanks for making this amazing graphic novel!