Adopting Hope: Stories and Real Life Advice from Birthparents, Adoptive Parents, and Adoptees

by Lorri Benson

All My Children actress Jill Larson moved mountains as a single mother to adopt her daughter from China. George Fadok, a former Navy commander, grappled with “changing the rules” eighteen years after placing his daughter in a closed adoption. Angela Paxton, Texas state senator and an adoptee, never thought she would ever meet her birthmom, but when she did, it changed her life. Embarking on an adoption journey can be daunting, but now you are not alone! This collection of true, beautiful accounts, including Larson’s, Fadok’s, and Paxton’s, takes an honest look at the process, the struggles, and the undeniable joy that comes with adoption. With insights from all three adoption triad viewpoints, Adopting Hope shares a wealth of lessons learned and tips for every person contemplating an adoption journey. From Lorri Antosz Benson, author of To Have and Not to Hold , this heartfelt compilation is ultimately a message of hope, love, and destiny as each family discovers the truth that a child doesn't need to be blood to be truly yours.

Genres: Adoption

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2018

Reviews

[Tarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style was easy to follow with mostly short excerpts of real-life experiences.

I found that the book confirmed what we had learned while going through adoption training courses - that no child placed for adoption is unloved by their birth families. Also, that loss is experienced at every step for all involved.

Some of the experience is not applicable to what we have/will continue to go through as prospective adoptive parents where we live based on the process and laws for local adoption. Voluntarily relinquishments are extremely rare.

In some ways I think the book focused too much on the positive outcome stories, almost creating a potential false sense of hope as it’s more than often not that way.

[Jean-Ann Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every story was amazing. I love reading books about people who are strong, transparent and vulnerable when sharing their life’s story. This book touched my heart! Stories from birth parents, adoptive parents and the kids who were turned over to a new family for a myriad of reasons.

My niece and sister-in-law are both adopted and this book gave me a glimpse into their lives I had never considered. I also gained some insight on what it may have been like to be their adoptive mother and how much their birth mother must have loved them to make such a selfless decision.

I would recommend this book to anyone! Adoption has touched us all in some way.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adoption is something I’ve heard about but didn’t really know much about. This book invites stories from all people involved in an adoption, the child, the birth mother and the adoptive parents and asked them simply, what was your experience? Do you have any advice? A great book to learn more about the realities of adoption.

[Jessica Speer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an important, inspiring narrative about adoption. Every story is honest and unique, offering hope and insights as families navigate the complicated world of adoption.

[Carla Manly · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mother and psychologist, I found Lorri's stories most inspiring and precious. What a love-filled treasure! Thank you!