Rooted in Adoption: A Collection of Adoptee Reflections is a compilation of experiences from those who have been adopted. The authors asked adopted of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences to share their personal adoption stories. Internationally renowned author and leading expert in trauma informed care, Jules Alvarado shares her personal thoughts on the impact of loss on the adopted child. Most people know at least one person that has been touched by adoption. This may be a co-worker, classmate, or someone in your own family. These days, adoption stories can be found all over social media and on our favorite television shows. Unfortunately, the reality of adoption is it far more complex than what is portrayed in a tear-jerking 60-minute drama. For years, adoptees have been denied access to medical records, birth records, and their original birth certificates. Most have little to no information pertaining their families of origin. This can result in low self-esteem, abandonment, and feelings of rejection. While some adoptees will reunite with their birth families, it can be quite costly, time consuming, and emotional. As you read these stories, you might feel inspired and hopeful. You might even feel sad, frustrated, or angry. Notice how adoptees from closed adoptions feel in comparison to those from an open system. Ask yourself, "What can I learn from these stories?" While some of these stories are difficult to read, it is necessary that you not only hear them but also learn from them. Only then can we change the laws that, for decades, have denied us one simple right ... the right to know who we are and, in turn, begin the healing that all adoptees deserve. This is a great resource for educators, mental health professional, adoptive parents, or those looking to adopt.
