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55 reviews for:
Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption, Identity, and the Meaning of Family
Erika Hayasaki
4.01 AVERAGE
55 reviews for:
Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption, Identity, and the Meaning of Family
Erika Hayasaki
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I thought this was very well put together story and a honest look at transracial adoption. This story gives a lot of grace to all the parties involved and handled everything with such care
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Deeply researched, SOMEWHERE SISTERS examines transracial adoption through the story of Ha and Isabella, Vietnamese twins who were separated as babies—one adopted by a family in the United States, and one adopted by their aunt and her partner in Vietnam.
Hayasaki structures the book chronologically, following the girls as they grow up in vastly different environments, until they meet and live together as teens. Interspersed between their story are chapters examining different aspects of transracial adoption and twin studies. Isabella and Ha’s stories are told mostly in their own words, from years of interviews conducted by the author. We also follow the story of Isabella’s adopted sister Olivia, and I found all three of their voices to be compelling and unique. Hayasaki’s own perspective is very lightly felt, though I appreciated the moments where her story helped bring context to the narrative. The balance between intimate storytelling and analytical sections was perfect.
The similarities between Isabella and Ha’s feelings and experiences growing up, even as they lived thousands of miles apart, was astounding. Coupled with intriguing stories from twin studies done around the world, I found it hard to stop reading. The endless push and pull between nature and nurture in scientific debates/studies around twins, and the odd coincidences in peoples’ lives, really make you wonder about what connects us. This is a work of empathetic, curious journalism that is informative and insightful, yet will leave you with a lot to mull over. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Nothing against the book. Just going through a tough disrupted adoption and need a break.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
An interesting view of the pros and cons of transnational and transracial adoption, and of the science of twins.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This was a well-written, engrossing story of one family's experience with trans-racial, international adoption, as well as a broader look at the practice itself. It is bittersweet and thought-provoking, making you wonder about the good vs harm of adopting a child from overseas.
Sort of unrelated to the book/writing: it's a little staggering to think of the wealth the American family had to not only raise six children, but to pursue international adoption for two children, and then to essentially support a third child and her family in Vietnam.
Sort of unrelated to the book/writing: it's a little staggering to think of the wealth the American family had to not only raise six children, but to pursue international adoption for two children, and then to essentially support a third child and her family in Vietnam.