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In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rhonda M. Roorda, Rita J. Simon
juliasilge's review against another edition
4.0
A really engaging read, and highly recommended for anybody involved with transracial adoption. There is some brief material to introduce and summarize this book, but the majority is transcripts of interviews with adult transracial adoptees, reflecting on their experiences and struggles and family lives. Practically the whole book is people's personal stories, which made it very readable and compelling for me. The individuals in this book were interviewed as adults in the late 90s and had been adopted mostly in the 70s; it would be interesting to see a similar group of stories from people transracially adopted 10 or 20 years later. I don't know that their experiences of racism in America would be that much different but I would be interested to see if more white parents made different (better?) choices about what kinds of communities to raise their non-white children in. Anyway, a thought-provoking book.
eddagirl1's review against another edition
2.0
This book has value for transracial adoptive families or those considering transracial adoption. However, there are several things that make the book less effective now than it would have been when first published.
1. The book was published in 2000, with most of the interviews taking place in the late 90s. Most of the interviewees were born in the late 60s-early 80s. Adoption has changed somewhat since then. Open adoptions are far more common, as are interracial families as a whole.
2. Most of the interviewees fit into some fairly narrow categories. All except one were adopted into families in the northern part of the US. Most were adopted into Christian, and frequently conservative Christian, homes. It would have been helpful to have read a broader range of experiences.
3. Most of the interviewees were in their early to mid-20s. This puts the feelings of difference felt in teen years very near to their current experience. It would be nice to have had either or broader range of ages or to have had a follow up with these people as a newer book.
The book was fine and informative in many ways, but it left me feeling like it was incomplete given the scope of the interviews and the changes that have occurred in both adoption and the racial climate of the country in the past 20 years.
1. The book was published in 2000, with most of the interviews taking place in the late 90s. Most of the interviewees were born in the late 60s-early 80s. Adoption has changed somewhat since then. Open adoptions are far more common, as are interracial families as a whole.
2. Most of the interviewees fit into some fairly narrow categories. All except one were adopted into families in the northern part of the US. Most were adopted into Christian, and frequently conservative Christian, homes. It would have been helpful to have read a broader range of experiences.
3. Most of the interviewees were in their early to mid-20s. This puts the feelings of difference felt in teen years very near to their current experience. It would be nice to have had either or broader range of ages or to have had a follow up with these people as a newer book.
The book was fine and informative in many ways, but it left me feeling like it was incomplete given the scope of the interviews and the changes that have occurred in both adoption and the racial climate of the country in the past 20 years.
windhover's review against another edition
4.0
This book comprises a couple dozen interviews with black people who were adopted by white families. The interviews center around the experience of growing up as a black person raised by white parents. They address a broad range of topics including self esteem, education systems, hair, religion, romance, and politics.
I picked up this book off the library shelf out of idle curiosity. The accounts are compelling though. There is a lot of honesty about difficult questions of community and identity and self image. I didn't really know anything about transracial adoption coming to this book, but it was well worth the read.
I picked up this book off the library shelf out of idle curiosity. The accounts are compelling though. There is a lot of honesty about difficult questions of community and identity and self image. I didn't really know anything about transracial adoption coming to this book, but it was well worth the read.
maggi1928's review against another edition
5.0
Any person that is looking to transracially adopt a child or children should read this book- And that is not just international adoptions. This book looks at the many layers of what adoption means for the child and their identity formation. As a transracial adoptee I felt like I was reading about myself and felt more connected to people than I have ever before because I could finally relate to others.
amandagstevens's review against another edition
4.0
The book is a collection of twenty-four interviews (twelve men, twelve women) of biracial and black adults who were adopted by white parents. Unquestionably worth the read for anyone interested in the topic. While there are recurring themes in the responses of the interviewees, nothing is redundant: each individual adds another layer to the reader's understanding. I especially enjoyed reading those highly self-aware adoptees who were able to explain how their own personalities molded their experiences.
At times the interviewer's questions seem to lead to specific answers, more in an anticipatory fashion than a manipulative one. Still, it felt odd until one of the adoptees mentioned conversation that occurred "before taping." The interviewer really is anticipating responses based on prior knowledge. It's a subtle distinction but one I'm glad is clarified. Also noteworthy is a description on the back cover that this work is a "supplement" to empirical research contributed to the field of study by these authors. This is not intended to be a scholarly work in the same way; this is the humanizing element (and as such is perfect for my purpose as a reader). One thing I'm left wondering is how today's twenty- and thirty-year-old adoptees would respond to some of the social/racial issues, compared to the responses of these adoptees (who were born in the late 1960s-early 1970s and were interviewed in the 1990s).
My perspective was broadened by this book. I was given answers to questions I never would have thought to ask. I'm not only better informed but also feel personally enriched by the glimpse into these life stories.
At times the interviewer's questions seem to lead to specific answers, more in an anticipatory fashion than a manipulative one. Still, it felt odd until one of the adoptees mentioned conversation that occurred "before taping." The interviewer really is anticipating responses based on prior knowledge. It's a subtle distinction but one I'm glad is clarified. Also noteworthy is a description on the back cover that this work is a "supplement" to empirical research contributed to the field of study by these authors. This is not intended to be a scholarly work in the same way; this is the humanizing element (and as such is perfect for my purpose as a reader). One thing I'm left wondering is how today's twenty- and thirty-year-old adoptees would respond to some of the social/racial issues, compared to the responses of these adoptees (who were born in the late 1960s-early 1970s and were interviewed in the 1990s).
My perspective was broadened by this book. I was given answers to questions I never would have thought to ask. I'm not only better informed but also feel personally enriched by the glimpse into these life stories.
madeline_the_terrible's review against another edition
4.0
At it's core, this is a book about what it means to be African American - both historically and culturally. Highly recommend this for white foster and adoptive parents of black children
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