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waynediane's review against another edition
4.0
Seems like there is a common theme among these books and adoption. The frustration of finding your roots. Good story, enjoyable, however, I think there might be a part two to this.
myriadreads's review against another edition
5.0
Insightful and beautifully written. Chung is a Korean American who was adopted and raised by white parents, in a community with little racial diversity. Her story is at times heartbreaking. I cried to read about a little girl looking in the mirror and wishing that she looked like everyone else. It's also incredibly moving and hopeful, and gives a fair, compassionate portrait of the many people who are a part of her story. I would like to share my own family story someday, and I found a lot of inspiration here for how to go about it. I'm positive that this is one that I'll revisit and read again.
bexduck's review against another edition
4.0
Long on my to read list, I finally picked it up after seeing there was no longer a wait list for it on my library app. Chung writes so simply about such complex issues. This is a story about racism and adoption but also belonging. I enjoyed it.
tonloc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
A very interesting and informative story, not quite for me.
virgilius's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage and Racial slurs
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
A remarkable, thought-provoking memoir about growing up adopted and what it like to be adopted as an adult when beginning your own family. I am the white older sister of a Latino adoptee, and so transracial adoption and adoption in general is a subject close to my heart. Mrs. Chung is open and honest about her feelings, as well as what it was like to grow up as a racial minority by whites in a white town. This is a definite must-read for anyone who is adopted, has adopted, has considered adoption, or, really, anyone and everyone. This is a book about race, and family, and love, and self-discovery. This is a book about how life is both kismet and what you make it.
Adoption is, from my experience, a journey; an incredible, painstaking, wonderful journey full of joy, tears, and prayer. However, Mrs. Chung has made me reconsider where the journey ends. Perhaps, rather, it is more that the journey to adoption ends with a child in the arms of their new parents, or when the new family sits in the courthouse as a judge finalizes the adoption, or when an international adoption ends with citizenship papers signed and notarized. But that is where the adoptee's journey begins. And it is a journey that lasts a lifetime.
Adoption is, from my experience, a journey; an incredible, painstaking, wonderful journey full of joy, tears, and prayer. However, Mrs. Chung has made me reconsider where the journey ends. Perhaps, rather, it is more that the journey to adoption ends with a child in the arms of their new parents, or when the new family sits in the courthouse as a judge finalizes the adoption, or when an international adoption ends with citizenship papers signed and notarized. But that is where the adoptee's journey begins. And it is a journey that lasts a lifetime.