Ask AF: Books for Understanding the Birth Mothers' Perspective

Wondering what adoption is like from the birth mother's perspective? The AF editors offer some resources for learning more about birth mothers from China.

Q: Do you know of any books, like I Wish for You a Beautiful Life: Letters from the Korean Birth Mothers of Ae Ran Won to Their Children, written for kids adopted from China?

A: While we don’t know of any books of letters from Chinese birth mothers, there are two excellent books, both published by Yeong & Yeong, that tell the adoption story with empathy for the Chinese birth mothers.

Wanting a Daughter, Needing a Son, by Kay Johnson, is a scholarly book that explores the complexities behind the one-child policy.
When You Were Born in China, by Sara Dorow, can help kids understand why children might be placed for adoption. Both should be in the library of every China adopter.




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