[Cinday143]

Hi everyone:
I am preparing myself for a slow adoption week for me (just entered PGN!) so I thought I would start a thread on books about Guatemala or adoption. Here are my favorites (and yes, I have 3 boys under the age of 4 at home, and STILL have time to do my reading ).

ON GUATEMALA:
Guatemalan Journey (Stephen Benz) is excellent. It tells the story of an American man who lived in Guat. for 2 years, trying to do the "ordinary" things (like get a license for a scooter he bought). It is really funny and eye-opening - a great "light" read or intro.

The Hummingbird House (Patricia Henley) is a novel about a woman and her friend who sort of "end up" living in Guatemala and Nicaragua. She is a mid-wife who is trying to help women in refugee camps. She ends up becoming a political activist, but the story is more about her life, loves and search. Also a good read, but different than Guatemalan Journey.

Secrets of the Talking Jaguar (Martin Prechtel): he claims to have become a Mayan shaman. I am finding this book a pretty hard go because I am having trouble suspending the part of me that keeps thinking, "This couldn't have happened!!". But what do I know about the Mayan way of life? Nothing! It's interesting though and does give some good perspective on what it's like living in Atitlan.

There are some "heavier" books on the history of Guat. but I am sort of working my way up to those. These I haven't read yet but were recommended to me (so please chime in if you have read them!!):

Unfinished Conquest: A Guatemalan Tragedy (Perera)

Bitter Fruit: The Story of the American Coup in Guatemala (Schlesinger)

I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala (Menchu)

Testimony: Death of a Guatemalan Village (Montejo)
*************************************************
ON ADOPTION:
The classics international adoption are:
1. Are those Kids Yours (Cheri Register) is really good. She has 2 daughters adopted from Korea, and what I liked about this book was the *range* of situations she wrote about, and how I didn't get the feeling that she was trying to teach me the "right answer". Instead, she went through many adoptive families experiences and left it up to you.

2. Inside Transracial Adoption (Steinberg and Hall): I found this to be a little more preachey (how do you spell that anyway ?) but had some interesting viewpoints.

Next I will be reading: Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew by Sherrie Eldridge. Anyone read it?

Gotta go, but please chime in - I would love to know what others are reading!

[Paparama]

Thanks for this list! I just started reading Dim Sum, Bagels, and Grits last evening - I will post again when I have read it on whether I found it useful (so far I think it will be). As I have told Mamarama, I've been meaning to ask the question about what resources are out there for us to help with the issues raised by multicultural adoption. So I appreciate this thread very much!

[juliamcm]

On Guatemala

A few others I have read

Searching for Everado: Story of Love, War, And the Cia in Guatemala by Jennifer K. Harbury. Excellent book about Jennifer's search for her husband and battle with both the Guatemala and US govts for the truth

Silence on the Mountain: Stories of Terror, Betrayal, and Forgetting in Guatemala by Daniel Wilkinson there is a website at silenceonthemountain dot com

I am thinking of reading The Blindfold's Eyes: My Journey from Torture to Truth by Dianna Ortiz about Diana, a US nun who is kidnapped and brutalized in Guatemala. I am afraid it will be so sad and intense though.

I also read the fiction work The Long Night of the WHite Chickens which was good. by Francisco Goldman

[slaikta]

Silence on the Mountain is an excellent book. It is an easy read while giving you great insight into the general state of fear that the Guatemalan people have lived in for the past fifty years.

Guatemalan Journey was interesting in that it helped to give you a taste of daily life in Guatemala. The stories about trying to get mail from the post office and register a vehicle were hilarious. They helped me to understand why the adoption process takes as long as it does. However, I found the author to be very self-righteous. Reading his book I felt like he thought that only he and the indigenous people had any business in Guatemala. He belittled tourists, aid workers, ladinos and expatriots at every turn. I felt it was a bit much to take at times.

Talking with Young Children About Adoption by Susan Fisher and Mary Watkins is a wonderful book. There is a large section of stories written by actual adoptive parents detailing the many discussions that they have had with their kids. Most discussions were very unexpected (usually while riding in the car) and touching. I will definitely reread it once we bring Ty home.

Great Thread!

[rose barton]

Adoption Books (sort of):

We have a 6 year old boy, adopted from Romania, a 2 year old biological son and a newly adopted Guatamalan daughter. Most of the issues we have faced with our oldest are not directly related to adoption but are related to skin color. He is a beautiful tan color but struggled when his "white" brother was born. His first comment about his new sister was "She has dark skin like me." We have spent alot of time talking about the differences among people and that all skin is beautiful.

For skin color issues, I recommend The Color of Us by Karen Katz and Two Eyes, A Nose and A Mouth y Roberta Intrater. Both celebrate the beauty of differences.

[waiting4james]

I just wanted to chime in with kids books...
We just bought A mother for Choco in a board book. It is sooo cute! Even made my hubby get teary-eyed.

I am sending My love for you/ Mi amor por ti, which has english and spanish in a board book, and helps learn counting to ten. I loved it.

Chelsea

[Cinday143]

Juliamcm:
Would you recommend "The Long Night of the White Chickens"? I bought it and haven't started it yet. I am trying to balance the really heavy, depressing books (which I know are important to understand Guatemala and it's history, but I can't read several back-to-back) with other types of books.

WOW! Posting to the thread I started - is that a faux pas? I also wanted to mention "Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale" by Karen Katz for kids. It has BEAUTIFUL illustrations, and I read it to my 4 and 2 year old all the time. I cannot recommend it enough!!! I can see my reading this to Ana over and over when she arrives home. It is the story of a husband and wife, who get "the call" that a beautiful baby girl was born in a land of sea of mountains. And they travel to get her. Maybe not perfect for singles adopting, but a wonderful book.

And also for kids: "Beginnings: how Families come to be" by Virginia Kroll. It has 6 mini stories of how families start: one of a bio pregnancy. Then a Korean adoption. Then a boy adopted by an Uncle after his single mother dies. Next, an open domestic adoption. Then, another domestic adoption. And finally, a child adopted out of foster care. I like this book because my sons see the range of ways to start, but how all these families are "forever families" and how much they are all, in fact, the same.

Chelsea: I also really like "A Mother for Choco".

Does everyone know about Tapestry Books? Really good source for books on adoption.

[gmcg]

I read constantly, and will really enjoy some of these. I apologize for not having any titles to contribute. I'm just finishing Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison, Massachusetts Foster Parent of the Year. It is the first book I've ever read on the topic of adoption. Now it won't be the last!

Gail

[Dawn080688]

I really am not a big reader but I did read the book by Sherrie Eldridge. While the author brough up good topics, I felt that the author blamed everything that when wrong in her life on her adoption. She even discredits the feeling of other adopted children.

Just my 2 cents.

[buyermel]

I have to agree with Dawn regarding "20 Things"......

I found it to be a very difficult read.....I would recommend reading only on those days when you feel very positive and strong.

There were a few goods points hidden among some very odd and (IMO) bizarre theories.


Thanks!
Melanie

[juliamcm]

Hi Cindi, I would recommend "The Long Night of the White Chickens," although I will say it truly took me about 6 months to finish! It is very, very long and I had two toddlers (must not budget my time wisely). I read the first half very quickly and it took me forever to finish it. From the reviews I have read, it really captures Guatemala, the people etc. The story itself is pretty good, certainly not the best I have ever read (why it took so long to read), but it really gives you a feel of Guatemala and I would definitely recommend it.

Julia

[slaikta]

I completely agree with the above opinions of "20 Things...". I found it very difficult to read at times. The author blames every single problem (big or small) in her life on adoption.

[bradsa]

For childrens' books, my vote goes for Over the Moon. I love reading it to Simon, and I get choked up every time. I also like How I was Adopted, by Joanna Cole and Tell Me Again about the Night I was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis.

[tm67]

Thanks for starting this thread -- I love it! I am a real reader and this is just great! I have printed this out and already ordered some of these book from amazon...

I second the positive review of "Are Those Kids Yours?". I really like that one.

Another one that is great is Loved by Choice by Horner & Martindale. It's a collection of true stories that celebrate adoption. It gives everyones perspective -- AParents, BParents, Adoptee, Relatives... I really enjoyed this one.

[sierraphim]

I recommend "Good Night My Little Chicks/ Buenas Noches Mis Pollitos" By Karen Sharp Foster. A great bedtime story for your Guatemalan children, in English and Spanish that has a Guatemalan folk song

Barbara