[Rydenzmom]

I've been floating around on the site for several weeks and have been very grateful for all the advice you all have been able to give from the past threads. I know that several times I've heard mention of some books that are helpful when starting to research open adoption and can't seem to remember exactly what threads! We definitely want to do an open adoption, but I am one of those people that has to do all the reading and research to make myself clear on what is right for me. Can anyone tell me what books were helpful to them?

[SchmennaLeigh]

The Spirit of Open Adoption
Lifegivers

both by James L Gritter

[blessedbybug]

The Open Adoption Experience by Melina and Roszia.

[JustCourtney]

I second "The Open Adoption Experience" by Melina and Roszia

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have read several other books, and they all reference it.

best of luck!

[lovemy2boys]

I "third" the Open Adoption Experience...although I'd like something a little "newer", hoping they may have some more insight (because I've gone through the other one with a fine toothed comb - lol). I've ordered "Making Room in Our Hearts: Keeping Family Ties Through Open Adoption by Micky Duxbury" and am hoping that one is good as well.

[rredhead]

Books I've read and found useful:

• Is Adoption for Me?, by Christine Adamec
• Adopting in America, by Randall Hicks
• The Essential Adoption Handbook, by Colleen Alexander-Roberts
• The Adoption Resource Book, by Lois Gilman
• Reaching Out, by Nelson Handel

I did not like The Open Adoption Experience, nor did my son's birthmother. We both felt that we were being told how we should feel. The author tends to use generalizations - "The child will feel this", "The adoptive parents must grieve their infertility", and so on. (We never had infertility issues, so no, we didn't have to grieve.) It really does need to be updated too.

Books that have been recommended to me, but I've not yet read:

• Adoption Nation, by Adam Pertman
• Arms Wide Open, by Jane Waters
• Making Room in Our Hearts, by Micky Duxbury
• Lifegivers, by James Gritter
• The Third Choice, by Leslie Foge
• Secret Thoughts of an Adoptive Mother, by Jana Wolf

Also, Adoptive Families magazine.

Hope this helps!

[lahdh4]

Originally Posted by SchmennaLeigh

The Spirit of Open Adoption
Lifegivers

both by James L Gritter

I highly second these