Birthright: The Guide to Search and Reunion for Adoptees, Birthparents, and Adoptive...

by Jean A.S. Strauss

What happens when an adoptee decides to locate a birthparent or a birthparent wants to find a child given up long ago? How does one search for people whose names one does not know? And what happens during a reunion? In 1983, Jean A. S. Strauss was faced with these questions when she began her search for her birthmother, and in this inspiring new handbook, she shares her experience. Strauss will help you throughout this significant time. Brimming with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140512950
• ISBN13: 9780140512953
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Inspired!

A fabulous book that gives anyone a number of dicrections to search. I feel inspired to go ahead now because I've been give a starting point!

Outstanding !

I am a birthmother in the 18th month of my reunion with my birthson, and have read probably 15 - 20 books on the subject of adoption, just to try to get a better understanding of where the adoptee, the adoptive parents and the birthparents are all coming from. They all have a something to add to this very unique experience, but many left a lot to be desired. I found this book to be well grounded, well written and thought it had tremendous insight into the very emotional stages of reunion, and think it would benefit all connected to adoption. I wish I had found this book a year ago! Betsy

Excellent book for anyone comtemplating a reunion.

Anticipating my own reunion as an adoptee, I devoured this book in about 2 days. It confirmed many of my personal feelings and gave voice to my own experience as an adoptee. It has also taught me to understand and be sensitive to issues my birthparents are/might be dealing with that I could not have anticipated. Two things about this book for which I am most grateful to the author: 1) the conglomeration of experiences of 70 different people representing all three sides of the adoption triad. This helped me to understand what issues are common to the adoption/adoption reunion process and to feel better prepared to (hopefully) handle my own reunion with "informed" grace. 2) a very clear, easy to understand outline of the five emotional stages of the adoption reunion process. I didn't realize it would be a process or how involved this could be emotionally for all concerned, but how much sense it makes! I have learned from this book that all parties concerned should allow themselves and each other the time they need to heal and adjust to each other. That the process will hurt but bring healing to all involved. That there will be a blessing through the pain. I am grateful for the way this book has equipped me to begin to handle this process. I am buying copies for all involved in my reunion. Thank you, Ms. Strauss, for you labor of love!

Definately a Must read for all members of Triad.

I had already found my birthparents when my birthmother brought this compelling book to my attention. There's a chapter dealing with the issue of "what to call" the new members of your family and it really hits home! This is also one of the only books that talks about birthfathers. I am desperate for literature on that subject and it reads nicely.

A Must Read

I read this book before starting a search for my birthmother. I found the chapters on search techniques well written and invaluable during my research. I used this book as my primary reference. I have now found my birthmother and am dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of the reunion process. I have read the chapters on reunions over and over to try and understand what my birthmother is feeling during this process. I would highly recommend this book. It is obviously written by someone who has lived the experience.