Inside Transracial Adoption

Whether a family is considering transracial adoption, or is well into the experience of creating a transracial family, this book is an essential resource. Not only have the authors lived the experience they describe, they have helped hundreds of prospective parents build families that work well. Not only do they tell you what to expect along the way--from deciding to adopt a child from another race, to bringing your child home, tracing the issues that arise as children grow to be teenagers and young adults--they also give helpful, specific suggestions about how to handle the challenges and reap the rewards of a mindful, enlightened approach to parenting.

"I couldn't love him any more if he'd been born to me." "Sure, he was born in Korea, but he looks more and more like us every day!" "We're color blind to the difference. She's our daughter FIRST and African-American SECOND."These and similar comments are the often expressed sentiments of adoptive parents who love their children to the core. Unconditionally. As "their OWN." Most would do ANYTHING for their children. Now, will they read a book for (not TO) them?INSIDE TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION allows readers a chance to get to know another aspect of their OWN transracially adopted child's experience by getting inside the heads and under the skin (or into the shoes) of children and young adults of color raised (in most cases) by Caucasian adoptive parents. For most of these adoptees, color blindness is a myth. Being "different" is a curse one day and a badge of honor the next. And while many adapt to and embrace the culture and lore of the families who love them, they also express a powerful need to find acceptance and identity within their birth culture.Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall have created a "must read" book filled with wisdom and insight---and poignant anecdotes from those who have walked the walk and now share their stories. I still "love my children as much as if they'd been born to me," but I am reminded that my experience is not always theirs nor theirs, mine.

When we started our family by adopting our son, we were very naive about the racial issue of being African-American in the U.S. We, both white, thought that raising our African-American child multi-culturally would be the answer. Then we read this book. It opened our eyes to the reality of being of color in this country. If our son was raised by us on an island without anyone else, things would be different. But here we are, in the U.S., barely a generation away from Jim Crow laws. This book gives useful tools and knowledge to be realistic about parenting a child of color. But the most important message of this book is: transracial adoptive parents are pioneers and we share a respect for difference and an appreciation for diversity that are models for all people and all communities.It does not discourage people from adopting transracially, on the contrary. It gives you a reality check on what is ahead.I do understand that some people might be offended by this book. To fully appreciate this book you have to be aware of your white privileges. Only then can you appreciate the clarity and honesty of both authors. I have since then met the 2 authors. They are truly impressive and models for our society.

As the mother of 4, two of whom arrived through transracial adoption, I found this book to be immensely realistic and compassionate. It offers practical and concrete suggestions for making the most of a multi-racial family, as well as giving much food for thought to those prospective parents interesting in adopting a child of a cultural other than their own. It also has a lot to offer adopted person, birthparents and the general public. All of us could benefit from the education and sensitivity offered.

Advance buzz from experts in the field of interracial adoption included these commentsEloquent, interesting and intensely practical, you can't read this book without thinking differently about your own life as a child, a parent, and a member of our diverse society.-Lois Melina, author of Raising Adopted Children and The Open Adoption ExperienceAs a first generation Korean adoptee, I carry in my bones the longing for clarity about identity and peace with my Korean and adopted nationality that Inside Transracial Adoption is all about. The authors' insights, compassion, and willingness to tackle both the joys and challenges of these pioneer families makes this a must read.-Susan Soon-Keum Cox, transracial adoptee and Vice President of Public Policy & External Affairs, Holt International ServicesThis is an honest and insightful book that is at once very personal and universal to all transracial adoptive parents. The authors tackle the very real issues; emotions, responsibilities and joys transracial adoption asks us to take on. As a transracial parent of grown children myself I wished I had had this book when they were young. insights. As a professional anti-bias educator I appreciate the authors' insistence that parents face the realities of racism in the US. Through a stimulating combination of enlightening anecdotes and wise analysis, Inside Transracial Adoption is an indispensable resource for people planning to adopt, for parents currently in transracial families and for professionals working with transracial families.-Louise Derman Sparks, transracial adoptive parent and author of Anti-bias Curriculum and Teaching/Learning Anti RacismWith remarkable insight, admirable honesty, and gentle humor, Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall expertly guide readers through the complexities of transracial adoption -- clarifying the issues and offering critical tools to help transracial families navigate the challenges they confront on a day to day basis.-Madelyn Freundlich, Executive Director, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption InstituteThis book will provide adoptive parents practical and useful information for parenting a child of a different race or culture from authors eminently qualified as both professionals in the field of adoption and as parents who have adopted transracially themselves -Joseph Crumbley, LCSW, author of Transracial Adoption and Foster Care Steinberg and Hall candidly and eloquently bare their souls about their transracial adoption journey. They share prescriptive insights based on well-documented research and personal experience. Their children provide a unique filter through which the parents learn to appreciate the child's birth culture and the child matures to embrace a multicultural world view.-Gloria King, M.S., Executive Director, Black Adoption Placement and Research CenterMeaty must reading for parents and professionals involved in transracial placements.-Joseph Kroll, Executive Director, North American Council for Adoptable Children