When we become ours A YA adoptee anthology

Review by Booklist Review

Though marginalized voices have become increasingly amplified in youth literature, there remains a dearth of stories about transracial adoptees. Books on adoption, especially those geared toward much younger readers, tend to focus on caregivers and on "good" feelings, with some narratives bordering on saviorism. In contrast, each of the 15 stories in this volume provides a glimpse into the complexity of adoptees' experiences. Genres range from slice-of-life to the supernatural and more fantastical, and one story is presented as a comic. A handful of protagonists identify as Black, Indigenous, or Latine, while the majority cue as being of different Asian heritages. There is more variety in family composition, which includes fellow adopted siblings, same-sex parents, and single--parent households. Contributors include Meredith Ireland, Mark Oshiro, Eric Smith, and Mariama J. Lockington. The beauty of collections like this is that its contents can be read in any order, lending themselves to deep contemplation as much as leisurely reading. While some stories are more well-executed than others, taken together they remind readers that each of us is the expert in our own experience.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

An anthology of short stories by and about transracial adoptees offering solidarity and understanding. Across 15 stories, authors from a broad variety of backgrounds explore the need to belong and the difficulties in doing so when one is a child adopted and raised by parents who look different and are of a different race. In Mariama J. Lockington's "Cora and Benji's Great Escape," set at Camp Unity, "A Black Identity Experience," Cora, a Black 15-year-old, uses poetry to explore her increasing sense of disconnection from her white adoptive mother, and she eagerly reunites with fellow adoptee and camp bestie, Benji. In MeMe Collier's "Haunt Me, Then," Hazel, who was adopted from China, is visited by the ghost of Jamie, her brother who was adopted from South Korea and died six months ago; raised by strict Christian parents, both siblings sought information about their birth parents, but Jamie's curiosity grew into rage. Though each story conveys its own nuances and contributes to deeper understanding of the subject, those that speak more directly to the central theme of adoption are overall stronger than the more abstract entries. An afterword by transracial adoptee and scholar JaeRan Kim deftly summarizes the value of this work: "those from dominant and majority groups need decentering if they are to develop into compassionate, justice-seeking adults. This book is for everyone--those personally connected to adoption and anyone interested in expanding their understanding of adoptees." An emotion-filled collection. (editors' note, about the authors, further reading) (Anthology. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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