Somebody's Child: Stories from the Private Files of an Adoption Attorney

By Randi Barrow

After two heartbreaking losses, an adoptive couple find that "the third time's a charm". A birth mother is abandoned by her adoptive sponsors-only six weeks before her due date. A birth mother is caught in a torturous cycle of drugs, theft, and prison, where she bears one child while handcuffed to her bed. An African-American couple adopts a biracial child-only to find racism on both sides of the fence. Today, adoption can be a complex legal procedure, a high-stakes game of chance, an expensive investment, and a heart-wrenching drama. Here are personal narratives from birth mothers and adoptive parents alike, framed by the perspective of an adoption attorney. These stories touch on many issues surrounding adoption including adoption scams, gay adoption, and open adoption, and touch on the hopes and fears on both sides of the adoption agreement.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399528164
• ISBN13: 9780399528163
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Perigee Books
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Finally, somebody gets it all right!

I applaude Randi Barrow's efforts to compose a book that demonstrates honestly and openly the complexities of adoption in SOMEBODY'S CHILD. As an adoptive mother I long ago thought that love is all that is needed to adopt and nurture any child. Barrow's book supports adoption while exposing the rawness of individual situations and how diverse they can be, how painful some of it can be, and finally how necessary all of it is. Taking actual private adoption cases from all sides of the triangle -- birth parents/child/adoptive parents --Barrow sheds insight into lifestyles, motivations, inclinations, and deviations. This book is a must read for all people thinking about giving a child up, those who were given up and adopted, and those considering adoption. I wish this book had been around twenty-five years ago when I was entering this world of adoption. BRAVO!

LOVED THE BOOK!!!!!!

I loved this book. I Liked the various personalities of the characters in this book. However, I could do without the extra explanation at the end of each story. The author did a great job helping explain each situation very well, but she tends to go on and on about the subject at the end of each story. Kinda buggs me. I liked that each story was a little different and it made me mad how each state treated these adopted parents. Each story is different , with its own different successes. Thats why I like it so much.

An interesting perspective and a nice break from "how-to's"

After reading so many books on how-to adopt, "Somebody's Child: Stories from the Private Files of an Adoption Attorney" offers a personal look into some people's experiences. Mostly told in the person's own words, the reader is given insight into the feelings, circumstances and thought-processes that go along with adoption. These stories are told from the point of view of someone involved with that particular adoption, such as the adopting parent or parents, birthmother, birthgrandmother, etc. At the end of each story the author gives a short update on the people, and then offers some insight to that particular situation (gay adoption, single parent, Indian Tribal complications.) My biggest complaint is that there are not enough stories. I'd love to see "part 2" that explores even more situations.