The Ultimate Adoption Resource Guide

An all-ages list of books, websites, blogs, podcasts, documentaries, educational videos & more for all members of the adoption constellation!

For Mental Health Professionals

  • Altogether Us: Integrating the IFS Model with Key Modalities, Communities & Trends: Chapter 23: IFS & Adoptees Kathy Mackechney
  • Adoption Therapy: Perspectives from Clients & Clinicians on Processing & Healing Post-Adoption Issues Laura Dennis
  • Seven Core Issues in Adoption & Permanency: A Comprehensive Guide to Promoting Understanding & Healing in Adoption, Foster Care, Kinship Families & Third Party Reproduction Sharon Roszia, Allison Davis Maxon & Deborah Silverstein

Support Groups for Adoptees

  • Adoptees Connect (U.S.- & Internationally-based chapters): https://www.adopteesconnect.com
  • Virtual Adoptee Lounge & Adoptee Mentoring Society: https://www.adopteementorship.org

Research and Resources for Adoptees

  • Adoptee Rights Law: https://adopteerightslaw.com
  • Adoptees with Disabilities: https://intercountryadopteevoices.com/2022/12/15/navigating-disability-and-rare-medical-conditions-as-an-intercountry-adoptee/
  • Adoptive & Foster Family Coalition of New York: https://affcny.org
  • Also-Known-As https://www.alsoknownas.org/
  • Citizenship Clinic by Adoptees https://adopteesunited.org/citizenship/
  • Global Adoption News: https://adoptionland.org
  • Intercountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV): https://intercountryadopteevoices.com
  • International Directory of Adoption-Informed Therapists: https://intercountryadopteevoices.com/post-adoption-support/
  • National Center on Adoption & Permanency: https://www.nationalcenteronadoptionandpermanency.net/
  • U.S. National Directory of Adoptee-Therapists: https://growbeyondwords.com/adoptee-therapist-directory/

Resources for Siblings of Adoptees

  • Suddenly Siblings: https://suddenlysibs.com/

Resources for First / Birth Parents

  • Big Tough Girl: http://www.bigtoughgirl.com
  • Lifetime Healing Foundation: https://lifetimehealingfoundation.org
  • Musings of the Lame: Adoption & Birth Mothers Building Bridges to Adoption Truths: https://www.adoptionbirthmothers.com
  • Putative Father Registries: https://mensrights.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-putative-father-registries
  • Saving Our Sisters (SOS): https://savingoursistersadoption.org
  • Sky is the Limit Foundation: https://skyisthelimitfoundation.com
  • Twisted Sisterhood Podcast: https://www.twistedsisterhoodpodcast.com

Adoption Documentaries, Movies and Educational Videos

Adoptee Blogs, Podcasts and Websites

  • The Adopted Life (Angela Tucker): http://www.theadoptedlife.com
  • Adoptees Dish IG@AdopteesDishPodcast
  • Adoptees On Podcast: http://www.adopteeson.com
  • Anne Heffron: http://www.anneheffron.com
  • Beyond Words Psychological Services: https://growbeyondwords.com/Blog
  • Born in June Raised in April: http://juneinapril.libsyn.com/
  • The Declassified Adoptee: http://www.declassifiedadoptee.com
  • Dear Adoption: https://dearadoption.com
  • Diary of a Not-So-Angry Asian Adoptee: https://diaryofanotsoangryasianadoptee.com/
  • Harlow’s Monkey: https://harlows-monkey.com
  • Liz Latty: https://www.liz-latty.com
  • The Lost Daughters: http://www.thelostdaughters.com
  • Thriving Adoptees https://www.thrivingadoptees.com
  • Only Black Girl: https://www.onlyblackgirl.com/

Books for Teen/Adult Adoptees

  • The Adoptee Self-Reflection Journal Chaitra Wirta-Leiker
  • The Adoptee Survival Guide: Adoptees Share Their Wisdom and Tools Lynn Grubb
  • Adoptionland: From Orphans to Activists Janine Myung Ja, Michael Allen Potter & Allen Vance
  • All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir Nicole Chung
  • A Long Way Home: A Boy's Incredible Journey from India to Australia & Back Again Saroo Brierly
  • Before We Were Yours Lisa Wingate
  • Bitterroot: A Salish Memoir of Transracial Adoption Susan Devan Harness
  • Dear Wonderful You, Letters to Adopted & Foster Youth Diane Rene Christian & Mei-Mei Akwai Ellerman
  • The Declassified Adoptee: Essays of an Adoption Activist Amanda Transue-Woolston
  • Decoding Our Origins: The Lived Experiences of Colombian Adoptees Abby Forero-Hilty
  • Finding Our Place: 100 Memorable Adoptees, Fostered Persons & Orphanage Alumni Nikki McCaslin
  • Flip the Script: Adult Adoptee Anthology Diane René Christian, Amanda Transue-Woolston & Rosita González
  • Journey of the Adopted Self: A Quest for Wholeness Betty Jean Lifton
  • Lions Roaring Far From Home: Anthology by Ethiopian Adoptees Aselefech Evans
  • Lost Daughters: Writing Adoption From a Place of Empowerment & Peace Amanda Transue-Woolston, Julie Stromberg, Karen Pickell & Jennifer Anastasi
  • Not My White Savior: A Memoir in Poems Julayne Lee
  • Other Words for Grief Lisa Marie Rollins
  • Parallel Universes: The Story of Rebirth David Bohl
  • Somebody’s Daughter Zara Phillips
  • Spilled Milk K.L. Randis
  • Split at the Root: A Memoir of Love & Lost Identity Catana Tully
  • Three Little Words: A Memoir Ashley Rhodes-Courter
  • Through Adopted Eyes Elena Hall
  • When We Become Ours: A YA Adoptee Anthology Shannon Gibney & Nicole Chung
  • You Don’t Look Adopted Anne Heffron
  • You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity & Transracial Adoption Angela Tucker
  • 4 Books by Dave Pelzer: A Child Called “It"; The Lost Boy: A Foster Child’s Search for the Love of a Family; The Privilege of Youth; A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness

Books for Kids — Adoption

  • Adoption is Both Elena Hall
  • A Different Home: A New Foster Child’s Story John DeGarmo
  • Adoption is a Lifelong Journey Kelly DiBenedetto, Katie Gorczyca & Jennifer Eckert
  • And That’s Why She’s My Mama Tiarra Nazario
  • Being Adopted Amy Wilkerson
  • Casey Conquers Bedtime (Adoptees Like Me series) Chaitra Wirta-Leiker
  • Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights Julie Nelson
  • Frankie and Friends Talk Adoption Pam Kroskie & Marcie Keithley
  • How I Was Adopted Joanna Cole
  • Learning About My Friend's Adoption Allison Olson
  • A Long Way from Home Rey Sirakavit
  • Marie Discovers Her Superpowers (Adoptees Like Me series) Chaitra Wirta-Leiker
  • Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care Jennifer Wilgocki
  • Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, & Brownies with Sprinkles Darlene Friedman
  • Surrounded by Love: An Open Adoption Story Allison Olson
  • We Are Family Patricia Hegarty
  • "Wings of Fire" YA Series Tui T. Sutherland
  • Yafi’s Family: An Ethiopian Boy’s Journey of Love, Loss, and Adoption Linda Pettitt

Books for Adoptive Parents/Caregivers

  • Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections Jean MacLeod & Dr. Sheena Macrae
  • Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents & Allies Sara Easterly, Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard & Lori Holden
  • Attaching in Adoption Deborah Gray
  • Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens Debbie Riley & John Meeks (C.A.S.E.)
  • Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control: A Love-Based Approach to Helping Attachment-Challenged Children with Severe Behaviors Heather Forbes & B. Bryan Post
  • The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog and Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook Bruce Perry & Maia Szalavitz
  • Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain Daniel Siegel
  • Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal Donna Jackson Nakazawa
  • The Connected Child Karen Purvis & Dr. David Cross
  • The Family of Adoption Joyce Maguire Pavao
  • Growing an In-Sync Child: Simple, Fun Activities to Help Every Child Develop, Learn, and Grow Carol Kranowitz
  • No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind Daniel Siegel & Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
  • The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole Lori Holden & Crystal Hass
  • Parenting from the Inside Out Daniel Siegel
  • Parenting in the Eye of the Storm Katie Naftzger
  • Parenting the Hurt Child: Helping Adoptive Families Heal & Grow Gregory Keck
  • Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child: From Your First Hours Together Through the Teen Years Patty Cogen
  • The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child Nancy Verrier
  • Raising a Secure Child Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper & Bert Powell
  • The Secret Life of the Unborn Child Thomas Verny
  • Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child: Making Sense of the Past Betsy Keefer Smalley & Jane Schooler
  • The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind Daniel Siegel

Books for Kids — Race/Multiracial Families

  • All Are Welcome Alexandra Penfold
  • The Day You Begin Jacqueline Woodson
  • Dumpling Soup Jama Kim Rattigan
  • Hey Black Child Useni Eugene Perkins
  • I Am Not A Number  Jenny Kay Dupuis & Kathy Kace
  • I Don’t Have Your Eyes Carrie Kitze
  • I Love My Hair! Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
  • Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History Vashti Harrison
  • Momma, Did You Hear the News? Sanya Whittaker Gragg
  • My Hair is a Garden Cozbi Cabrera
  • Not Quite Snow White Ashley Franklin
  • Ruth and the Green Book Calvin Ramsey
  • Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation Duncan Tonatiuh
  • Sesame Street: We’re Different, We’re the Same Bobbi Jane Kates
  • Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Shades of People Shelley Rotner & Sheila Kelly
  • Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You Jason Reynolds & Ibram Kendi
  • That’s Not Fair! Emma Tenayuca’s Struggle for Justice Carmen Tafolla & Sharyll Tenayuca
  • The Skin You Live In Michael Tyler
  • Something Happened in Our Town Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins & Ann Hazzard
  • When We Were Alone David A. Robertson
  • Why Can’t You Look Like Me? Ola Zuri
  • Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock Aslan & Kelly Tudor

Books for Teens/Adults — Race/Transracial Parenting

  • All American Boys Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely
  • Are Those Kids Yours? Cheri Register
  • Black Anthology: Adult Adoptees Claim Their Space Diane Rene Christian
  • Black Baby White Hands: A View From the Crib Jaiya John
  • The Harris Narratives: An Introspective Study of a Transracial Adoptee Susan Harris O’Connor
  • I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness Austin Channing Brown
  • In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories Rita Simon & Rhonda Roorda
  • In Their Parents' Voices: Reflections on Raising Transracial Adoptees Rita Simon & Rhonda Roorda
  • In Their Siblings' Voices: White Non-Adopted Siblings Talk About Their Experiences Being Raised with Black and Biracial Brothers and Sisters Rita Simon & Rhonda Roorda
  • Internment Samira Ahmed
  • Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning Cathy Park Hong
  • My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma & the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts & Bodies Resmaa Menakem
  • The Myth of the Model Minority: Asian Americans Facing Racism Rosalind Chou & Joe Feagin
  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness Michelle Alexander
  • Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption Jane Jeong Trenka & Julie Chinyere Oparah
  • The Skin We’re In: Teaching Our Teens to Be Emotionally Strong, Socially Smart, and Spiritually Connected Janie Victoria Ward
  • So You Want to Talk About Race Ijeoma Oluo
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You Jason Reynolds & Ibram Kendi
  • Waking Up White Debby Irving
  • What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption Melissa Guida-Richards
  •  “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” and Other Conversations About Race Beverly Daniel Tatum

For Relatives and Friends

  • Adoption Is a Family Affair: What Relatives & Friends Must Know Patricia Irwin Johnston
  • In On It:  What Adoptive Parents Would Like You to Know About Adoption, A Guide For Relatives & Friends Elisabeth O’Toole