A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I've got a couple of adopted teen in the in-laws. Both are mid-pubescent, one girl, one boy, living with different, but close, families. (The kids are not birth-related to each other btw.) Both are at the age where they're starting to have a bit of trouble with themselves with handling the questions they are asking themselves about their adoptions. It's the usual stuff about a sense of self-worth, abandonment, wanting to make contact with birth parents and giving their adoptive parents a bit of angst and grief. Does anyone know of any good books either for the teens or for the parents on how to provide support during this tricky difficult time? It seems a mite unfair on the kids that their minds start to ask these questions during such critical schooling years and when their hormones are being all over the place. Any books which may help them see it's all normal, and how to deal with everything with the least ruckus would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 It seems a mite unfair on the kids that their minds start to ask these questions during such critical schooling years and when their hormones are being all over the place. The fact of their hormones kicking in is probably precisely why they're starting to ask these questions now. Life's unfair like that sometimes; seems to be rooted in the same aspect of God's sense of humour that lumped all the calories in the foods that taste good However, I had a quick trawl round t'Interweb and found this site. I've no experience of the books, but it's promising that the selection is based on parental recommendations, so it might at least be a start. The links are to the US Amazon site, but no doubt you could find them on the UK version too, or alternatively use www.abebooks.co.uk to find other sellers of the same ISBNs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I can't help you with books for teens but this reminded me immediately of the book about adoption that I was given as a small child - "Mr Fairweather and His Family" - I've never forgotten the book and still have it! (I don't think I really realised at the time why I was reading it though .) I hope you find something to help them through this. I can't say my adoption bothered me in my teens at all but I can understand why it might cause others angst . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 What about "Chicken soup for the adopted soul" Mum brought me the teenager one when i was 13/14 and i really enjoyed reading it. My 13 year old sister has got it now. Its nice just to read a few of the stories every so often as they are really short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstine Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I don't know about adopted teens, but a very good book about step-teens which might be relevant is 'The Ogre Downstairs' by Diana Wynne Jones. It's about two families of children in the 10-20 age-range who are brought together in a joined-up-family. Magical things ensue, but so do relationship-type things, rather a la Harry Potter but written 15-20 years earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 How about a more specific forum? http://www.adoptionuk.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebaygirl Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I can't help you with books for teens but this reminded me immediately of the book about adoption that I was given as a small child - "Mr Fairweather and His Family" - I've never forgotten the book and still have it! (I don't think I really realised at the time why I was reading it though .) I hope you find something to help them through this. I can't say my adoption bothered me in my teens at all but I can understand why it might cause others angst . Oh Gosh! I had ( and still have ) this too! It is a beautiful book. Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebC Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I would have a look on the BAAF (British adoption & Forstering) website. They have a number of specific books and may be able to advise where to get support from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
