Adoption Unfiltered

Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies

By: Sara Easterly, Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard, Lori Holden, Joyce Maguire Pavao Ed.D. - foreword

Narrated by: Sara Easterly

Adoption Unfiltered authors Sara Easterly (adoptee), Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard (birth parent), and Lori Holden (adoptive parent) interview dozens of adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, social workers, therapists, and other allies—all sharing candidly about the challenges in adoption. While finding common ground in the sometimes-contentious space of adoption may seem like a lofty goal, it reveals the authors' optimistic aim: working together with truth and transparency to move toward healing.

Healing isn't possible, though, without first uncovering the hurts—starting with adoption's central players: adoptees, who are so often in pain, suffering from what the latest brain science validates as the long-term emotional effects of separation trauma. By encouraging others to vulnerably share their stories, the authors discover that adoptees aren't the only ones in the adoption constellation who are hurting. Birth parents regularly shut down after being shut out by adoptive parents. Adoptive parents often struggle with unique parenting challenges and hidden insecurity, feeling the need to hide the fact that they are not the Super Parents they led the agency to believe they would be. Across the industry as a whole, misinformed and unethical practices abound. This book models the importance of adults in adoption working together in the spirit of empathy.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Sara Easterly, Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard, and Lori Holden (P)2024 Tantor

Gets you asking the critical questions

It is so easy to approach adoption in a simplistic way. But this audiobook will get you asking the crucial questions about adoption, whether you're an adoptee, a birth parent, have adopted, or are considering adopting. I love how this audiobook presents a very nuanced perspective on adoption, neither bashing adoption nor exalting it.

Adoption Constellation: Must read

This book is amazing... I love the different perspectives! This book is divided into 4 sections. The first is told by an adult adoptee, the second is a birth parent, the third is from an adoptive parent and the final section brings it all together and talks about actionable changes in adoption. I am a birthmom and found something that resonated in each section. This is a must read for every member of the adoption constellation!

A hearty invitation to all who care about adoptees and the constellation

Sara, Kelsey, and Lori as well as countless other contributors extend a gracious invitation to all reading to listen, reflect, and then respond. They normalize the defensiveness and the charge that can come with discussing this polarizing topic. As a former foster care and adoption agency professional and a current private practice psychotherapist, this is a MUST listen for all of us. The developmental perspective informing this book offers all who care about adoption a way to understand and respond deeply to the the complexity and the ongoing needs and reforms that demand our attention. Thank you for writing a book I will recommend to all who will listen.

A must read / listen for any prospective adoptive parents

This book was eye opening for my husband and I as we work though our adoption journey. Hearing from the view point of adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents (including those that never were matched) was eye opening and gave us so many new things to consider. It's not all smiles and sunshine - this book actually focuses on the opposite - and it provides much needed perspective, especially over the definition and true value of openness in adoption. Anyone that is touched by adoption should listen / read.