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Adoption Detective: Memoir of an Adopted Child Paperback – August 15, 2011

by Judith Land (Author), Martin Land (Author)
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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A passionate love affair between high school sweethearts creates an accidental pregnancy during a sultry night on the shore of Lake Michigan. Rebecca's unforgiving parents banish her to an unwed mother's home where she secretly gives birth to a baby girl. Her daughter Judy is placed in the loving care of foster parents before being callously given to Mario and Rosella Romano for adoption on her first birthday.

Reoccurring visions and fantasies of her birthmother plague Judy's consciousness for three decades until a life-changing passage into adulthood causes her to question why she was abandoned. What begins as a simple investigation into her medical and ancestral history slowly evolves into a passionate quest to discover her roots.

Through good timing, perseverance, and a few small miracles, Judy eventually solves the mystery of her origins. But will the woman she has been seeking welcome Judy back into her life?

About the Authors

Judith and Martin Land live in Colorado and Arizona. They told the entire story of Judith Land's adoption, from her birth through adulthood, to provide the reader with unique insights into the mind of an adoptee at various stages of her life.

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  1. Print length
    299 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 15, 2011
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1604945702
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1604945706
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A powerful personal story that belongs in the Pantheon of Adoption Classics. I was deeply moved by the heartbreaking narrative of this adoptee, but at the same time, the mystery buff in me breathlessly turned the pages to find out how or if Judy finally finds her truth. As you read this shocking and amazing book, keep reminding yourself: This really happened." Donna Montalbano

"Judith Land's adoption reunion story is a roller-coaster of emotional beauty, turmoil and closure that captured and held my attention. The deep emotional scars that are revealed and explored accurately represent many adoptee's experiences. Rejection, secrecy, Christian values, and the falsification of crucial life documents, are themes explored in this poignant memoir. Adoptees and birth mothers will find themselves on every page of this book, and may find refreshing new ideas on how to perceive and embrace their adoption roles. Judy displays her deep-seated understanding of all sides here." V.L. Brunskill

"This is an extraordinarily riveting story. I was immediately drawn in and could not put the book down. The narrative is structured so that the suspense never lets up as the discovery process unfolds. There are many surprises, redemptive moments, and amazing human complexities revealed throughout. As an adoptive parent, I really valued the author's honest reflections on her struggles, and her serious and thoughtful critique of the institution of adoption." Anne Bernard Becker

"Judith Romano is a plucky Midwestern orphan who faces adversity and steadfastly refuses to back down until she has accomplished her goal of finding her birth parents. It is impossible to put this book down before it is finished--other adoptees will be greatly inspired to find their own roots." Jean Patton, mother of the adoption reform movement, founder of Ocean Voyage, and author of The Adopted Break Silence

"This book is riveting--I literally could not put it down. Your story is solid and exceptional. I can't say enough good things about this book." Sheila Mincer, speech-language pathologist, Mountain Board of Cooperative Educational Services

From the Author

Destiny is not preordained. It is about making choices. Our lives are the sum of all the choices we make, the bridges we cross, and the ones we burn. Our souls cast long shadows over many people, even after we are gone. Fate, luck, and providence are the consequence of our freedom of choice, not the determinants. When justice is served by following our principles, making good decisions brings us inner peace.

We must learn to do what is right, not what is acceptable, because life is very good when we make the right choices. Happiness does not depend on wealth or world traveling. It comes from following our own free will, finding the beauty of the environment, and building positive relationships with significant others.

Adoption is a familiar theme among all people that encourages group reminiscing about romantic fairy tales, fables, mysteries, historic legends, shaggy-dog stories, and tragic folk tales.

The sacred benedictions we share were put there to mend our wounded hearts and restore our faith in God. Knowing the truth and facing reality is enlightening, but the emotional depth of some moments in life can only be resolved by God

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wheatmark, Inc. (August 15, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 299 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1604945702
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1604945706
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Judith Land

    Judith Land

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    Judith Land was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a former nurse, a college instructor, a retail shop owner, and a resident of Colorado and Arizona. "Adoption Detective: Memoir of an Adopted Child" is an adoption journey of the heart and mind and soul that belongs in the Parthenon of adoption classics. Her extensive writings on adoption topics have connected with diverse readers living in 193 countries.

    Adoption Detective is a multi-genre thriller that resonates globally with men and women and people of all ages in every culture. Emotional tension is intense and never-ending throughout. Judith Ramano is a sympathetic heroine that is strong, authentic, and irresistible that believes in the wisdom of the heart and the power of sympathy. She is genuine, and she lives a meaningful life. She tugs at our heartstrings, leaving us feeling offended, shocked, and sympathetic as our sensibilities increase in response to complex emotional and psychological influences. This unforgettable life story has elements of a who-done-it mystery novel and a non-fiction biography. It is a romance novel with a central love story focused on family with an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. This is the true story of Judith Romano, foster child and adoptee, as she discovers fragments of her background and then sets out to solve the mystery as an adult. This is a story that stimulates moral sensitivities, increases the reader’s ability to solve ethical conflicts, and inspires conviction. The plot follows actual events—a highly compelling adventure story with a happy-ever-after ending.

    “Destiny is not preordained. It is about making choices. Our lives are the sum of all the choices we make, the bridges we cross, and the ones we burn. Our souls cast long shadows over many people, even after we are gone. Fate, luck, and providence are the consequence of our freedom of choice, not the determinants. When justice is served by following our principles, making good decisions brings us inner peace. Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. At this point in my life, I have much to be thankful for and many reasons to celebrate.” Judith Land

    Connect with Judy on social media: http://www.adoptiondetectivejudithland.com

    Coming Soon: http://www.caddywampusmystery.com

    See more on the author's page
  2. Martin Land

    Martin Land

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Erik John Martin, President of Corporate Pro Colorado, attended school in the US and Switzerland. He is a visionary in designing and administering a dozen of Colorado’s world-class ski resorts, with input on the 1976 and 2002 Winter Olympic Games. His favorite activities include helicopter skiing off isolated mountain peaks, navigating a cruiser through exotic deep-water canyons, and leaving tire smoke on the racetrack.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
16 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Nancy
5.0 out of 5 stars AZconnection
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2012
Verified Purchase
When I called the golf course and asked to be thrown in with an unfilled foursome, little did I know it would lead to visiting with two of the most articulate, intelligent and humble people I have met. We were a threesome and the discussion was lively and interesting talking about our golf games, books we had read, movies we had seen, comparing our "other" lives in the north. It was not until the 16th hole that these humble authors slipped me a card with the name of the book they had written and that it was nonfiction. This book is compelling and puts a face on adoption that I had never thought about. After I read it, I looked back on my day with them and wished I could have played many more golf games with them. To think that this energetic, happy petite little lady endured what she did and not only survived but thrived is nothing short of amazing! If you have any experience with adoption, you will be puzzled, enraged and spellbound by the policies of which Judy speaks.
Erik and Judy...it was a pleasure and hopefully our paths will again meet.
6 people found this helpful
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R. schmuecker
3.0 out of 5 stars A bit one sided. Every one in the adoption ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2014
Verified Purchase
A bit one sided. Every one in the adoption industry is pure evil in this book.
Don't know that they all are.
One person found this helpful
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barbg
1.0 out of 5 stars Critique of ADOPTION DETECTIVE
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2012
Verified Purchase
I thought that this book was one of the worst written books that I have ever read. There were editorial errors e.g. SELF-CONSCIENTIOUS for self-conscious; "She had no nothing to report" and WINCH to mean wince. I assumed this was a self-published book. The writing was amateurish and I found myself skipping pages because it was so redundant and wordy. I only completed it because it was the chosen book for my book club. It was chosen for no other reason than the author lives in the same town where we live. Being the mother of an adoptee I found the author to be resentful and angry about her life situation. Too bad. Adoption Detective: Memoir of an Adopted Child
9 people found this helpful
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Marlena Gross
5.0 out of 5 stars My own search
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
This book has helped me solidify my belief that I need to follow through on my own search. Thank you.
One person found this helpful
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Donna Montalbano
5.0 out of 5 stars A new adoption classic...
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2015
Judith Land's powerful personal story: Adoption Detective...Memoir of an Adopted Child, belongs, in my opinion, in the pantheon of adoption classics that include The Girls Who Went Away, Twice Born, and The Primal Wound. As a member of the "adoption triad" and former radio host of adoption-related programming, I know the devastating dynamics of adoption: beginning with banishment, loss, lies and betrayals; followed by a lifelong quest for identity. "Judy's" adoption story begins the way so many others do, with the simple, sweet moment when two teenagers fall in love. A pregnancy results, and when the families find out, a cover-up is concocted to protect them from social embarrassment. Ms. Land's mother was sent away to have her baby in secrecy and ignominy. Surrendering her child at birth was not a choice, it was non-negotiable. That baby girl, the author of this book, was at first placed with a loving foster family, who were privileged to hear her first words and see her first steps. But when she was only one year old (old enough to suffer the trauma of separation) she is torn away again, and adopted by a new family. As she grew up, Judy was haunted by fantasies of her birth mother. The most poignant parts of this book are the "letters" to her birth mother that begin each chapter; which reveal her loneliness and longing. Yet this book is also a detective story, as its title suggests. Tracing your roots is not as easy as the TV shows make it seem. I was deeply moved by the heartbreaking narrative of this adoptee, but at the same time, the mystery buff in me breathlessly turned the pages to find out how or if Judy finally finds her truth. It is hard to believe in this day and age, when more than 40% of American babies are born out of wedlock, that there was a time when pregnant unmarried girls were exiled from their families and communities and forced to give up their children to strangers. But that is the way it was. As you read this shocking and amazing book, keep reminding yourself: This really happened.
2 people found this helpful
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V.L
5.0 out of 5 stars I especially enjoyed the latter half of this book
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2015
"Ancestral recover was a peak experience, an
extraordinary moment that took my breath away."- Judith Land

Judith Land's adoption reunion story is a roller-coaster of emotional beauty, turmoil and closure.

As an adoptee, who also searched for (and found) my birth family, I especially enjoyed the latter half of this book. Chapter 16 through to the Epilogue captured and held my attention. I love the way Judy starts each chapter with a diary-style note to her birth mother. These snippets of internal thought share many of the same feelings that I penned in my childhood diary.

The deep emotional scars that are revealed and explored in "Adoption Detective" accurately represent many adoptee's experiences. Rejection, secrecy, Christian values, and the falsification of crucial life documents, are themes explored in this poignant memoir.

Adoptees and birth mothers will find themselves on every page of this book, and may find refreshing new ideas on how to perceive and embrace their adoption roles.

There needs to be far less blame, and more embracing of truth among triad members. Judy displays her deep-seated understanding of all sides here.

Bravo Judy! Thank you for sharing.

V.L. Brunskill
Author- Waving Backwards- a Savannah Novel
One person found this helpful
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