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Birthright: The Guide to Search and Reunion for Adoptees, Birthparents, and Adoptive Parents Paperback – June 1, 1994

by Jean A. S. Strauss (Author), Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Foreword)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 41 ratings
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What happens when an adoptee decides to locate a birthparent or a birthparent wants to find a child given up long ago? How does one search for people whose names one does not know? And what happens during a reunion? In 1983, Jean A. S. Strauss was faced with these questions when she began her search for her birthmother, and in this inspiring new handbook, she shares her experience. Strauss will help you throughout this significant time. Brimming with important reference sources and dozens of true-life stories, this valuable resource will guide you in:

· Making the difficult decision to search
· Navigating through the emotional turbulence of a reunion
· Dealing with the impact of the search on the adoptive parents

Compassionate and insightful, Birthright is for anyone seeking to connect with someone long lost.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    363 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 1994
  5. Dimensions
    4.49 x 0.83 x 8.21 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0140512950
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140512953
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

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An adoptee offers compassionate and comprehensive guidance to locating "adoptees, birthparents and adoptive parents." Strauss proceeds from the view that seeking reunion with relatives estranged by adoption is a good thing, and she marshals impressive reasoning and evidence to support her case. She discusses the laws that make adoption records confidential in the introduction and thereby sets the stage for the search strategies that follow. As Strauss points out, the history of adoption is neither simple nor consistent, and the nature of adoption today is very different from what it was when present adoption laws were enacted. The more a searcher understands the nature of adoption practices and laws, she says, the more likely his or her search is to succeed. Strauss interweaves the story of the search for her own birthparents with the strategies for finding birth relatives, and whether or not one agrees with the practice of adoptees or birthparents initiating searches for lost relatives, she tells that personal story compellingly. Thus, Strauss' effort offers considerable insight into the motivations of a particular adoptee as it encourages and counsels others wishing to undertake such a search themselves. Mike Tribby

About the Author

Jean A. S. Strauss is the wife of a college president and the author of Birthright (Penguin) and lives in Claremont, California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; First Edition (June 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 363 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140512950
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140512953
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.49 x 0.83 x 8.21 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 41 ratings

About the author

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Jean A. S. Strauss

Jean A. S. Strauss

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Jean Strauss is a New York Times best-selling author, legislative activist, and documentary filmmaker. With her film, "ADOPTED: for the life of me", she marries her twin passions of adoption reform and filmmaking.

A graduate of UC Berkeley and USC, wife of a college president and mother of two grown sons, she began making documentary films at the age of 50. Her short films won numerous award and accolades, and were included in prestigious screenings from American Cinematheque’s annual “Women in Shorts” which displays emerging women directors, to the San Diego Cinema Society’s “A Year in Shorts.” Her books include Penguin’s "Birthright: the Guide to Search and Reunion", and the NYTimes bestseller, "Forever Liesl: a memoir of The Sound of Music".

She is currently working on two new films, as well as a novel, that has been 'in progress' for several years.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
41 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Hikingallday
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book You Could Read on Adoption
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
You could get a book that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside or you could get a book that gets to the heart of the matter and tells you like it is. It is my belief that everyone deserves to know their beginnings. However, in my opinion, there does not seem to be any benefit to the birth mother in maintaining a relationship with theirchild who is now an adult. The general ideas I gleaned from the book I will list. The adopted adult, finds calm by knowing their beginnings (after reunion) this in turn builds their self-confidence and subsequently strengthens their relationship with the adoptive parents. After reunion, the birth child will call the birth mother, by her first name because calling her "mom" or "mother" would make the birth child feel like a traitor. As the birth mother, you really only have the potential of being a friend. If a reunion occurs, you will be a secret hidden from the adoptive parents because most (not all) adoptive parents don't want to hear or see that the birth parents are real people with real feelings. After reunion, your birth child will have more intimate relationships with other blood relatives instead of you because it is just too uncomfortable to be close to you, the birth mother. Last but not least, your biological grandchildren will call the adoptive parents their grandparents, not you. This is my take on the overall message this book has to offer.
3 people found this helpful
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Joel C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Sensitizing yourself for the long haul...
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
A comprehensive guide, albeit a bit dated it did provide many different perspectives that one must be sensitive to before making/taking the leap toward looking for your birth parents. I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about sensitizing themselves for their search. It has comprehensive tips on where to start and how to compile your information as you search. Not everyone I have met has been successful even with all the modern (DNA testing) available today. This book focuses on the other tools in your arsenal; good old fashion detective work.
2 people found this helpful
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Craftsman
4.0 out of 5 stars Great advise and stories
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2013
Verified Purchase
Great information and good practical advice for all working toward a reunion. As a husband--after the fact--to a birth mother, I learned a lot. I would definitely recommeend it.
One person found this helpful
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Miriah Cross
5.0 out of 5 stars finishing a friend's story
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
The funny part of this story, I was never adopted, but my friend was. For seven months on my own with just his birthmother name. I found everything she ever had her name on and still I had come to a dead end. Until today, page 93 on my eyes to stories and reports I read. LoL we both probably had the shakes today, when he read my text message. Nervous, he stop searching with me four months ago
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CK
3.0 out of 5 stars VERY SAD that more research isn't put in for these women ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
Only book I could find that included adoptive parent's feelings.....but it was disappointing in what was said - Not much info for those women, not much comfort, but did share some of their feelings.....just feel this element is totally left out of the triad...... VERY SAD that more research isn't put in for these women and men to gain help and others to understand their feelings.....very disappointing in that regard.
One person found this helpful
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Catherine Pfister
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book with a lot of wonderful information
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed this book. So glad I was able to find it and read it.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Adoptive Families
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great resource for families pondering were participating in a search or a reunion with a birth family
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Ken Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must-read for any adoptee and others connected ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a must-read for any adoptee and others connected to them. Those searching and those having found or been found will find the stories, research, and instructive guidance sensitive and profoundly helpful.
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Top reviews from other countries

Jan Vaisey
5.0 out of 5 stars Rating for Book Birthright
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
Excellent Book, I particular book am not an avid book reader, but i learned quite a lot of information from this book, very pleased. Many Thanks.
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