Sunday, July 11, 2021

Finding Family in a Far-Away Land An Adoption Story by Amanda Wall # giveaway #review #memoir #childrens #nonfiction


Synopsis:

Every adoption experience is uniquely different but the yearning to have unconditional family love is universal. Two Indian sisters, Priya and Ari, experience what it's like to be adopted into a multi-cultural, interracial family. Walk alongside these two charming, dynamic girls as they journey through the adoption transition to a new country full of new experiences! 

My review:

My Dad was adopted and I have always been fascinated by adoption stories. That is why I wanted to read and review this book. The story is told in first person from the perspective of Priya, the older of the two sister that were adopted by American parents. (This confused me a little bit as the author's name is not Priya.) 

Priya begins by telling about their life in India prior to their adoption. It was not the best as they lost their parents and for awhile, fended for themselves. They both were sick children. This was a sad beginning to the book but it also highlighted just a small percentage of things that adopted children may have endured.  Eventually sent to an orphanage, the two were adopted and taken to the U.S. on their first airplane ride. It was lucky they were both adopted together.

Fast forward, the girls only being able to speak their own language, navigated many new things and surprises.  The book describes things like pets, foods, and even a trip to the zoo. Priya compares and contrasts all these things and the new wonders. I enjoyed this part of the book very much as this being an international adoption, children would have culture shock. It was nice to learn a little about India as well. What was also nice was to see their new parents embraces their differences but did not try to completely change the girls either.

The book to me seemed to end abruptly but it illustrated at the same time that the girls were doing okay and adjusting to their new lives. At the end of the book there is a glossary of terms. Although a nice addition, I think it would have been better to have them in with the read-a-long.

The illustrations were done by the author in line drawing and water color. They were not overly spectacular but at the same time, they were colorful enough and did well with the story. The simplicity of them fit.

Overall, the book was good and I think it did point out some things about being adopted without going into overly too much detail. However, it reads more like a short memoir than about adoption itself. The book is meant for 4-10 year old's.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. The review here is 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle

Where to find the author:

Giveaway:

Enter the Giveaway:

 

FINDING FAMILY IN A FAR-AWAY LAND Book Tour Giveaway

 


 

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