Nicole Chung grew up as a Korean child adopted by a white family in a predominately white Oregon town. Her upbringing was defined by a specific origin story: her biological parents gave her up to provide her a better life. In this memoir, Chung documents her decision to search for her birth family as she prepares for the birth of her own first child. She navigates the complex bureaucracy of adoption records and establishes contact with her Korean sisters, discovering that the reasons for her placement differed significantly from the narrative she was told. The text documents her shifting relationship with her adoptive parents and her adjustment to the reality of her biological father’s history.
This book serves readers interested in the internal dynamics of transracial adoption and the specific mechanics of biological searches. It provides a look at how racial identity forms in isolation and how people reconcile conflicting family histories. Readers walk away with a clearer understanding of the psychological impact of the sealed record system and the practical challenges of integrating two different family units into a single cohesive identity. It offers a factual perspective for prospective adoptive parents and adult adoptees seeking a realistic template for reunions.
Inward-looking and contemplative; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2018
- Language
- EN
