books about the open adoption experience

Actually, I've been doing a chapter-by-chapter review of Lifegivers: Framing the Birthparent Experience in Open Adoption (by James L Gritter) on the [URL="http://birthparents.adoptionblogs.com"]birth/first parent blog[/URL] since late last month. We're currently on [URL="http://birthparents.adoptionblogs.com/index.php/weblogs/lifegivers-chapter-eleven"]chapter eleven[/URL] (of fourteen). (That link is for the current chapter which includes links to all previous chapters.) That said, while the book has birth parent in the title, it is most certainly a book for all members of the triad, written by a social worker, and also includes challenges for adoption professionals and adoptive parents alike.Gritter is also the author of The Spirit of Open Adoption which is another fabulous book on OA; a definite must read for all participants.

I second Jenna's book recommendations. The Lifegivers Book provides HUGE insight! I think it would be a great read for aparents as well as bparents (adoptees too!)

Thank you very much!

Livegivers, unfortunately, does not give stories about real people. It's more theoretical. Making Room in our Hearts by Micky Duxbury uses the the stories of real people to frame the issues in open adoption. It is a great book that has not gotten the press it deserves.

If you go to any of the big book-selling web sites and search for "open adoption" you should get many titles. (On Amazon you get 3 pages of results.) The only one I've read is Open Adoption Experience, by Lois Melina. I also gave a copy to Jack's bmom. Neither of us liked it. It's dated and it's more theoretical. Ones that look promising are Making Room in Our Hearts, by Micky Duxbury, and Arms Wide Open, by Jane Waters.I hope this helps!:hippie: