Book Review: Adoption in the U.S.--A Reference for Families, Professionals, & Students

By: Donna Parrish, MSW

Book review of

Adoption in the U.S.--A Reference for Families, Professionals, & Students

Adoption in the United States—A Reference for Families, Professionals, and Students, by Martha J. Henry & Daniel Pollack. Published by Lyceum Books, Inc, Chicago, 2008. 250 pages, $39.95.

    Adoption in the United States: A Reference for Families, Professionals, and Students by Martha J. Henry and Daniel Pollack delivers an informative perspective on adoption. This book is an excellent resource to students, educators, and clients. Adoption in the United States is a user-friendly book. It clearly presents the process of adoption in the United States.

    The authors provide detailed information on adoption. The organization of the book allows the reader to easily follow the evaluation of the adoption process. The reader is taken on a journey through the entire process of adoption. The book is divided into eight chapters, and each chapter is filled with enriching information. All chapters provide continuity throughout the volume and provide a reader into the world of adoption. The hidden treat of this book is that it concludes with an appendix, glossary, suggested readings, selected resources, index, boxes, and tables. This format spotlights the key process of adoption.

    The construction of the book meshes well with its content topic and lends itself successfully to the study of adoption. Practical information is provided about individuals who were instrumental in the history of adoption, use of respectful language, and the laws that surround the adoption process. Overall, this detailed account of the adoption process is written in a readable style. This text is a must for students, educators, and clients, but especially for individuals who are actively involved in the adoption process.

Reviewed by Donna Parrish, MSW, doctoral student at Clark Atlanta University, Whitney M. Young, Jr., School of Social Work with a concentration in research, policy, and administration.