"I took advantage of the holidays to read Adoption: What You Should Know. It was an eye-opening experience.

Actually, it continues to be an eye-opening experience because I find myself going back to details of the historical sections time and again.

I very much like that the book places so much emphasis on historical developments, which are also aptly presented as global phenomena. They bring home even more strongly that adoption transports own, by now, a very long, under-researched, and nefarious history.

On the latter subject, the author is clear in her objectives: creating awareness, inspiring action, guiding reform that must include the voices of the adoptees themselves. Warmly recommended! 

A marker of the turning tide in adoption literature, now that adult adoptees are finding their own voices and creating their own forums. As a movement, that, too, is to be commended." ~Professor Gonda Van Steen, author of Adoption, Memory, and the Cold War Greece

"This book has been a real eye-opener for me. The author tells of her own adoptive situation as a child, then reflects on trying to get info about her adoption at age 44. She exposes the actions of the international adoption organizations. Adoptees are given the “run around” regarding their adoptions, basically being treated to the “back door” rather than the organizations treating adoptees honestly.

After a thorough introduction to international adoption methods, Janine Myung Ja does an analysis of historical situations of adoption (Orphan ships, 1618, Orphan trains 1854, Orphan planes 1954, and Orphan trafficking)." Kathy Gaudry, Retired Publisher

You will be surprised by the variety of adoption subjects written by all-in-one historian, philosopher, researcher, and author Janine Vance rather than the adoptive parents and adoption profiteers - those who benefit from the industry. The history is cleverly divided into four sections: Europe, America, South Korea (explaining how the adoption program started in Seoul, Korea), and Africa (covering adoption/child trafficking). The author's work also covers a variety of other adoption subjects, which includes allowing adopted people around the world a voice and a platform. Her other work includes self-help to empowerment. Another favorite book she wrote is Master Adoption because it informs adopted people of their human rights in a unique philosophical way. You won't need to look further if you want the full adoption spectrum. It is an education you only get in a master's or doctorate program, and if you are curious, you love history, you are an adopted person, a family member of loss because of adoption, or thinking of adopting. The first step before paying the adoption fee is reading this book. - Raven Hutchinson, Human Rights Activist