A is for Adoption
(image courtesy flikr creative commons via photopin)
A is for Adoption
Welcome to my first day of Blogging A to Z! I hope you enjoy my theme–The Three R’s: Reading, (W)riting, and Research!
We’ll begin with the letter…I don’t know…A?
I recently figured out (okay, I’m a slow learner) that many of the books I read, all of the books I am in the process of writing, and the one book I published, Moonlight Dancer, relate to adoption–human or canine–in some way. Surprisingly, I didn’t set out with that idea in mind. It just happened.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my immediate family has been impacted by adoption. For a long time, I did not think about this except in the way you might think generally about family members. This one has brown eyes, this one loves baseball, this one is adopted.
But even well adjusted adoptees contend with issues like abandonment and identity loss.
Social workers speak about the “adoption triad,” which consists of the birth parents, adopted child, and adoptive parents. I think it’s more like an adoption pentagon as adoption also touches the adoptee’s spouse and children.
Long before I knew adoption would impact my life, I loved books that explored this topic. One of my favorites is Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Others include The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, and No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie. The most recent novel I read featuring an adoptee was The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. A lovely book I highly recommend.
So, I always have to research stuff that interests me. I’m weird that way. Anyway, adoption is an ancient practice. Many of the Roman emperors were adopted, for instance. Tribal chiefs (I once researched the Seneca for a piece I was working on) often adopted young warriors they defeated. Then there was the whole Orphan Train phenom designed to rid New York City of its unwanted orphans in which some mid-west farmers would “adopt” children to become their laborers. On the plus side, the U.S. assumed the forefront of adoption oversight and legislation beginning mid 19th century. Prior to this date, adoption seemed to favor the parents; adopted children’s needs were secondary. The first adoption law to protect children was enacted in Massachusetts in 1851 to ensure “it was fit and proper that such adoption should take effect.”
Further research unearthed this gem from psychologist Henry H. Goddard regarding the adoptee’s character: “the probabilities are strong that it would show poor and diseased stock, and that if a marriage should take place…the offspring would be degenerates.“
Nice, huh?
I prefer the modern child-centered sensibility, and the aforementioned novels I love share that idealized notion. Then there are all those Shirley Temple adoption movies. Has anyone seen Curly Top (1935) or Bright Eyes (1934)? Ah, I’m waxing nostalgic now…Where’s that remote?
What are your thoughts? Favorite adoption novels? Do share!
12 thoughts on “A is for Adoption”
I love Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables. That adoption story felt real to me because none of them knew what to expect, yet came to love each other deeply.
So true, Elizabeth. The actual adoption was that much more poignant because Marilla and Matthew were really looking for a farm hand but ended up with a beloved family member. Matthew is one of the most endearing figures of literature I’ve read. I’ll never forget him and his gentle ways.
I really enjoyed Orphan Train by Christina Kline. (But I’m a big fan of Anne Shirley too).
Hi Allegra,
I have not yet read Orphan Train, but it’s on my TBR. Thanks for the endorsement and reminder to pick that one up.
Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorites as a child. I loved the movie versions as well; they were one of the few book-to-film adaptations that didn’t disappoint me.
Hi Grace,
Ah, yes, PBS made a wonderful series from Anne of Green Gables. I recorded it on VHS; now where’s that old machine? I’ve re-read Anne of Green Gables as an adult with my students, and it’s just as enjoyable now. In some ways, I can appreciate even more the humor and the satirical descriptions of Mrs. Rachel Lynde.
I too have always been drawn to all things adoption. It was interesting reading your post and coming to this realization. I absolutely adored watching Shirley Temple in her movies and watching/reading other stories about adoption. I know I used to fantasize when I was little that I was adopted and my real parents would find me someday. But alas, I am definitely born from my parents.
Happy A to Z’ing!
Morgan,
A Poet’s Kitchen
Playing with Words
StoryDam
Morgan, your comment about your childhood fantasy made me laugh. I think every teen at some point knows the feeling. Glad to hear from another Shirley Temple fan. It was a great disappointment of mine that my daughters were not quite as drawn to her as I still am.
I wasn’t a teen, I was little and it wasn’t fleeting. I grew up in an extremely dysfunctional environment. No worries, it was what it was and I am who I am because of it.
I understand about the disappointment of certain shows or movies that your daughters weren’t drawn to, my daughters and I didn’t always agree on movies either. I haven’t watched a Shirley Temple movie in years but you have me wanting to look on Netflix to see if they have any of her movies.
Peace to you.
Ah, I understand. Felicitations on your success. Peace back.
I loved Anne of Green Gables when I read it recently and always meant to read the following books in the series but for some reason this was the only one I could find at the bookstore. I have fleeting memories of watching Shirley Temple on TV when I was young. Black and white movies, right?
I have the deepest respect for people who adopt children – it’s great this option is available.
I liked Anne of Avonlea quite a bit but felt the rest of the series lacked the joyful abandon of the first two. My sister loved the whole series so much, though, that she named her firstborn Anne. Remember how Anne from Green Gables wanted to be Anne with an e? Yes, Shirley Temple movies are black and white. I think that’s why some young people cannot appreciate these old movies.