 |
Speculating about one's ancestry and biological parents is a rite of passage shared by most adoptees. Even loving relationships with adoptive parents and siblings can't erase the pain of wondering why one was given up. Collins examines her life with a remarkable devotion to honest self-reflection as she explores the mystery of her origins. With extraordinary determination, she approaches composing her memoir with the same enthusiasm that she applied to other aspects of her life by attending writing classes and conferences, working hard to develop the writing chops that have allowed her to craft this lively, fascinating narrative.
After years of hitting dead ends because of adoption laws that withhold information from adoptees, plus the hesitation of not wanting to offend her birth mother, Collins hires a "search angel" to dig into her past. As a mother with grown daughters and a passionate interest in nursing and the performing arts, she felt it was time to answer her questions about her biological parents. Since many adoptive mothers continue to live in the area where they give birth, her search angel called with news of her mother's identity in just three days.
Collins' mother's story is dramatic and painful, involving molestation and pregnancy at the tender age of twelve. The author writes with honesty about her admiration for her mother and revulsion toward her father. Her quest ends on a poignant note because her mother is deceased. But she writes with joy about locating her mother's husband, who immediately embraces Collins as a beloved daughter. He has many photographs, letters, and memories that answer her many questions. The author's life blossoms with new connections as her half-siblings and other relatives welcome her into their lives, assured by all that her mother would have loved to meet her. Collins' story leaves readers with a warm feeling by book's end.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review