| Valerie Mason-John
This is a frank and revealing memoir of the author's childhood and adolescence, alternately living in the Dr Barnardo's Village in Essex, with her mother in a London high-rise, and in a string of juvenile and detention centres. This is an important story powerfully told about growing up black, female and in care. It has much to say about the perils of childhood and how we raise children in today’s society.
| Joan Hunt, Suzette Waterhouse Eleanor Lutman
This study provides invaluable information on the benefits and challenges of kinship care and what is to be done to enable it to be used effectively. The study tracked 113 children in England, removed from their parents’ care because of child protection concerns and placed with kin through the courts. The placements were then assessed in terms of: whether they lasted as long as necessary and provided good quality and safe care; the quality of the relationship between the child and carer; and how well the child was functioning.
| Renée Wolfs
This in-depth practical guide, written by an adoptive parent for adoptive parents, explores the questions adopted children are likely to ask, with suggestions for helpful explanations and answers. Looking at different age groups in turn, the author provides a wealth of suggestions for possible dialogue with adopted children and age-appropriate answers to common questions and fears.
| Ruth and Ed Royce
Published as part of the Our Story series, this is the story of Ruth and Ed Royce’s journey from childlessness to celebrating as a family. From a dual perspective, each with their own anxieties, expectations and vulnerabilities, they look back on their decision to adopt, to the fear that their family was falling apart, to their experience of music and art therapy, and then on to their decision to adopt a second time.
| Laurel Ashton
When Laurel and David decide the time is right to expand their family, things don’t go according to plan. Published as part of the Our Story series, this honest and heartfelt memoir narrates their struggle to become parents – coping with the discovery of their infertility, the emotional and physical demands of IVF, their experiments with alternative therapies, and their decision to adopt.
| Robert Marsden
Published as part of the Our Story series, The family business is the true story of the adoption of William, a little boy with cerebral palsy, by a middle-aged couple with three birth children. It tells of the journey William and the other members of the family made to get to the point where they felt they were a whole family.
| Zara H Phillips
This is is a frank and honest account which explores the far-reaching impact of adoption on childhood, adolescence, relationships and self-esteem. It also gives insight into motherhood from the perspective of an adopted woman.
| Michelle Bell
The booklet, designed for children to complete, that accompanies Elfa and the box of memories
