Book Review #1 - China Ghosts

If you only read one book on Chinese adoption, China Ghosts by author Jeff Gammage should be it! In his memoir, Gammage shares the story of the adoption of daughter Jin Yu who was two years-old when adopted. Unlike other authors who sugar-coat the adoption story, Gammage acknowledges the realities of International adoption. He explains that the Chinese government issues stringent requirements to adoptive families in the form of an enormous dossier, checks the paperwork and then eventually matches the family with a child they believe is best suited for them. This all sounds good except for the fact that they in turn do not give back any information on the children who are adopted except for a few generic sheets of paper from a medical exam taken a few weeks before the referral. Gammage tells us that with so little information given, we are left only with our imagination which leads to our own probing questions such as who are the birth parents? Do they come from the city or countryside? Were they farmers? Did the birthmother give birth alone or with help? Did anyone see the birthmother leave the baby on the day of abandonment and most importantly, at least to the adoptive family, was a note left with the baby? Gammage who is a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer wanted to know the answers to these questions and more. With his media connections and perseverance, he sent letters to China requesting information, wanting desperately to find something more out about his daughter. Finally, a letter arrived from someone on the adoption council giving him a small tidbit of new information. To find out more, you will have to read China Ghosts, a beautifully written memoir that will change your life and the way you look at Chinese adoption. For more on China Ghosts, visit http://www.chinaghosts.com/