In a previous post, My Favorites I described a few of my favorite books on search and reunion and gave a brief synopsis of some of them.

Here is a more extensive list of search, reunion and adoption healing books. I include books on healing because I believe that there is often a great deal of healing which may occur at reunion. Reunion brings up past issues for many birth moms and they may finally deal with them at reunion. Some adoptees achieve some healing through reunion as well.

"Adoption and Loss" and "Adoption and Recovery", Evelyn Burns Robinson
I was able to hear Evelyn Robinson speak about adoption recovery last year and felt that she really has a solid grasp on healing for birth parents. As both a reunited birth mother and a therapist, she is a very powerful and insightful speaker and author. As I carefully listened to hear discussing the subject of healing, I found myself nodding and agreeing with her thoughts on how birth parents can heal.

“Primal Wound”, and "Coming Home to Self" (the Adopted Child Grows Up) Nancy Newton Verrier
Primal Wound has been a controversial book from its initial introduction on the adoption scene. Some people love it, some hate it - and others are somewhere in the middle. It does not apply to every adoptee, but, many feel that it makes total sense to them. Her second book "Coming Home to Self" is more directed towards ways to heal. I found some very useful and thought-provoking information in both books.

“Courageous Blessing”, Carol Demuth, A guide to support adoptive parents through the search process.
This is a very small book written by an adoptee that I believe could be very useful for helping adoptive parents through the reunion process.

"The Adoption Reunion Survival Guide" Bailey & Giddens,
This book was another of my favorite in early reunion. I tabbed certain pages to refer back to when the need arose. I felt there was a great deal of practical, useful information in this well-written guide.


“Adoption Reunions”, Michelle McComm, A positive and practical guide from the search decision through post reunion.
“Adoption Searches Made Easier”, Joseph Culligan, A search manual.
“Adoptee Trauma”, Heather Carlini, A discussion of adoptees seven grieving stages.
“Being Adopted”, Brodzinsky, Schechter, and Henig, The life long search for self.
“Birth Mother Trauma”, Heather Carlini, A book that addresses the trauma that remains from the relinquishment of a child.
“I Would Have Searched Forever”, Sandra K. Musser
“Journey of the Adopted Self”, Betty Jean Lifton, A quest for wholeness.
“Lifeline”, Virgil L. Klunder, The action guide to adoption search.