Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “Having known someone who has experienced an open adoption, I was curious about this book. It kept me interested. A good beach read.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Great story...I had a hard time getting "into" the characters and didn't feel the emotions.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“At first I didn't think I would like this - seemed to have a very slow start, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. ”
Sherrill M wrote this review Saturday, July 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Having known someone who has experienced an open adoption, I was curious about this book. It kept me interested. A good beach read.”
Andrea J wrote this review Monday, June 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Exploring the Perils of Open Adoption
Norabee wrote this review Monday, September 29 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This novel started out kind of like an “after-school special” showing the tragic results of teenage sex, but as I continued to read, the characters became more dimensional and I began to see that there is much more to this novel than I originally believed. The author takes the time to fully develop the characters so that you understood where their decisions are coming from.
This is the story of Sara, sixteen and pregnant and the novel opens on the drive to the hospital to have her baby. She is attended by her parents but her thoughts are only of the adoptive parents to whom she has promised her child. Sara feels as though no one understands her and the only person she thought she could truly trust was Danny, the baby’s teenaged father, but after telling him of the impending birth, Danny leaves town and abandons Sara. She would love to keep her baby and raise it, but she also wants her child to have the best – so she decides upon an open-adoption, in which she will be able to be a part of the child’s life.
She chooses Eva & George, a friendly older couple and instantly bonds with Eva, who has always wanted to become a mother. Sara feels she is more a part of her family than she is in her own. Her parents are disappointed in her and want Sara to put the baby up for adoption and just move on with her life, but Sara won’t listen and forges a strong bond with the adoptive family.
Then things get too close for comfort and the relationship becomes strained as Sara becomes too close to the family in an unhealthy way. Then Sara does something that ultimately breaks the strong connection with Eva & George and she feels the bond with her baby break, perhaps permanently.
I particularly enjoyed reading the story from the characters different perspectives and getting know the reason why Danny ran away. We even learn the story from the baby’s perspective. As she grows, Anne, like Sara, has never really felt connected to her adoptive parents and when she gets the chance to meet Sara, she thinks that her prayers have been answered by being reunited with her birth mother, but events happen that once again, tear Sara and her daughter apart.
Caroline Leavitt does an excellent job introducing each character and drawing you into their lives. The interaction between the characters is gripping and the story is well told – I will certainly look for more books by this author and I highly recommend this story.
”
“I would give this book 4-1/2 stars if I could. Leavitt's characters are so well developed. They are conflicted, trying to do the best thing but making mistakes along the way.
Shana wrote this review Tuesday, May 20 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The love of a parent for her child is the overarching theme of this book and is really what the story is all about - how that love changes us, shapes our decisions and expectations, and how in the end it causes us to rise above pain and adversity and our own selfishness.”“Great story...I had a hard time getting "into" the characters and didn't feel the emotions.”
Crysta B wrote this review Wednesday, May 14 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An book about a young 16 year old girl that gives up her baby for adoption and forms a close relationship to the adopting family. ”
Leanne C wrote this review Wednesday, April 9 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Displaying 1-7 of 7
