Reviews of Born in Our Hearts

From Publishers Weekly

In the spirit of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, the Caseys, a mother and daughter who were brought together by adoption, collect brief essays by parents who have adopted, by children who have been adopted and even by parents who were adopted and then adopted children of their own. For the Caseys (as well as for the rest of the contributors to this volume), the joys of adopting far outweigh the inconveniences of red tape and paperwork that the process usually entails. The pieces in this book celebrate those joys, as parents relate typical stories of the happiness children bring, as well as adoption-specific stories telling of the mixing of cultures that often takes place when a child from a different country is brought up in an American household. Many of the adopted children in this book come from China, Russia and South America, and a good number of stories will ring familiar bells with parents who've traveled to a faraway place to collect a child they have not yet met. While overwhelmingly upbeat, the essays do address the difficulties some families face regarding adoption, exploring common children's questions of "Where do I fit in?" and "Why was I given up for adoption?" Though informal and somewhat clichéd, these stories are nonetheless heartfelt and may be enjoyed by anyone affected by adoption.
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From the Back Cover

"Born in Our Hearts is an insightful, provocative and moving collection exploring the adoption experience. It is my pleasure to share my journey and to help shed light on an issue that has been obscured in the past. These stories link us to our past and to our future, binding both author and reader in the human family."

-Dr. Tomothy Johnson, Medical Editor, ABC News

"Born in Our Hearts is a fine example of how art not only changes our world but also opens up new worlds to us. Through sharing these touching, personal stories of love and family, the authors bring hope to children waiting to be adopted and to couples waiting to become parents. As a mother, I was touched by the unconditional love felt for a child whether the child is born in the womb or in the heart."

-Marcia Gay Harden, Academy Award-Winning Actress

Endearing and heartwarming!, January 13, 2005
Reviewer: Bonnie DeLorme (Boston, MA)

This book is so inspiring. As part of a family touched by adoption, I totally enjoyed these stories. Each one is better than the next! This is truly a book that will evoke many emotions; joy, fear, love, disappointment, and hope. Even if you have not been touched by adoption, this book speaks to everyone's heart. This is a great book to give as a gift or to share with a book club! The most important lesson to learn from Born In Our Hearts is that families are made from love, not biology!

inside each of us is a universal story worth telling, July 11, 2004
Reviewer: Cynthia Peck (Greensboro, NC)

If this book had been around when I was building my family through adoption almost 30 years ago, I wouldn't have felt so alone in my determination to be called "Mom." Every question that rumbled through my mind at that time would have found a response in the heartfelt insights of each contributor.

Born in Our Hearts offers readers brief glimpses of families at different stages of their journey through the lens of adoption. The stories touch on universal themes---unconditional love, searching, pride, jealousy, overcoming difficulty, courage, wonder---and keep it from being simply another "How To" book.

Is it fate or destiny that the child born in your heart comes to you and not to another family, or that the 16-month-old you are handed is not 3-year-old you were expecting? You'll be awed by the chance encounter of a father and his infant son from Ecuador with a world renowned Master as they stroll along a garden path, and touched by the power of a child to give a grandmother whose health is failing a new reason to live each day.

Filis Casey and her daughter Marisa Catalina Casey conceived of their book as a way to provide for the world's most vulnerable children, those living in orphanages. With no background in writing or publishing, their faith in the outcome of their effort parallels the leap of faith taken by all who are connected to adoption. All proceeds from the sale of Born in Our Hearts will go the The Alliance For Children Foundation in support of their goal. Another good reason to order your copy!