Product Description

A how-to book to guide adoptees, birthparents, adoptive parents and siblings to find family members, documents and information.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #405560 in Books
• Published on: 1993-04-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 206 pages

About the Author
MJ Rillera is the author of numerous books on search and reunion. Her work with thousands of families since 1973, and her personal experiences as both adoptee and birthparent, make her uniquely qualified to scrutinize family separation issues. She has a keen understanding of the emotional and procedural aspects of search, contact and reunion. She was founder of Triadoption, a Guardian Trustee for the International Soundex Reunion Registry and served on many Boards including those of Concerned United Birthparents and American Adoption Congress. Her writing reflects expertise in research methods and resources and a deep personal commitment to change.

Customer Reviews

Still the best search book around!
I used this book when I searched for my son in 1989 and was struck by not only how thorough Mary Jo is in sharing ideas, techniques and sample letters and forms; but also the emotional part of the search journey. It is crucial to go into these searches with our eyes wide open and understand all possible issues the person we seek might have, as well as our own feelings. We also have a responsibility to be discrete and sensitive when we search for our lost parents or children.

Mary Jo is both a natural Mother and an Adoptee. I think this is why she totally gets it as to our unique issues. Most of the available search books are written by detectives or other people who have no understanding of the enormous emotional impact search and reunion have. If I was recommending only one adoption search book - this would be the one!

The Best Search Book
As the former leader of an emotional support group, this is the book I recommended for people to use in conducting a search. Mary Jo has been involved in adoption searches long enough that she knows how to overcome the many difficulties. Some searches today go very fast, but this book will also help those people who are having a harder time at completing their search. Mary Jo understand the emotions of searching because she is one of "us."

Read Mary Jo's book, join a search and support group, and don't hire the typical private investigator. Searching is part of the healing process!

Searcher's Bible
This book was a godsend! Wanted to find my family and didn't know where to start. This book did the trick. It took me through the process of gathering documents and information step-by-step. Now I'm going to buy The Reunion Book.