ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the narrative behind the central theme of the book—exploring adoption stories and how they can help us make sense of key themes such as separation, loss, and independence. It begins by focusing on fictional narratives about the adoption experience as depicted in children’s novels or films but develops into an exploration of contemporary real-life “stories” from adopters and adoptees, emphasizing how important stories are for all of us. Stories have been used to describe the joys and sorrows of people’s lives throughout history, and the ubiquitous adoption story is one that continues to stir up strong feelings and emotions. You don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to see how powerful themes of loss and sadness are central to individual and family stories, despite a “coming together” once the adoption order has been granted. It is interesting how these stories or tales about adoption get passed down through generations and continue to be reworked into contemporary novels, films, and works of art, right up to the present day. Finding a story that “fits” can be tremendously important for all children and their parents.
