The Colours in Me: Writing and Poetry by Adopted Children and Young People [Paperback]

The Colours in Me is a compilation of narratives by adopted children and young adults living in the UK, adopted both domestically and from abroad. The title intrigues - it derives from artwork by one of the young contributors. It most profoundly reflects the colour and range of emotions so vividly described so vividly by the young writers.

What is the aim of the book? It's clear that this book isn't simply a collection of works by adoptees. It is a 'snapshot' compilation, reflections and lifestories, and therefore a therapeutic tool for its young writers and artists. The book offers a powerful means to hearing and attending to the thoughts of children on being adopted. This makes a keen tool for all adoptive parents and adoption practitioners, in terms of shaping the parenting and professional help our adopted children need. The book is thus also a generic tool, scaffolding lifestory work, and empowering reflection of all adoption stories.

It tells adoption stories, some perhaps that many adoptees would find difficult to own, containing sadness, bitterness, discomfit, hurt, and loss. These are painted with sad colours as recognisable to all adopted children as the colours of joy many of the children write about, of their relief to have found family in adoption, or joy in reconnecting with birthfamily. What's more the telling isn't simply in 'long essays'; there are drawings, poetry as well as long and short written pieces. Young people who struggle with reading are welcomed most certainly into this book. The fact that writers have offered short 'bios' and in some cases photos most helpfully shows that this book is real, really the product of the adoptees, and part of the real world, not textbooks...

The book has five major sections - Adoption Stories, On Being Adopted, On Being Apart, Staying in Touch, Revisiting Birthplace with a sixth, Messages. Messages is a pin board, a concise set of opinions on 'being adopted' which the writers want other adoptees, parents and practitioners to hear. For less literary readers, this is an important chapter.

What does this book offer adoptees, parents and practitioners? It's not a didactic adoption primer, but rather a fluid string of narratives, and therefore capable of multiple use on many layers, and as a springboard for readers to write/talk/draw their own stories. Key to its use is the editorial Preface which sets out authoritative thinking on how to help young adoptees grapple with their adoption stories - as they understand them themselves. For parents and practitioners, this chapter is the therapeutic fulcrum; in a future edition it could usefully carry practitioner input on the use of narratives and lifestory work.

The book is powerful. The fact of its publication empowers all young adoptees to know that their stories are/can be listened to and valued. And it will assist parents and practitioners alike to 'see' the colours that that they might otherwise have missed in the young adopted people in their families and care.

It's a must read and have for all concerned with adoption in the UK - and beyond.

A wonderfully insightful book that gives adopted children the long awaited platform to express themselves as never before. Perlita Harris has managed to bring to the fore the thoughts, feelings and voices of children, adolescents and young people. Within the pages of this book the reader hears children's and young people's thoughts and feelings about their birth parents, birth siblings, adoptive families, post adoption contact (and lack of contact) and so much more. As you read you can hear their voices!

The book is divided into sub-sections, each relating to an aspect of adoption such as what it's like being adopted, separation from significant people and re-visiting birth place, etc. At the end of the book are messages from some contributors to other adopted children, adoptive parents, social workers and therapists. Read and take action! Finally, a bio paragraph about each contributor (along with a photo in some cases) is included at the back making each piece of writing and artwork all the more `real'.

The statements, narratives, poems and artwork reflecting each child's and young person's experience of adoption are touching, thought provoking, enlightening and encouraging. All those involved in care planning for children including social workers, Independent Reviewing Officers, Family Court Judges, anyone considering adoption or fostering, students and tutors of social work along with all adopted children and young people MUST read this book!

Brilliant! Well done to the children and young people, Perlita Harris and the British Association for Adoption and Fostering for yet anither pioneering book!

Dr Perlita Harris has edited a remarkable book. This collection of experiences, insights and reflections by children and young people in the fostering, adoption and childcare system is highly significant and deeply moving.
The writing has been well organised and reflects a wide variety of experiences of the contributors.
My only advice to potential readers is that it is very important to read regularly and re-read the backgrounds of each of the children and young people. It certainly helped me to remember that these are not abstract or anonymous experiences; these are in fact very many very real and deeply personal contributions.
Finally, it would be fascinating if Dr Harris were able to follow up this group of individuals in 8-10 years time and share with us how each of these people's experiences and perceptions have developed and changed.
In short; this is an essential and very important book