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A review by pmhandley
American Baby: A Mother, a Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption by Gabrielle Glaser
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Incredibly readable in a can't-put-down type of way. Highlights the horror of the adoption industry - and yes, it's certainly an industry - through the story of one family but also highlights the awfulness of the "Baby Scoop" era generally. There is some talk about the problems that still persist in adoption but this is largely contained in the final chapter. You're mad for Margaret, you're mad for David, who's inability to access his actual family medical history probably cost him decades of life. It's an important read for dispelling the common narrative of adoption that focuses heavily on adoptive parents and does not consider the wellbeing of adoptees or what it entails for someone to give up their baby.
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death and Death of parent