achukareviews

This book’s success lies within the fact that it is first and foremost a book about families and about love and a book ‘about adoption’ second. It does not moralise, preach or condescend through repeatedly stating how ‘special’ it is to be adopted, indeed Lucy has friends who, like herself, are adopted.

In addition to depicting Lucy’s own need to grow and develop within loving, caring family relationships, the book also outlines the need that Lucy is able to fulfil for her mum and dad who badly want a family. The awareness Lucy has of her past is great and the text is unambiguous about the fact that she was too young to remember her time in a Children’s Home in Russia though, nonetheless, having been adopted is clearly an integral part of the person Lucy now sees herself to be.

There is a wonderful double-page spread in the book where Lucy and her father look up at the stars in the night-sky and make wishes together. An intriguing depiction of the bedroom whose walls open out into the night stars forms the backdrop against which Lucy and her father are embraced. It brings to mind beautifully the type of kinship that we as humans are able to attain when our hearts and minds are open to the needs of others and ourselves. A reassuring and life-affirming read for anyone, not just those who have been adopted.