Chung, Nicole, and Shannon Gibney. When We Become Ours. 2023. 352p. HarperTeen, $18.99. (9780063144408) Recommended grade levels 9-12.
A powerful anthology, edited by two adoptee authors who are paving the way for adoptee literature and amplifying the stories of adoptee voices from a diversity of backgrounds. These 15 stories lift the invisible curtain that silences adoptee youth, bringing a much needed critical lens to the adoptee experience. This book centers teen and young adult characters, covering a range of genres like science fiction, fantasy, and realistic fiction. It also includes a graphic novel short story. Emotionally charged, these stories are opened and closed by adoptee researchers and storytellers who impart the power the words within this book hold for better understanding the adoptee experience. Any of the stories in this book would make for a great mentor text in a short story unit. With themes of mental health resonating through each story, this book is an integral resource for opening lines of communication around social emotional well-being and adoption.
Buy it! This is a must-have for the adoptee bookshelf.
Reviewed by María Valiente
The Adoptee Bookshelf 