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The Adoptee Bookshelf is a relatively new project inspired by review sites like LGBTQ Reads, Disability in KidLit, Latinxs in Kid Lit, and more. Our founder, Maria Valiente, an educator, librarian, and book reviewer, was tired of blind spots around the adoptee experience in the book world. When pulling resources for families or teachers, there were limited choices, and even the best educators subconsciously perpetuated harmful adoptee narratives in their read-alouds or school projects.
According to The Lee & Low Diversity Baseline Survey 3.0, 76.6% of book reviewers are White, 69.5% cis women, and 64% straight. While we can only assume, the lack of diversity in book reviewers indicates that stories from the adoptee constellation (including international adoption, indigenous child removal, transracial adoption, kinship care, foster care, and more) are not being championed by readers who get it, readers who can speak from the “I” perspective.
Our mission remains the same, but this season we are growing!
Our Mission: The Adoptee Bookshelf is a resource created by educators and librarians dedicated to reading, reviewing, and promoting quality adoptee literature. We invite you to join us in using these books as tools for conversation in the library, at home, or in the classroom!
Meet the Contributors
Meet Maria
Maria is a Guatemalan adoptee, librarian, educator, and creative. She has served on book review committees and currently writes as a reviewer for Publishers Weekly. The Adoptee Bookshelf was born out of a desire to provide resources to adoptees, their families, and educators to create more inclusive spaces for adoptees. She is passionate about building community through books. You can follow Mari for more bookish content @msvtheadoptee on social media.
Meet Martina
Martina Junod is a clinical librarian, lover of crafts, and a Slavic adoptee. She enjoys coordinating informal social gatherings for adoptees, former foster youth, and people who experience estrangement. A goal in her lifetime is to witness over-romanticized orphan tropes in fictional media become less dominant than adoptee-authored stories. She firmly believes that adoptees of all ages deserve to see a kaleidoscope of realistic identities, feelings, and characters reflected in the next generation of fiction. To reach her, message @adultadoptees on Instagram.
Interested in Joining the Team?
- Do you identify from the “I” perspective as part of the adoptee constellation AND are an educator, librarian, OR book reviewer?
We are looking for book reviewers and writers interested in writing pieces that promote adoptee literature. If you are interested, email us at: theadopteebookshelf@gmail.com or fill out the Contributor Interest Form HERE
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The Adoptee Bookshelf 