AWAY FROM THE TRIBE A novel based on a true Adoption Journey

By E. Carolyne M. Constancia

Claudiya is an adopted child, who faced big challenges starting at the tender age of 3. She became the caregiver for her adoptive mother. She was forced to grow up too soon. A negated childhood was the girl's destiny. In the midst of her parents' divorce, one parent's addictions, Claudiya was also faced with questions of identity. Her life felt like she was a round peg being pounded into a square hole. She never felt like she fit in. People dared to ask strange questions about her skin, the complexion. They remarked about her hair, which was certainly "different" than any white girl's hair they'd ever seen. Claudiya's crises with not feeling connected to an identity and not having confidence emerged in many areas during her life. She struggled with maintaining perfection, urged by a controlling, demanding parent to perform her chores without flaw. The consistent patterns of relationships of abuse, addiction, and feeling isolated follow Claudiya into adulthood. She feels as if she is to be responsible for the ones she loves, to make them comfortable, to ease their suffering. During the trials throughout her life, Claudiya felt an unexplainable courage within her, in her spirit. She heard whispers into her ears that she could and would carry on, despite the bruises, welts, scars, denials, the rejections and betrayals. Claudiya held on tightly to her faith, her foundation for making it through some tough times. She longed for a bloodline, children to carry on her genetic characteristics. Not in a vain way but in a way to continue the line of family she would never come to know; or so she thought. Claudiya prayed and imagined a family that might search for her someday. Her life takes a miraculous turn, opening the door to discovering her heritage. Claudiya submits to a DNA test and is vindicated when she reads the results. Claudiya wastes no time in learning, absorbing like a thirsty sponge, all the history, geography, art and social studies of her roots. Travel is planned. During her research, it became more and more apparent to Claudiya that her concerns about the adoption process were valid and should be exposed. Poor-to-no follow up, need for open files; the arrangements for children to know their biological families, if agreed upon and if beneficial to all parties, especially the child. Claudiya could summarize in her list of grievances, the bottom line is that children, at the very least, know their identity, ethnicity, the reason for the adoption, and family history (if known and can be shared without harm). Why shouldn't a person know this, why should that be withheld? Medical information is valuable to have, as Claudiya learned at the age of 9. At a certain time, adopted children must be told the truth. All the truths the adoption facilities know and the adoptive parents are provided with, must be shared with the child at some point. Claudiya's experience proved that It's better to know truths than wonder alone and feel lost. Claudiya, for the first time in her life, at age 65, is able to embark on a discovery of knowing all about the good, bad and ugly, as her controversial heritage includes conquerors and the conquered, the Slaves, Masters, and the Chiefs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CY5QC8H3
• ISBN13: 9798884318076
• Release Date: March 2024
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 755 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 1.7" x 6.1"