The Story of David

By Dion Howells

In an extraordinarily moving account that describes the two most emotional crises for any would-be parent--the search for a child to love and a woman's need to give up her own child to better his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385318863
• ISBN13: 9780385318860
• Release Date: May 1997
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A Life-Changing Book

I completly disagree with the review that Kirkus Reviews has posted. This book changed my life after I read it. Like Nancy, I became pregnant in high school with the only reasonable alternative to be adoption. After speaking with a number of agencies, I decided that I wouldn't be able to place my child in the traditional, closed adoption. I loved the idea of open adoption because I could continue to see my son and keep in contact with him while continuing on with my own life. When he comes of age and understands what the situation is, I will be able to tell him why I made my decision and why I placed him. He won't question my love for him since I have played such an active role in his life. I understand that some people, birth parents as well as adoptive parents, may not agree or feel they could be a part of this type of relationship, but we think it works just fine for us.

INSIRATIONAL, COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!

WE WERE GOING THROUGH AN OPEN ADOPTION THAT HAD IT'S MOMENTS. I HEARD OF THIS BOOK BECAUSE THE SUBJECTS WERE ON A TALK SHOW AND I THEN PURCHASED THE BOOK. IT KEPT ME GOING AND I WAS AMAZED AT HOW SIMILAR THE HOWELLS' CONCERNS WERE WITH OUR OWN. IT WAS NICE TO SEE HOW IT IS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHILD INVOLVED. FOR THE REST OF THE CHILD'S LIFE THEY WILL NEVER QUESTION WHO THE ARE OR WHERE THEY CAME FROM. I ONLY HOPE THAT OUR STORY TURNS OUT AS WONDERFULLY AS THIS ONE DID.

Convincing argument for open adoption

This book is by adoptive parents who treat their new family in a humane way--without the secrets and lies of closed adoption. I wouldn't recommend it as the first book prospective adoptive parents read on the topic, because the extreme openness of the Howells' adoption might make them think they had to achieve such closeness right away, but I do recommend it be read. I cannot fathom the comments of the reviewer above. Is she even a triad member?In short, a good book on an important topic.

An easy-to-read story of one family's open adoption

Told from the perspective of an adoptive father, this is a very realistic view of one family's open adoption. This dad holds nothing back as he describes the ups and downs of building his family. While not all open adoptions involve such an *intense* relationships, his story provides one example of success *for them* (at least up until the time the book was written.) Each open adoption is different, as my husband and I have learned with each of our daughters' open situations. Even though the author's experience is different from our own (we don't have the intensity of contact with birthparents they have), we can still learn from it. The author's story also provides a voice for the unspoken emotions of many adoptive parents. While their openness has consumed their lives, it is refreshing to read about someone else who is willing to offer an adopted child full knowledge of his/her birth heritage. It is quick reading, a book that is difficult to put down once you start.