
Reach for this book when your child begins to ask about the pieces of their identity that existed before they joined your family, or when they are navigating the complexities of international adoption. The story follows a young girl born in China who explores her identity through three distinct names: the one she was born with, the one she was given in the orphanage, and the name her adoptive parents chose for her. It is a gentle, poetic exploration of belonging and personal history. Parents will appreciate the way it validates the child's curiosity about their 'hidden' past while celebrating the love of their current family. This is an ideal choice for children ages 5 to 9 who are processing their origin stories or learning how different cultures shape who we are today.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe protagonist navigates the distance between her birth culture and her adoptive home.
The book deals directly with international adoption and the concept of birth parents who could not keep their child. The approach is secular and deeply realistic, focusing on the internal emotional landscape of the child. The resolution is hopeful and grounded in self-acceptance.
An elementary schooler, specifically one joined to their family through adoption, who is beginning to vocalize 'what if' questions about their origins and needs a framework to honor their heritage.
Read this book ahead of time to prepare for questions about birth parents. The book mentions a 'lost' name and the fact that birth parents may not have been able to care for the baby, which may prompt a deeper conversation about the child's specific history. A parent might see their child staring at old photos, asking about their 'tummy mommy,' or expressing a sense of feeling 'different' from their peers or parents.
Younger children (5-6) will focus on the ritual of naming and the warmth of the current family. Older children (8-9) will more keenly feel the poignancy of the 'hidden' name and the cultural bridge between China and their current home.
Unlike many adoption books that focus on the parents' journey to find the child, this book centers entirely on the child's internal experience and the power of naming as an anchor for identity.
Ada is a young girl adopted from China who reflects on the three names she has carried. Her first name was given by her birth parents and is lost to time, but she imagines it as a whisper. Her second name was assigned at an orphanage. Her third name, Ada, is the one given by her adoptive family. The book follows her daily life and her quiet reflections on how these names connect her to different places and people.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.