Cindy Champnella and her husband adopted a daughter from China. Jaclyn, however, cannot forget her "baby" - a younger boy in the orphanage she took under her wings, to protect from bullying. Thus begins Champnella's campaign to bring the little boy to America as well.

The few books I've read about adoption focused on the process, but more or less ended with the adoption. This one continued on, after Jaclyn's arrival in the U.S., to Lee's adoption. As the author says, seeing the world through these orphans' eyes really make you appreciate what you have and be grateful. When Jacklyn took her first bath, the four-year-old meticulously scrubbed herself clean, then started scrubbing the toy her new mom tossed in, and finally cleaned the bath tub. I joked to my husband, no wonder people want to adopt a child from China!! Of course, behind that episode, you can sense a Dickinsonian existence in the orphanage she grew up in.

Should you be interested, a quick google online will yield you some more pictures of the family, including Jaclyn as a teenager. Hard to believe, I did the math and she's 20 now!

Putting into the bookbox.

I know a number of people who have adopted children from China: this sounds like a fascinating story.

Featuring a cute (and very appropriate) label by azuki.

Gratefully claimed from AlterEgoZoe's Far East/Asian bookbox.

Quite a story: among the lessons it teaches, this book reminds me not to take things for granted. I'm quite impressed by Jaclyn's memory of her younger years: although I'm not quite like Johnny Mnemonic (whose memory of childhood was deliberately removed in the movie), I remember very little about those early pre-kindergarten years.

This book may go back into the next round of AlterEgoZoe's box.

Friday, April 19, 2019: left at the gas pumps. (Larger photo here.)

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I'm so glad you've found this book! Won't you make a journal entry so the previous readers know that it's safe with you?

How and where did you find the book? What did you think of it? What are you going to do with it next?

This is now your book, for you to do with as you please: keep it, pass it to a friend, or maybe even leave it where someone else can find it!

If you've ever wondered where your books go after they leave your hands, join BookCrossing and you may find out: you'll be able to follow your books as new readers make journal entries - sometimes from surprisingly far-flung locations.

BookCrossing: making the whole world a library!