Synopses & Reviews
You hear all sorts of things said or implied about adoption. Some information comes from people who know a lot about it, while some comes from people who don’t know anything about it but make assumptions anyway. Some comes from people whose experiences have been good; some from those whose experiences have been bad. The result? Enough conflicting information to make your head spin.
So when everyone has an opinion and most of the books on the market deal with specific aspects on adoption or particular types of adoptions, where do you turn to for reliable information? Start with Adoption For Dummies.
The great thing about this guide is that you decide where to start and what to read. It’s a reference you can jump into and out of at will. Just head to the table of contents or the index to find the information you want. Each part of Adoption For Dummies covers a particular aspect of adoption, including:
- Answering the basic adoption questions – How much does it cost? Who’s involved? How long does it take? What do I need to know that I don’t know to ask? And more.
- Getting started – and figuring out what steps you have to take.
- Dealing with birthmothers and birthfathers – and why, even though they may not be part of your life, they’re still important to you.
- Confronting the issues adoptive families face – issues from sharing the adoption story with your child, to answering your child's questions about his birthparents, to handling rude family members who treat your child differently than her cousins.
- Finding help – from books, resources, and support groups.
No adoption book – at least no adoption book that you can carry around without a hydraulic lift – can tell you everything there is to know about adoption. What Adoption For Dummies tells you is what you need to know, all in an easy-to-use reference.
Synopsis
The thousands of Americans who consider adoption each year face a host of tough questions. should we adopt within the country or internationally. Should we adopt through an agency, foster care system, or independently?
Synopsis
Get the facts on adoption fees and legal issuesWhat to expect every step of the way when adopting a child
Are you ready to adopt? This reassuring guide walks you through the process, from choosing the right form of adoption and finding an agency to filling out forms, meeting with birthparents, and getting through the waiting period. You get tips on surviving the home study, dealing with family members, and sharing the adoption story with your child.
The Dummies Way
- Explanations in plain English
- "Get in, get out" information
- Icons and other navigational aids
- Tear-out cheat sheet
- Top ten lists
- A dash of humor and fun
Synopsis
The competition to get into your college of choice has never been fiercer. Unfortunately, much of the application process is out of your hands. But one major aspect of the admission process is under your control—your personal statement. Your application essay provides you with the opportunity to let your true, unique and totally irresistible self shine through.
College Admission Essays For Dummies is your total guide to crafting application essays that will make people sit up and take notice. It demystifies the authority figures who’ll judge your work, helps you decide what to write, and then arms you with the knowledge and skills you need to write your essay on time and on target. Step by step, it walks you through the entire essay-writing process, offering priceless tips on how to:
- Choose the best topic, tone, and structure for your essay
- Capture the crucial stories that reveal who you are
- Avoid common pitfalls that can sabotage your application
- Overcome writer’s block
- Know how to respond to unusual and off-the-wall essay questions
- Write successful short answers to specific application questions
College admission guru Geraldine Woods punctures common myths about application essays and tells you what you absolutely must do to write a good one. With the help of many inspiring and instructive killer essays, she shows you how to:
- Put yourself in the right mental state for writing well
- Gather ideas, focus on a topic and choose the best structure for your essay
- Use topic sentences, detail, and strong introductions and conclusions
- Write a rough draft
- Show rather than tell your story
- Make sure your spelling and grammar are pitch perfect
- Create smooth transitions and avoid repetitions
Your college application essay is your chance to show the committee that you’re more than just a statistic. Let College Admission Essays For Dummies show you how to write “admit-clinching” college essays.
Synopsis
Get the scoop on avoiding common essay pitfalls
How to write an "admit-clinching" college admission essay
A good essay can mean the difference between getting into your first-choice college . . . and settling for a safety school. Dont worry! This friendly guide delivers just what you need to craft a memorable admission essay, including practical tips on tackling the most common essay topics and lots of inspiring examples.
The Dummies Way
- Explanations in plain English
- "Get in, get out" information
- Icons and other navigational aids
- Tear-out cheat sheet
- Top ten lists
- A dash of humor and fun
About the Author
Tracy Barr is the coauthor of
Latin For Dummies and contributor to
World War II For Dummies and
Religion For Dummies.
Katrina Carlisle, BSW, LSW, is a social worker with 14 years experience in adoption and child welfare agencies.
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Adoption but Didn’t Know Whom to Ask.
Chapter 1: Adoption Basics.
Chapter 2: Sorting It All Out: Types of Adoptions.
Chapter 3: The Adoption Process from Beginning to End.
Chapter 4: The Gasp Factor: What You Can Expect to Pay.
Chapter 5: Who Can Adopt?
Chapter 6: Building a Family through Adoption: Is It for You?
Part II: Getting Started and Moving Forward, One Milestone at a Time.
Chapter 7: Getting the Ball Rolling: Finding an Agency or Lawyer.
Chapter 8: Thinking about Your Future Child.
Chapter 9: Applications, Home Studies, and Other Really Fun Stuff.
Chapter 10: Doing Hard Time: The Wait.
Chapter 11: A Child’s Available! Now What? Placement and Follow-up Visits.
Chapter 12: Here Comes the Judge: The Court Appearance.
Part III: Birthmothers and Birthfathers.
Chapter 13: God Bless the Birthmothers.
Chapter 14: Birthfathers and Their Role in Your Adoption.
Chapter 15: Keeping in Touch: Meetings and Contact with the Birthmother.
Part IV: Issues Adoptive Families Face.
Chapter 16: All in the Family: Issues You Deal with at Home.
Chapter 17: Beyond the Family: Dealing with Outsiders.
Chapter 18: What Can Go Wrong and What You Can Do.
Chapter 19: In Search of . . . Birthparents.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 20: Ten Great Books to Read to Your Kids.
Chapter 21: Ten Support Groups for Adoptive Families.
Chapter 22: Ten Helpful Web Sites.
Index.