06/18/2026
Last week gave you a reading list of family sagas; books that explored the messy consequences of an unearthed secret (secret children, secret identities, and unspoken grievances). This week we are turning our attention away from fictional buried truths to the raw and emotional reality of adopted children searching for their biological families.
Today we have two memoirs written by Nicole Chung and Julie Ryan McGue, both women set off to track down their biological families. One out of curiosity, the second out of necessity. Nicole Chung grew up believing in the warm and fuzzy tale her adopted parents spun; that her biological parents placed her for adoption for the betterment of her wellbeing. As an adult, after becoming a mother herself, Nicole became determined to unearth the truth about her adoption story. Was it really an altruistic decision or something more sinister? Julie's story is quite different. Her search for her biological family was a necessity due to the development of serious health issues. And so, both memoirs chronicle the emotional journey the women went on as they navigated a delicate balancing act adoptees face: managing gratitude for their adoptive families alongside an overwhelming need to know their biological origins.
The third book on our reading list today is Far from the Tree a young adult novel about three teenagers - Grace, Maya, and Joaquin - who discover they are biological siblings and connect through their shared birth mother, exploring themes of adoption, foster care, and the meaning of family.
What are you currently reading? Leave a comment to let us know!
