Karin Evans
The Lost Daughters of China (2001)
Author: Karin Evans
Genre: Nonfiction (Memoir)
Book Summary:
This is the story of Karin Evans journey to her daughter. In 1997, she and her husband adopted a little girl from China. This book describes the entire experience from start to finish as well as giving background and history on the Chinese culture. It is a necessary read for anyone considering a Chinese adoption.
Geographical Setting: China, California
Time Period: 1996-1997
Appeal Characteristics:
Evan's book is a varied work that appeals to readers. Her story is presented as a travel journal, a "how to" for adoption, and a history lesson. Because of the various formats, the book appeals to more readers. The characters are also well developed and very real. You can see the anxieties that Evans and her husband go through during the adoption of their daughter. The Chinese mother's sacrifices are also well described-the reader understands why the women are giving these babies up. Another appeal factor is the advice that Evan's offers. She details her good and bad experiences letting the reader decide for himself. One of the major draws of the book is the emotional appeal. Parents going through the long process of adoption want to have some comfort that others are feeling the same things. This book gives the readers that connection. The pacing of the books is also well done. It follows the chronological journey that Evans and her husband took. Each step is described with as much detail as the last. The pacing is very constant throughout the book, which makes it an easy book to keep picking up and reading.
Read-alikes: A good place to start would be with the DVD, China's Lost Girlsa documentary made by National Geographic. The movie has similar pacing as the book and includes very similar information. Parents and children are shown as they go through all the various emotions during the adoption process. There is also a lot of historical information on the Chinese people and culture. Another good read-alike is The Chinese Adoption Handbook by John Maclean. It is a reference book on Chinese adoption, which includes information on the actual process as well as advice. There are travel tips and historical information throughout the book. Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham is a travelogue of an adopted child returning to his homeland. Although it is based in Vietnam, the similar circumstances of adoption and identity will give parents an idea of what their adopted child is going through emotionally. Another read-alike with similar content and format is A Passage to the Heart by Amy Klatzkin. It is a collection of several parent's memoirs from their adoption journey. It does not include as much historic information as the others, but the pacing is the same as Evan's book. Lastly, China Run by David Ball is a good fiction read-alike. While the events of the story are made up, the book has several factual details in descriptions and settings. Parents will find this fictionalized story similar to their own experience expect with the worst thing imaginable happening. They will find a similarity with this book and other "real" memoirs that people have written.
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