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by Reginald D. Jarrell (Author), Laura Tillem (Editor), Gretchen Eick (Editor)
Reggie Jarrell was adopted as a newborn by a childless couple who were part of his extended family. They agreed to let his teenaged birth mother be part of his life. But no one would speak of his birth father.
Jarrell grew up in a loving home with parents who encouraged and supported him. His birth mother came in and out of his life. Despite knowing he was cherished, in his teens he longed to know who his birth father was. That longing resulted in decades of starting and stopping a search for the mysterious man whose genes he carried. It culminated when, in his fifties, Jarrell met Myron. What he uncovered about the secret man who had haunted him was shocking. As he learned more, his view of his birth mother was also altered.
Jarrell tells this story with candor. He lets readers know of his ambivalence that stopped him from responding once he located his birth father. He shows readers the charismatic Myron, a teenager who got in trouble and the radiant Wanda who gave him life when she was fouirteen.
Readers meet his adoptive parents who taught their beloved son to value books, hard work, and learning. Jarrell's story traces his own restlessness through an assortment of careers and the accumulation of multiple advanced degrees. We see him puzzling over what traits he may have inherited from Myron and why his family kept Myron a secret from him for so long was.
This is a moving story of loss and recovery, of love in its various forms. It is an important read for people whose lives intersect it from any of the viewpoints: birth parents, adoptive parents, adoptees, those considering adoption, social workers, church groups. It is appropriate for families with middle school or older children to read together and for use in schools. Now, when most children experience multiple parent figures and many are estranged from family members, Jarrell's story shows that one can love and be enriched by multiple parent figures. And that love comes in various forms and can survive despite everything.
Photos of his family enhance the text.
