Recommended Reading: Self-Empowerment & Reclamation
Books have the power to transform, inspire, and guide us on the path to reclamation. This collection is part of our community resources, focusing on self-empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. These readings offer supportive tools to navigate trauma, build emotional strength, and reclaim your voice. Whether you're seeking practical strategies, reflective insights, or affirming perspectives, these books provide meaningful support for personal restoration and wholeness.
Self-Empowerment & Healing
For those navigating the emotional complexities of identity loss, origin discovery, and family separation, these books offer supportive perspectives for self-reflection, self-discovery, and reclaiming personal narrative. This reading list is shared as part of our community resources, intended to accompany individual and peer support spaces.
Let Us Be Greater: A Gentle, Guided Path to Healing for Adoptees – Michelle Madrid
Finding My Roots: A Journal of Discovery and Reunification – Laura Olmsted, Lisa Binz, Rev Kate Penney Howard
The Artist's Way Workbook – Julia Cameron
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma – Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself – Kristin Neff, Ph.D.
Journey Of The Adopted Self – Betty Jean Lifton
Goodbye Hypervigilance: Healing Adoptee Worry – Lora K Joy, Laura Foote
NoBODY Looks Like Me: An Adoptee Experience – Lora K Joy, Laura Foote
Self Attunement: An Adoptee Superpower – Lora K Joy, Laura Foote
Coloring & Journal Book For Adoptees With Motivational Quotes: For Adoptees Healing Journey - Volume 1 – Angel Davis, Angie McGahey
The NPE Journey Journal: A Path to Healing – Alicia Hamblin
Swear, Vent & Coloring Book For (very) F*cking Angry Adoptees: For Adoptees Healing Journey - Volume 1 – Angel Davis, Angie McGahey
NPE Journal: Guided journaling, daily journaling Rose pink & gold – Stacey L. Yates
Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self – David M. Brodzinsky, Marshall D. Schecter, Robin Marantz Henig
Lost and Found: The Adoption Experience – Betty Jean Lifton
The Primal Wound – Nancy Verrier
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Help Us Grow Our Recommended Reading List
We aim to curate a diverse and thoughtful collection of books shared as part of our community resources, reflecting self-empowerment, identity exploration, and the lived realities of family separation. If a book has been meaningful to you and feels aligned with this space, we welcome your recommendation.
Community input helps ensure this reading list reflects a wide range of voices and perspectives. You’re invited to email your book suggestions as we continue building a shared resource that supports reflection, learning, and connection within our peer support spaces.