This is a classic fiction book about a precocious, intellectual girl and her journey through life and school. The protagonist (Matilda) is characterized as astonishingly intelligent, patient, and vengeful. The book focuses on the concepts of education, opportunity, power, and family.
This is a classic, fictitious story about a young orphan who runs away to live with a group of pickpockets. Dickens created an entirely new kind of fiction, scathing in its indictment of a cruel society, and pervaded by a sense of threat and mystery. The book explores themes including bravery, honesty, family, and gratitude.
Another classic work of fiction, this book is about a young orphan boy with grand dreams. This is a tale of crime, guilt, morality, and justice.
This is a children’s book about a lost young bat who finds her way safely home to her mother and friends. It explores themes of friendship, celebrating differences, and belonging.
This is a book about an orphan (Jane) who has felt outcast her entire life. Jane moves for work and falls in love with the man who hired her and must decide whether to pursue her love. It explores themes of love, family, belonging, and independence.
This is a story about a young orphan (Heidi) who lives with her grandfather. When Heidi goes to Germany to work in a wealthy household, she dreams of returning to her home, her friend Peter, and her beloved grandfather.
This is a fictitious story about Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan who isn’t embraced by her adoptive family. Before they send her back, Anne wins them over completely. It explores all the vulnerability, expectations, and dreams of growing up.
This book is about a Korean-American adoptee who returned to Korea at 20 to search for her birth mother. The author cites feeling conflicted, shattered, exhilarated, and moved in ways she never imagined. It also explores the concepts of belonging, identity, and courage.
This is the true story of Mei-Ling Hopgood, one of the first wave of Asian adoptees to arrive in America. She never identified with her Asian ancestry, but was quickly involved in Asian culture when her birth family contacted her. Lucky Girl is a tale of joy, regret, hilarity, deep sadness, and great discovery.
This is a collection of interviews of Black and biracial young adults adopted by white parents. It features personal stories of two dozen individuals “who hail from a wide range of religious, economic, political, and professional backgrounds.” This book explores how adoption affects racial and social identities, friendship and marriage, and lifestyle. It also includes overviews of the history and current legal status of transracial adoption (as of 2000).
