In Reunion: Transnational Korean Adoptees and the Communication of Family

— Written in 2024, by by Sara Docan-Morgan, an adult adoptee, 306 pages

— Review written by Heather Gonzales in 2025

Quick Review & Considerations:

This is written by an adoptee who is also a Professor of Communication Studies
I love this book. As an American domestic adoptee, this is personally and professionally probably the adoption book I have been the most excited to find in years.
The concepts and terms in this book, such as “Discursive Burden” and “Discursive Power” and how these pertain to adoptees and our families, are essential for finding the language we need to better understand ourselves, our family dynamics, and our stories. Another example is in chapter 6- The author writes about changes in adoptee perspectives over time about their reunion, including examples and information on 4 aspects of how a communicator (adoptee) interprets behaviors (our own or others), intros case during and after reunions. There are numerous ways this information are important for adoptees in order to to better understand and use our voices. Another aspect, not intended by the author, but also impactful, is using the information in Chapter 6 to sway against the popular current practice of asking Only young adoptees/ formerly fostered youth to speak at events, be included in research, or be interviewed for books.
Even for adoptees not considering reunion- the information on the nature of communication between adoptees and adoptive families is invaluable
Several chapters are pretty exclusively for Korean adoptees navigating reunion (ch 3, 4, & 7), and all of the examples to illustrate the author’s points throughout the book are from her own experiences and from what other Korean adoptees have shared
Other chapters have plenty of good information on communication (the authors area of expertise) between adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents (ch 1, 2, 5, 6) which all adoptees can benefit from reading.
The author honors and fully quotes each adoptee voice, and does not rewrite or reword their statements in any way (Something that non-adoptee authors often do not do). She then gives explanations and ties each narrative example to her points.

Please Note:

Listing books here is not intended to indicate absolute agreement with all content, techniques, suggestions, word choices, or other work by the authors- but to indicate a large portion of information that was found helpful. It is recommended that whatever you read, no matter who recommends it or writes it, that readers use critical thinking and that content is reviewed in a thoughtful, contemplative, and reflective manner.

List and comments reflect the individual opinions of Heather Gonzales and are written from the perspective of an adoptee, for those looking for resources for adoptees or adoptive families specifically. Lists are not necessarily a reflection of all staff or Encompass Adoptees as a whole