Stacie Ivey is a friend of Operation Identity, and an adult adoptee. Although her book is not primarily about adoption, it contains several pertinent references to her own adoption and how that affected her life and her self-concept. She tells her own story briefly at the beginning of the book, including her desire to search for her birth mother, the results of her search and reunion, and how that affected her relationship with her adoptive mother. She relates the messages given to adoptees, and to birth families and adoptive families, about love, loyalty, and religion, and how those messages affect individuals.

The main thrust of the book is about finding one’s own spiritual path, particularly for women, and it includes several exercises, suggestions, and approaches to doing that. Some will find the book extremely helpful, some will find it interesting but not “up their alley.” It is well-written, well-presented, and for many readers, certain parts will be very relevant, worth the reading even if they choose not to follow all of the suggestions, which are presented as “invitations.” Those without an adoption connection may still find the book helpful in healing from past traumas, bad relationships, and poor self-concept.

Stacie Ivey can be reached at stacieivey@gmail.com for purchasing the book or for comments on the book.