Somewhere Sisters

I received a free digital copy of this book from Algonquin Books, and I was pleasantly surprised by much I loved reading and learning from it. It tells the story of 3 sisters, 2 twins from Vietnam who were separated at birth (Ha and Isabella), and a third non-biological sister who was adopted by an American family along with Isabella (Olivia).

While the book focused primarily on their story, it also gave greater context to transracial adoptions and the history of adoption within the United States. While many families adopt to help provide children with a “better life”, this book begs the question of whether the life they are providing truly is better, as adoptees may struggle with identity issues, racism, and their citizenship status.

I really enjoyed this book and how much I learned. Erika was able to weave history and research into the stories of the three sisters to help highlight how good intentions can also bring harm, if not backed by well-informed decisions. If you’re looking to learn more about transracial adoptions, especially within between Asia and the United States, definitely check out this book.

Rating: 5/5 stars