“Adoption Detective—novel or memoir?”

Readers judge a story to be of high literary value when they can recognize an interesting life, and are nourished by the journey, bringing along many of their own quests and associations of their own. The book Adoption Detective blends the elements of a nonfiction memoir with the written style of a novel.

Best selling novels are character-driven stories that have a consistent, well-designed, and exciting plot with unexpected turns. Novels highlight individuals that have reasons for their actions, who are distinguished, alluring, and realistic, that the reader wants to know more about. The theme is profound and the setting, time, and place easy to imagine.

A good memoir is precise and clearly written in an authentic voice that is cinematic because the reader can see what is happening. A good memoir deals with desire – what people want; what they do to get it; what helps or hinders them; identifies antagonists who don’t want the same things; and describes what it all means. The values and heritage that shaped the main character makes sense and their feelings and reflections are evident in an historical context that describes what the person felt then, and what the person feels now. The way the experience is recounted is uniquely fresh and bold. Pivotal events in life are specific and interesting and the interrelationship of events and feelings are vividly linked based on the cause and effect, either overtly or covertly. A good memoir imperatively requires the reader to experience a shift in understanding of life’s trajectory.

“Libraries are best when housed in quiet alluring architectural spaces filled with comfortable furniture, interesting artifacts, warm subdued natural lighting, and ambient surroundings that awaken peaceful feelings of nostalgia.” —Martin Land

Judith Romano’s mature awareness and in depth analysis of the circumstances that shape her life enlighten others about what it means to be adopted. Her adventure unfolds as a series of significant events and her deep psychological reactions to them. The Dear Mom letters provide insight into the mind of a child and describe her evolution in thinking from infancy, childhood and teen years, through a succession of passages leading into adulthood. Judith Romano faces a nearly insurmountable challenge to find her roots, but her tenacious approach to problem solving eventually demonstrates the power of the individual to defeat adversity. In order to create a positive outcome for herself, she must make difficult moral and ethical choices, work within a social system stacked against her, overcome her fear of rejection, conquer her own personal inhibitions, and resolve legal constraints. Her opinions about the value of self-identity and family connections are educational and inspirational. —Judith Land

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