The decision to adopt is often filled with great joy, excitement, and many questions. Often, people will start their adoption journey at a library or bookstore, where countless adoption books await.

At first, it can be overwhelming when you look at the selection of books on adoption. Some books focus on domestic adoption, others on international. There are many that focus on adoption issues, but not on the adoption process.

As you begin your adoption journey, it’s helpful to find books filled with factual information from reliable resources, combined with someone who has been through the process. Learning what someone has gone through in their own adoption process can provide a better ‘insider’ look of adoption in general.

The book titled “The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to Adoption” by Elizabeth Swire Falker fits all of the above criteria.

This book is an excellent starting point for those considering domestic and/or international adoption. The author gives an honest view point on her adoption experience, combined with her expertise as an attorney and adoption advocate.

The book has ten chapters, divided into four parts. The chapters are easy to read and understand. It doesn’t matter if you read the book page by page, or skip around to whichever part you want to learn about first.

Part one compares and contrasts domestic and international adoptions. The author does a good job providing the realities of both adoption processes, which can be rare in books on adoption.

Also in part one, she writes in great detail about various ways to afford adoption. She brings to light ways that hopeful adoptive parents may not have thought about.

The adoption home study is well covered in the final chapter of part one. Her personal experience in going through a home study is a nice touch on the usual home study chapters of adoption books.

Part two and part three are two of my favorite parts of this book. In part two, the chapters cover key points in domestic adoption, from starting your adoption all the way to your baby’s homecoming. In part three, the chapters cover key points in international adoption, from choosing a country to arriving home with your child. Part two and three of this book provide an in depth look at both types of adoption, giving important information for each process.

Part four of the book features an impressive appendices section. This section contains resources, detailed state by state adoption laws, and a glossary of adoption terminology.

All four parts of this book provides helpful information to individuals and couples as they begin their own adoption process. It’s an excellent book to have on hand for your adoption information and research.