Did you hear the singing and see the fireworks go off? You'll be hard-pressed to find an adopted person who wouldn't nominate this book as the one that started them on the journey of understanding their adoption experience. Written by Nancy Verrier, a clinical psychologist, marriage, family and child therapist who adopted a daughter in 1969, The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child talks about the trauma that occurs when a baby is separated from their mother. This book is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to understand the adoption experience.

Journey of the Adopted Self: A Quest for Wholeness has less of a scientific approach compared to Verrier's books, but similarly it explores the psychological effects of adoption on adoptees, acknowledging the separation between mother and child as a trauma that impacts both parties. First published in 1994, she also provides in-depth exploration of the psychological and spiritual themes experienced by adoptees prior to, during and following a search and reunion. It is based on Betty Jean Lifton's own experience as an adoptee, as well as in-depth interviews with adoptees and fifty questionnaires completed by mothers. Betty Jean Lifton, Ph.D. (now deceased), was a writer, psychotherapist and leading advocate for adoption reform.

Genetic genealogy is one of the hottest topics in genealogy today. This expanded, updated guide will walk readers through the benefits of DNA testing for genealogists as well as outline the most frequently used tests and services. Discover the answers to your family history mysteries using the most-cutting edge tool available to genealogists. This plain-English guide, newly revised and expanded, is a one-stop resource on genetic genealogy for family historians. 

Ever After - Fathers and the Impact of Adoption by Gary Coles (2004). Gary Coles is a father who lost his child to adoption. In this book he integrates his personal experience, those of other fathers and comments on the repercussions of adoption for all members of the separated family, particularly fathers.

Written by Liz Trinder, Julia Feast & David Howe (2004), this book is based on a large scale study in the UK. This book offers an overview of the common experiences in reunion and provides practical advice.

In her second instalment, Coming Home to Self: Healing the primal wound, Nancy Verrier moves her focus to awareness and healing. Written for anyone affected by adoption, including professionals, it explains the influence imprinted upon the neurological system and, thus, on future functioning. It explains how false beliefs create fear and perpetuate being ruled by the wounded child. it is a book which will help adoptees discover their authentic selves after living without seeing themselves reflected back all of their lives.

The first edition of Betty Jean Lifton's Lost and Found: the adoption experience advanced the adoption rights movement in this country in 1979, challenging many states' policies of maintaining closed birth records. For nearly three decades the book has topped recommended reading lists for those who seek to understand the effects of adoption.

Evelyn Robinson is a social worker as well as a mother who lost her son to adoption. In Adoption and Loss: The Hidden Grief she comments on her personal experience as well as her professional experience regarding how adoption loss has affected all members of the adoption triangle. 

Adoption and Recovery: Solving the mystery of reunion extends upon Evelyn's previous book, Adoption and Loss. She explains the dynamics of reunion within a grief framework and the challenges, lessons and opportunities for growth brought about by adoption.