Book Review - The Marvelous Journey Home

By Vicki Peterson, LICSW, Executive Director of External Affairs

In his book "The Wonderful Journey Home," John Simmons has written what he describes as a "thinly veiled" work of semi-fiction based on the adoption of two children that he and his wife brought home from Russia in 2005. Mr. Simmons has written a credible and heartwarming story that conveys many of the challenges experienced during an adoption process. The story is told from the vantage point of the adoptive couple, Mike and Laura Knight as well as through the eyes of the two little girls they eventually adopt, Katya and Luba.

The story begins at five year old Katya's Russian orphanage. Simmons aptly describes the living conditions in this facility and the different personalities of caretakers, ranging from attentive and loving to aloof, cold and threatening. In reality, this range of care is not uncommon. The author deserves praise for not painting a picture that is black and white, but rather a range of colors. While trying to care for many children, the truth is pointed out - most orphanages deal with understaffing, little funding and poor medical care. Yet, even with such conditions, orphanages have caretakers like Sophia, the tenderhearted care giver who has an affectionate nickname for little Katya and tries impressing her with hope for the future. Then, too, there is the gruff Nastya, who doesn't want children to waste her time or look forward to a better future. She reminds Katya that parents are hoping to adopt a "perfect child" and this little girl with a burn scar on her body doesn't meet those qualifications. "There's less disappointment that way," she tells young Katya.

As the story progresses, Simmons touches on all aspects of the pre-adoption process, from the anxiety of prospective parents, to meetings with a social worker, filling out endless paperwork, and the challenge of producing required documentation for inter-country adoption. Written in 2006, factual information in the story given by the Knight's social worker, Kristin, is not completely current with what is happening today because so many changes have occurred during the past two years. Nevertheless, Simmons has put together a well scripted and mostly true-to-life story that portrays inter-country adoption as most people would still experience it, with its many ups and downs. To characterize it in an overused but accurate phrase, it's an "emotional roller coaster ride."

Like many who adopt a child from Russia, the Knights go through the turmoil and grief of not being able to adopt the first child presented to them. Also, like many others in real life, they become more flexible in their willingness to consider children outside the range of a healthy baby. The same can be said of hurdles they go through during the adoption process in Russia, where they meet up with unexpected challenges. There's the unfriendly and suspicious judge, inaccurate paperwork, and bureaucratic last-minute requirements that drive the husband from impatience to anger. As anyone knows who has adopted or worked in the field, this is a true-to-life portrayal of what can occur during an inter-country adoption. On a more positive note, the Knights meet up with many helpful, warm-hearted Russian people and are successful in bringing into their family two wonderful daughters who fit in well and bond closely with their new parents, brothers, and other family members.

Towards the end of the story, there is much written that leads up to the death of a grandparent. I would have ended the story earlier. It seems extraneous and has a religious bent that may not have much interest or appeal for many readers. There are also a few rough edges in the story. Russian words are not translated for the reader. I was aware of a lack of explanation regarding a name transition for the youngest daughter after arrival in the U.S. The book appears to be self-published, which may account for what appears to be a lack of more careful editing. Nevertheless, Simmons is a good writer and up until close to the end, he keeps the story flowing well.

Because Simmons has written a book based on his own recent experiences adopting from Russia, what is missing from this story are long-range post adoption issues that are a normal, expected part of the process. I would be interested in an update of this story further down the road. Will the children have any learning disabilities when they are in school and if so, do they receive help? Will they have any adolescent identity issues, as experienced by many adoptees? How will Katya deal with the knowledge that she has older birth siblings in Russia and will she want to do a search for them? What about other long-range and complex adoption issues that may develop as children grow up?

For the most part, "The Marvelous Journey Home" is a splendid and realistic description of one family's experience during a heartwarming, tug-at-your-heartstrings, Russian adoption process. It will have particular appeal for those starting their adoption journey. It's a worthwhile read and will help people understand and prepare for the journey ahead.

The book can be purchased through www.whiteknightpublish.com.