The Adoption Papers

By Jackie Kay,

Book cover of The Adoption Papers

Book description

Jackie Kay tells the story of a black girl's adoption by a white Scottish couple, from three different viewpoints: the mother, the birth mother, and the daughter. The Adoption Papers won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. In 2022 The Adoption Papers was selected as one of ten books…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Adoption Papers as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Adoptee Jackie Kay’s poetry collection presents the voices of three speakers who are distinguished typographically: the daughter, the adoptive mother, and the birth mother.

Read in conjunction with Kay’s memoir on adoption, Read Dust Road, this poetry collection offers a fascinating insight into the adoption triangle through multiple versions of the same events. 

Want books like The Adoption Papers?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Adoption Papers.

Browse books like The Adoption Papers

Book cover of Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
Book cover of The Other Mother
Book cover of No Matter What: An Adoptive Family's Story of Hope, Love and Healing

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in adoption, Queen Elizabeth II, and presidential biography?

Adoption 98 books