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Jump to navigationJump to searchBubble Wrapped Children by Helen Oakwater (view source)
Revision as of 07:09, 6 February 2012
, 07:09, 6 February 2012no edit summary
''Bubble Wrapped Children'' takes a look at the state of adoption in the UK, and how aspects of it are being threatened by the use of social networks. The author, with over 20 years' experience in the adoption world, paints a broad picture of the issues facing adopters and adoptees. Peppering the text are some examples of unwanted Facebook contact from birth parents, which have had massive knock-on effects for the adopted children.
''Bubble Wrapped Children'' is at its strongest when it's highlighting the broad issues surrounding adoption. There are many lightbulb moments for ideas that (even though you'd like to think you sort of, kind of, knew them really) become memorable when seen in black and white. Helen Oakwater is absolutely right that the sweet face of adption reunion TV shows, where a mother had to give up her baby due to societal pressures of the past, bears little relation to most cases nowadays, featuring neglect and other mistreatment. Her line that ''children adopted today are frequently the Baby Peters who don't die"" '' is a powerful message for anyone who works with adopted children to have in the back of their mind.
When Oakwater moves from an overview to the specific issues surrounding social networks, the message is less powerful. There are, of course, considerations for any adopters when their child is using social networking. However, the issues raised don't take into full account the huge range of differences in every child and every situation. For non-tech-savvy adopters, it's a welcome reminder that it's something they should address or take guidance on. For adopters who would, in the normal course of things, educate their child about keeping safe online, it feels like an unnecessary angle to an otherwise thought-provoking book.
