“I think I have realized something: maybe the reason why people ask weird and inconsiderate stuff is because they’ve never been taught any better. (looking at you, TV, movies, and magazines!)
Maybe it’s not just my job to be quiet and roll my eyes—maybe it’s my chance to educate them about adoption, so that they learn how to ask better questions, but also learn when not to ask anything (sometimes silence is gold!).
And I also want other adopted kids—kids like me—to understand that they don’t have to tell everything to everyone just because they ask. Because to be honest, not everything has to be explained all the time, and not everyone has to know everything!“

When you're adopted, everyone thinks your life is either a fairy tale or a tragedy. Erin knows it’s not all that simple.
In her journal, 11-year-old Erin shares what it's really like to grow up in a world full of questions that are too personal, too awkward, or just plain wrong. From nosy classmates to clueless grown-ups, everyone seems obsessed with where she came from—but no one stops to ask how she feels.
When a class project gives her the chance to speak up, Erin takes a deep breath and dives in—not just into her own story, but into what adoption really means. Through research, encounters, and one very sassy cat, Erin discovers there’s power in telling your truth… even when it’s scary.

Funny, heartfelt, and eye-opening, Erin’s Journal: 6th Grade Big Project is a window into the emotions discoveries, and questions of growing-up adopted, while offering a fresh look at modern adoption, accurate language, and different adoption types.

Erin’s Journal: 6th Grade Big Project is must-read for preteens and teens, adopted or not, and for anyone who wants to better understand what adoption feels like from the inside, through the eyes of a preteen.