by Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, Illustrator: Penny Weber
Grow Beyond Words, 2022, ISBN: 979-8-9869471-0-5: $14.99
In the first of a new series of children’s books titled “Adoptees Like Me” by psychologist and international transracial adoptee Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, readers meet Marie, a young girl who’s having a hard time after friends begin to ask questions about her ‘real’ parents. In “Marie Discovers Her Superpowers,” Marie meets Dr. Chaitra, also an adoptee, who helps Marie understand her feelings and helps her understand her adoption story. Marie learns she has the power to choose how, when and with whom she shares that story.
Wirta-Leiker created the book because she wishes she could sit down with every adopted person to talk about their journey. In lieu of that, she’s creating a series of books she hopes every adoptee will have the opportunity to read. “Marie Discovers Her Superpowers” is a great way to open the door to conversations about adoption with young adoptees and help them feel empowered, understood and less alone.
— Reviewed by Kim Phagan-Hansel
