Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption by Janine Vance is a poignant memoir that documents the author's journey through adoption with her twin, a Generation X coming of age and identity story filled with powerful lessons and insights, and the inner world of an adopted child. The only knowledge she has about her childhood is that she and her twin had been found on a street corner in Seoul, South Korea. We follow the narrative through their childhood upbringing and the common things American kids of the generation were wont to do. But what happens to adopted children when adoptive parents have issues of their own?

I was pulled in from the very first page of the book, and the author lets readers in on what to expect when she comments about the border incident. Their adopted father had to explain the fact that they had no passports and that they were American citizens in an intriguing way: "Holt adopted them from Korea and we adopted them from Holt. We got them when they were babies." There are powerful revelations on international adoption and readers get insight into the policies and philosophies adopted by the agencies, especially that of keeping information sealed from the adoptees, "because if we don't know, we won't look." The consequences are brilliantly explored in this spellbinding book. The writing is gorgeous and the author's gift for storytelling and the ability to capture intense emotional moments give the book a unique flavor. Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption is a memoir that reads like expertly crafted fiction, and Janine Vance writes in a voice that is both clear and compelling. It is a memorable story.

Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption is a work of non-fiction in the memoir genre, penned by author Janine Vance. Set in the Pacific Northwest of the USA over three decades, the story tells the tale of a pair of twins adopted from Korea, who come to America with the belief that they will be saved by their new family and accepted into the American Dream. Whilst there’s plenty of love between the sisters themselves, the family has more to deal with than just its new arrivals, and they soon discover there are many more heartaches even after the adoption process is finalized.

A lot of adoption stories focus heavily on a ‘saviour’ aspect, but this cleverly written autobiography takes that theme and turns it on its head, discussing with emotion and practicality the issues that American parents often face when adopting international children. Author Janine Vance speaks with a wealth of experience on the topic, really bringing her childhood to life with vivid depictions and realistic dialogue that recreates her memories very well. The prose is highly relatable for those in the situation, but also not too insular or over-emotional that outsiders wouldn’t be able to understand the complex nature of the experience the twins had. Overall, Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption is a complex ordeal of a tale, but one with a spiritually uplifting conclusion that speaks to an audience much wider than its circumstances. A recommended read for those interested in culture and memoirs.

Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption by Janine Vance is a non-fiction memoir and coming-of-age story written from the perspective of an adoptee as well as simply a girl growing up in America in the later decades of the twentieth century. There are many aspects to this book which include Janine’s adoption as an infant from Korea along with her twin sister. In this book, Janine writes about her growing up years and earliest memories as twin sisters growing up in an American family, citizenship issues because they find out in their adult years that they are green card holders, their quest to understand their lineage and birth nationality, memories about their parents including some personal experiences with their mother, and just what it was like growing up and being a teenager in the 1980s with the ups and downs, among other things.

Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption is a memoir that covers two separate topics: one of them deals with growing up and coming of age and Janine’s shared experiences with her family, friends, etc. and second is the fact that they are adopted from Korea and never knew much about this growing up, and the inherent questions that can come up in this process. This book shines a spotlight on some concerns regarding international adoption or even domestic adoption for that matter, which raises questions about the rules regarding extreme anonymity of the process and the challenges this can pose for both birth parents as well as children down the road. Janine’s writing style is fast paced and candid. This is an educational book and especially relevant to anyone interested in adoption matters specifically.

Twins Found in a Box by Janine Vance is an autobiography written by one of the twins describing the girls' childhood and early adulthood. Janine and Jenette were found abandoned on the streets of Seoul in South Korea. They were handed to an evangelical adoption facilitator and adopted by an American couple with very strong Christian values. The book details their unorthodox home life with their adopted family, including a difficult relationship with their adopted, rather authoritarian mother. Disparaged at school for being racially different, they struggled to fit in with the all-white American way of life. To add to their difficulties, their father suffered life-changing injuries during a hang gliding accident and they spent a considerable number of their early years caring for him. This book provides a glimpse into the hidden issues regarding adoption, particularly overseas adoption via devout religious organizations.

This was a very intimate account of the experience of being adopted and gave an insight into the deep issues which revolve around the adoption process itself. Twins Found in a Box is a fascinating narrative providing a unique glimpse into the world of overseas adoption and the incredible impact it has on the personal lives of those involved. Janine Vance writes eloquently about her adoption experience and spiritual journey. I was moved by her strength of character and the way the twins lovingly cared for their father. She has opened my eyes to the hidden world of adoption including the long-term ramifications for birth families of losing children to overseas adoptions. This emotive story has been an incentive for me to read further on the subject. I hope it will do the same for others.