UNIVERSAL STORIES OF LONGING AND BELONGING Our quest for origin and, by extension, identity is universal to the human experience. For the twenty-five contributors to "Somebody's Child," the topic of adoption is not--and perhaps never can be--a neutral issue. With unique courage, each of them discusses their experience of the adoption process. Some share stories of heartbreak; others have discovered joy; some have searched for closure. "Somebody's Child" captures the many unforgettable faces and voices of adoption. The third book in a series of anthologies about the twenty-first-century family, "Somebody's Child" follows "Nobody's Mother" and "Nobody's Father," two essay collections from childless adults on parenthood, family and choices. Together, these three books challenge readers to reexamine traditional definitions of the concept of "family."

Statistics say that one in 10 women has no intention of taking the plunge into motherhood. "Nobody's Mother" is a collection of stories by women who have already made this choice. From introspective to humorous to rabble-rousing, these are personal stories that are well and honestly told. The writers range in age from early 30s to mid-70s and come from diverse backgrounds. All have thought long and hard about the role of motherhood, their own destinies, what mothering means in our society and what their choice means to them as individuals and as members of their ethnic communities or social groups. Contributors include: Lorna Crozier, well-known poet and the author of a dozen books, as well as the recipient of a Governor General's award and numerous other writing prizes Maggie De Vries, children's-book editor and author of "Missing Sarah", a memoir about her sister, one of the murdered women from Vancouver's downtown east side Kate Braid, a creative-writing instructor whose books include "Inward to the Bones: Georgia O'Keeffe's Journey with Emily Carr", "To This Cedar Fountain", "Red Bait!" , "Struggle of a Mine Mill Local", with Al King, and "Covering Rough Ground", which won the Pat Lowther Award. Nancy Baron, a zoologist and science writer who works in the United States for eaWeb/Compass and has won two Science in Society awards, a National Magazine Award and a Western Magazine Award for Science.

Living is a process of continuous transformation: we have been embryos, children, adolescents, thin, fat, sick, better again. And as humans, we are always at odds with at least one part of our bodies. Have we inherited the family nose? Is there nothing to be done for our finicky stomach or our limp hair?"In the Flesh" is an intelligent, witty, and provocative look at how we think about--and live within--our bodies. The editors and writers in this collection describe, in many voices, what human bodies feel now. Each author's candid essay focuses on one part of the body, and explores its function, its meanings, and the role it has played in his or her life. Written from both the male and female perspectives, contributors include Caroline Adderson, Andre Alexis, Taiaiake Alfred, Brian Brett, Trevor Cole, Dede Crane, Lorna Crozier, Candace Fertile, Stephen Gauer, Julian Gunn, Heather Kuttai, Susan Olding, Kate Pullinger, Merilyn Simonds, Richard Steel, Madeleine Thien, Sue Thomas, and Margaret Thompson.

Nobody's Father is a timely collection of poignant and honest essays that explores the international trend which is changing the conventional face of fatherhood. The contributors write of why so many men, from all walks of life and all continents, have chosen to forgo the traditional role of father.While some writers admit they are haunted by feelings of failure to live up to their own fathers' expectations and to carry on the family name, others admit to knowing from an early age that parenthood was not for them and are content with the alternative lives they lead. The contributors are gay and straight, young and old. They are writers and artists, teachers and priests. They are doting uncles and favorite babysitters, each one redefining the role of father. Published as a sequel to the celebrated, Nobody's Mother, Nobody's Father is essential reading for the 21st century.