The Book

“You Should Be Grateful:” Stories of Race, Identity and Transracial Adoption

Beacon Press, 2023

“Your parents are so amazing for adopting you. You should be grateful!” Angela Tucker is a Black woman, adopted from foster care by white parents. She has heard this microaggression her entire life, usually from well-intentioned strangers who view her adoptive parents as noble saviors.  She is grateful for many aspects of her life, but being transracially adopted involves layers of rejection, loss and complexity that cannot be summed up so easily. Tucker centers the experiences of adoptees through sharing deeply personal stories, well-researched history and engrossing anecdotes from mentorship sessions with adopted youth. These perspectives challenge the fairy-tale narrative of adoption giving way to a fuller story that includes the impacts of racism, classism, family, love and belonging. 

buy the book

buy the book

buy the book

Join the Book Club

This 5-week exclusive members-only experience takes readers deep into the book with personal insights and education from author Angela Tucker, nationally-recognized adoption expert and adoptee.

This 5-week exclusive members-only experience takes readers deep into the book with personal insights and education from author Angela Tucker, nationally-recognized adoption expert and adoptee.

This 5-week exclusive members-only experience takes readers deep into the book with personal insights and education from author Angela Tucker, nationally-recognized adoption expert and adoptee.

This is a self-guided book club.

$5 One time

The Films

CLOSURE Documentary

Closure is a feature length documentary about Angela’s search and reunion with her birth family. Closure began streaming on Hulu in 2014, Netflix from 2015-2017 and Amazon Prime from 2016-2021.

WATCH FILM

WATCH FILM

The Adopted Life - Episode #1

The Adopted Life - Episode #1

The Adopted Life - Episode #1

Angela interviews transracially adopted tween and teens who live in the Washington D.C. area.

WATCH EPISODE

The Adopted Life - Episode #2

The Adopted Life - Episode #2

The Adopted Life - Episode #2

Angela interviews transracially adopted tween and teens who live in Los Angeles, CA.

WATCH EPISODE

The Adopted Life - Episode #3

The Adopted Life - Episode #3

The Adopted Life - Episode #3

Angela interviews transracially adopted tween and teens who live in New York City.

WATCH EPISODE

Lisa & Isell

Lisa & Isell

Lisa & Isell

A story about adoption and the Ghost Kingdom

WATCH EPISODE

SEE ALL FILMS

SEE ALL FILMS

SEE ALL FILMS

The Podcast

There is something temptingly tidy about the idea of adoption: a family with extra love and resources meets a child in need of both. The Adoptee Next Door takes the listener beyond the sparkly fairy tale of adoption.

listen to episodes

listen to episodes

listen to episodes

The Blogging

Join The Adopted Life, our Substack community, for stories, insights, and updates on adoption—delivered straight to your inbox.

subscribe to @theadoptedlife

SUBSCRIBE NOW

subscribe to @theadoptedlife

Empower adoptees with unique adoptee-centric gifts.

Empower adoptees with unique adoptee-centric gifts.

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purchase

purchase

Angela Tucker founded the Adoptee Mentoring Society (501c3) to provide virtual mentorship for adoptees, by adoptees.

Angela Tucker founded the Adoptee Mentoring Society (501c3) to provide virtual mentorship for adoptees, by adoptees.

Angela Tucker founded the Adoptee Mentoring Society (501c3) to provide virtual mentorship for adoptees, by adoptees.

find mentorship

find mentorship

find mentorship

Subscribe to The Adopted Life

BY ANGELA TUCKER

OVER 5,000 SUBSCRIBERS

There is something temptingly tidy about the idea of adoption: a family with extra love and resources meets a child in need of both. The Adopted Life goes beyond the sparkly fairy tale of adoption.

© 2024 angela tucker

|

all rights reserved

|

site crafted by lhc

Subscribe to The Adopted Life

BY ANGELA TUCKER

OVER 5,000 SUBSCRIBERS

© 2024 angela tucker

|

all rights reserved

site crafted by lhc

Subscribe to The Adopted Life

BY ANGELA TUCKER

OVER 5,000 SUBSCRIBERS

There is something temptingly tidy about the idea of adoption: a family with extra love and resources meets a child in need of both. The Adopted Life goes beyond the sparkly fairy tale of adoption.

© 2024 angela tucker

|

all rights reserved

|

LEGAL

|

site crafted by lhc