Taken:
Experiences of Forced Adoption
PRAM Publications is excited to announce a new work by Karen Constantine, who was incarcerated into a mother and baby home in 1978, she is a long time campaigner, political activist and contributor to magazines, newspapers, radio and TV.
Karen’s first non-fiction book, Taken: Experiences of Forced Adoption is a collection of, often shocking, conversations with mothers and adult adoptees who endured time at mother and baby homes in the United Kingdom. These written experiences are born of historic social injustice towards women and their children, they capture intolerance, cruelty, trauma and confusion across the generations.
The conversations are interwoven with Karen’s political commentary with focus on the responsibilities of a new Labour government and the need for a long-overdue official apology.
This book is published at a time when historical forced adoption is gaining wider public attention. The movie, Small Things Like These, released this autumn and starring Cillian Murphy, follows in the footsteps of Philomena, The Magdalene Sisters, The Women in the Wall, Into the Fire, The Removed and The Marian Hotel. ITV News has aired regular reports on the topic and the Movement for an Adoption Apology has stepped up it’s campaigning, seeking the attention of the new government.
Taken: Experiences of Forced Adoption by Karen Constantine is published on 19 November 2024 and is available to purchase in paperback and e-book formats. Search for Taken: Experiences of Forced Adoption to order the ebook on Amazon, Kobo, Google Books and other platforms.
Taken: Experiences of Forced Adoption (paperback)
The painful, often hidden experiences of women and children who were torn apart by forced adoption. A politically charged anthology of conversations with mothers and adult adoptees who endured time at mother and baby homes throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Also available as an eBook for Kindle readers.
“As a child of the 60s, I found this book staggering. I had no idea that the cruel practice of forced adoption was commonplace.
– Georgie Glen, Actress, Call the Midwife
Each of these deeply personal stories chart vulnerability, cruelty and life long pain for all those involved.
These voices must not only be heard… but heeded.”
Reviews on Amazon
Informative and full of emotion
Having heard Karen speak at an event I promised I would read the book to increase my awareness of a practise I was blind to. The individual experiences are well captured and put plenty of meat on the bones as to why an apology is essential. Well done Karen for putting this across.
Julie H.
Heartbreaking story that deserves to be told
This book is heartbreaking. It is a beautiful collection of interviews by the author, whose own story is equally worthy of telling.
An important read to understand our (horrifyingly recent) history.
A long overdue book, and the author this important topic justice.
PS.
Poignant, raw, and essential
This book is one of the most important works I’ve read in a long time. Full of real experiences and heartbreaking realities, alongside poignant healing and a look to the future, Karen highlights how the scandal of forced adoption still permeates and affects our lives today.
Daisy C.
Read Taken in the US
Get your copy of Taken: Experiences of Forced Adoption from Barnes & Noble.
More from Karen Constantine
