The Jazzy's Quest series
In book one, fourth-grader Jasmine is the youngest of three children, and the only adoptee in the musically gifted Amazing Armstrong family. But secretly, Jasmine doesn’t like to sing or play instruments. The big community talent show is approaching, and Jasmine must scramble to figure out what her act will be. Will her birth family be able to help? How will Jasmine discover what makes her amazing? A passionate Star Wars fan with a keen interest in making intricate costumes, Jasmine learns to follow her own path, with the support of both her families.
In book two, Jazzy is faced with some tough decisions. Is what matters most being invited to the coolest birthday party in town? Is it competing in an amazing Star Wars contest? Or is it helping a friend in need? Join Jazzy on her quest to discover what matters most.
The second book in the groundbreaking Jazzy's Quest series, this compelling story explores friendship issues that are common in tween social circles. Through the lens of 10-year-old adoptee, Jazzy Armstrong, kids will relate to Jazzy's search for belonging at school and at home.
This warm and insightful early chapter book addresses some of the unique identity issues faced by adopted children in a way that will nonetheless resonate with all children, because all children experience the growing pains of defining who they are relative to their parents and siblings. Adopted children will find special affirmation and joy in the story of Jazzy’s talent show performance because she shows readers that being adopted does not solely define her, but that it does enrich her in ways that knit together as she triumphantly takes the stage and shows everyone what it means to dig deep and come out smiling!
-Lori Day, Author of Her Next Chapter
Jazzy’s Quest is heartfelt, engaging and absolutely lovely. Goldman and Bond not only wrote a story to entertain, but one that is necessary in a world where being ‘different’ is so often looked at as a negative thing. Well done and definitely worth a read!”
– Jenna Busch, Founder of Legion of Leia
Jazzy, a spunky fourth-grader, yearns to fit in. As an adoptee, she feels like the sour note in her musically talented family. Her efforts to perform with them prove disastrous. Young readers will recognize a piece of their own struggle for acceptance and belonging. They’ll root for Jazzy to power through her fear and doubts to discover her hidden talents. Enthusiasm, strength and confidence reveal exactly where Jazzy belongs.
– Gayle H. Swift,co-founder of GIFT Family Services, author of ABC, Adoption & Me
Sam's Sister re-release, 2017
Five year-old Rosa is worried about the baby in her mother's belly. If that baby is placed for adoption, how will she be his sister? Sam's Sister offers a unique perspective into the beauty and the heartache of open adoption.
Sam's Sister is a work of beauty. The author and the illustrator have done an impeccable job of representing the emotional aspects of open adoption from a child's perspective.
-Julie Jarrel Baily, Author of The Adoption Reunion
Survival Guide
Thank you for publishing Sam's Sister. Recently, I was working with a young woman with children. They were quite angry at their mother for considering an adoption plan for her unborn child, their half sibling. Using Sam's Sister they were able to recognize the feelings of their mother and instead of being angry at her, they were all able to grieve together. The older children ages 8 and 11 now trade taking the book to their classrooms where their teachers have read the book to the class. It has helped their peers respect and better understand adoption and show compassion to the family. Now the children are talking openly with their mother and no longer see her as not caring about the child she's caring.
-Meg Sterchi Executive Director: Adoptions of Indiana 5/2005
As a therapist who works with adopted children and teens, please allow me to suggest that Sam’s Sister is one of the best books for adopted kids available today. If THE question for most adopted kids over age seven or eight (especially in closed /international adoptions) is “why didn’t my (birth) mom keep me?” this book allows an adopted child to hear a birth mother answer that question. To a one, the children and teens who read it with me, giveSam’s Sister two thumbs up for any child involved in any way in an adoption. I hope a broader “market” discovers this wonderful book.
-Judy Stigger, LCSW Adoption counselor and educator Board President of JCICS Advisory Board of Adoptive Families Magazine
Finally a book that acknowledges birth siblings to adopted children. Even if your child doesn’t know their birth family, this story delivers a terrifically positive message about the way adopted children are valued by BOTH of their families. Great job! Four stars.
-Beth Hall Co-Executive Director, Pact: An Adoption Alliance Co-author, Inside Transracial Adoption
I just read Sam’s Sister online and am in tears. As an adoptive parent who wants to help explain to her son why his bio mom placed him and not her first child I would buy this book for us. Why the tears? — My son was adopted from Guatemala and from the start we sang “De Colores” and other latino nursery rhymes to him. We wanted to incorporate all of his heritages from the start. In his particular case, his bio mom had to hide her pregnancy but I imagine she would have told her older child in the same way the book does.
-S.C. Adoptive Parent
Sam's Sister is a work of beauty. The author and the illustrator have done an impeccable job of representing the emotional aspects of open adoption from a child's perspective.
-Julie Jarrel Baily, Author of The Adoption Reunion
Survival Guide
Thank you for publishing Sam's Sister. Recently, I was working with a young woman with children. They were quite angry at their mother for considering an adoption plan for her unborn child, their half sibling. Using Sam's Sister they were able to recognize the feelings of their mother and instead of being angry at her, they were all able to grieve together. The older children ages 8 and 11 now trade taking the book to their classrooms where their teachers have read the book to the class. It has helped their peers respect and better understand adoption and show compassion to the family. Now the children are talking openly with their mother and no longer see her as not caring about the child she's caring.
-Meg Sterchi Executive Director: Adoptions of Indiana 5/2005
As a therapist who works with adopted children and teens, please allow me to suggest that Sam’s Sister is one of the best books for adopted kids available today. If THE question for most adopted kids over age seven or eight (especially in closed /international adoptions) is “why didn’t my (birth) mom keep me?” this book allows an adopted child to hear a birth mother answer that question. To a one, the children and teens who read it with me, giveSam’s Sister two thumbs up for any child involved in any way in an adoption. I hope a broader “market” discovers this wonderful book.
-Judy Stigger, LCSW Adoption counselor and educator Board President of JCICS Advisory Board of Adoptive Families Magazine
Finally a book that acknowledges birth siblings to adopted children. Even if your child doesn’t know their birth family, this story delivers a terrifically positive message about the way adopted children are valued by BOTH of their families. Great job! Four stars.
-Beth Hall Co-Executive Director, Pact: An Adoption Alliance Co-author, Inside Transracial Adoption
I just read Sam’s Sister online and am in tears. As an adoptive parent who wants to help explain to her son why his bio mom placed him and not her first child I would buy this book for us. Why the tears? — My son was adopted from Guatemala and from the start we sang “De Colores” and other latino nursery rhymes to him. We wanted to incorporate all of his heritages from the start. In his particular case, his bio mom had to hide her pregnancy but I imagine she would have told her older child in the same way the book does.
-S.C. Adoptive Parent