This would have made a wonderful picture book. Unfortunately, it's fashioned as a transitional chapter book, but the reading level doesn't match the format. This is the story of Ada who has been adopted from China by Caucasian American parents. In this book she describes the transitions that have happened in her life, and what her life is like now as an adopted child. The pictures are gorgeous and moving. But, the book, in general, is written for concerned parents more than the children themselves. Nevertheless, many parents adopting from China will find this book says exactly what they want their children to hear about their own adoptions. In a nutshell, it is perfect for families to share aloud together, but less interesting for children reading on their own. ( )

Ada Lorane Wang Bin Bennet often thinks about her three names. The first is the one she doesn’t remember, the one her birth mother whispered to her before she left her at an orphanage in China. The second name came from her Chinese caretakers who told her she will go to America, even though she was too young to understand. And the third name, Ada, was given to her by her American parents. In this book, Ada describes her feelings about her names and all the people who have loved her. She thinks of her birth-mother with compassion and blows her kisses in the night. She loves to paint and ride roller-coasters, hates it when people stare, and dreams of visiting China one day. After telling her story, Ada provides tips to other adopted children about scrapbooking, journaling, and finding information online about China. The illustrator fittingly describes her style as “ethereal realism”, and her gorgeous art is as poignant and evocative as Mary Cummings’ exquisite words. This book is highly recommended to any young reader, especially those who are part of or know families who have adopted children.