Three Pennies (hardcover)
by Melanie Crowder
In Three Pennies, Marin is a child in the foster care system, and her social worker is determined to find her a forever home. After going through three potential parents, she settles on a doctor who lost her partner and is looking to add a child to her life. However, Marin isn’t as willing to BE adopted, because she hasn’t given up hope that her mom still wants her. She uses 3 pennies and the I Ching (a book) to tell her future, and it is never positive. Marin sets out to meet her real mother before conceding to her adoption. This book sounds like it would be sad, but really, it felt hopeful and ended on a positive note.
What I liked about this book was the way Marin’s character was resistant to being adopted. It seems like we feel like foster kids should automatically be happy they’re being adopted, but we have to understand that they’re feeling loss and rejection. Marin’s mom made the choice to abandon her child. It wasn’t like she was in a bad position or died. I’ve had foster children in my class, and this story helps me understand the feelings of rejection they may be going through.
What I didn’t like about this book was the fact that the mother and her friend were even in it. I don’t think it should have been that easy for her to get ahold of them, and it was frustrating that her mom met her and then rejected her to her face. That wasn’t just heart-breaking, but it seemed a bit unrealistic.
Book 30 of 40
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