| Surrendered Child: A Birth Mother's Journey Contributor(s): McElmurray, Karen Salyer (Author) |
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ISBN: 0820328235 ISBN-13: 9780820328232 Publisher: University of Georgia Press OUR PRICE: $22.46 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: March 2006 Annotation: Surrendered Child is Karen Salyer McElmurray's raw, poignant account of her journey from the teenager who put her newborn child up for adoption to the woman desperately searching for the son she never knew. In a patchwork narrative interwoven with dark memories from her childhood, McElmurray deftly treads where few dare--into a gritty, honest exploration of the loss a birth mother experiences. The year was 1973, a time of social upheaval, even in small-town Kentucky, where McElmurray grew up. More than a story of time and place, however, this is about a girl who, at the age of sixteen, relinquished her son at birth. Twenty-five years would pass before McElmurray began sharing this part of her past with others and actively looking for the son she'd never known. McElmurray's own troubled upbringing and her quest after a now-fully-grown son are the heart of her story. With unflinching honesty, McElmurray recounts both the painful surrendering and the surprise rediscovery of her son, juxtaposed with her portrayal of her own mother, who could not provide the love she needed. The dramatic result is a story of birthright lost and found--and an exploration of the meaning of motherhood itself. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Biography & Autobiography | Women - Biography & Autobiography | Personal Memoirs - Family & Relationships | Adoption & Fostering |
| Dewey: B |
| Series: Association of Writers and Writing Programs Award for Creati |
| Physical Information: 0.7" H x 5.5" W x 8.4" (0.75 lbs) 272 pages |
| Themes: - Sex & Gender - Feminine - Topical - Adoption - Topical - Family |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Surrendered Child is Karen Salyer McElmurray's raw, poignant account of her journey from her teen years, when she put her newborn child up for adoption, to adulthood and a desperate search for the son she never knew. In a patchwork narrative interwoven with dark memories from her childhood, McElmurray deftly treads where few dare--into a gritty, honest exploration of the loss a birth mother experiences. The year was 1973, a time of social upheaval, even in small-town Kentucky, where McElmurray grew up. More than a story of time and place, however, this is about a girl who, at the age of sixteen, relinquished her son at birth. Twenty-five years would pass before McElmurray began sharing this part of her past with others and actively looking for her son. McElmurray's own troubled upbringing and her quest after a now-fully-grown son are the heart of her story. With unflinching honesty, McElmurray recounts both the painful surrendering and the surprise rediscovery of her son, juxtaposed with her portrayal of her own mother, who could not provide the love she needed. The dramatic result is a story of birthright lost and found--and an exploration of the meaning of motherhood itself. |
Contributor Bio(s): McElmurray, Karen Salyer: - KAREN SALYER MCELMURRAY is an assistant professor in the creative writing program at Georgia College and State University. She has received dozens of honors, including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, the Sherwood Anderson Award, and the James Purdy Prize for Fiction. She has published essays and stories in numerous magazines and journals. |