Audrey S. (auddiemae) - reviewed on 8/21/2010 + 63 more book reviews

The Baby Thief is a horrid story of how one women in Memphis, Tennessee, manipulated the adoption system of the entire United States from approximately 1905 - 1950 when she died.

Georgia Tann made adoption, which was almost unheard of in the "upper crust" of society popular by giving babies to such people as Joan Crawford (Mommie Dearest), and seveal other "stars," in the hopes of popularizing adoptions for the rich.

Georgia connected with Senators and other congressmen to pass laws to permanently close addoption files so she could falsify information without fear of being found out.

Georgia stole children from their parents under the pretenst of offering them help during the depression, paid midwives to tell mothers their babies had died at birth while she ran off with the live child, had "spotters" on every corner in major cities, who would bring unsuspecting pregnant girls into her "maternity homes:" with promises of shelter, food and a free delivery - problem was, she was steeling the babies. Parents all over the country would spend years searching for children she had stolen while officals in Tennessee looked the other way.

The book is well researched, cites hundreds of references, and as an adoptee opened my eyes to how the adoption system in America became so complicated and CLOSED. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in adoption, or in the triangle of adoption - mother, adopted parents and/or adoptee.

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