Saving Joey

Author: Joseph K. Wood
Genre: Children

Joey’s Journey is a children’s book series based on the true story of a foundling. The aim of this series is to motivate parents and young children to believe, to encourage adoption, inspire young people in the foster care system, or facilitate conversations about role of the family and our ability to transform lives.

Saving Joey (Book 1) is the story of a young, black, teenage girl who abandons her newborn. She wraps her baby in a blanket and places him in a basket. Leaving him on the streets of Chicago in below-freezing temperature, she waits for her baby to be found. Why? Fortunately, a man rescues the newborn, Joey, from the snow and ice-covered stairs one late evening as he was going to work. With neighbors and police involved, Joey is sure to have a future, after all. Find out what happened to young Joey.

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Reviewer: Mary Hosmar

Joseph K. Wood, the Joey of the title, tells a simple and heart-warming story about his start in life. The heartbreak of his mother and the kindness of random strangers come through clearly. Since the story may raise many questions in a child’s mind it is best read to or with a child the first time.

The illustrations, for the most part, compliment the written story. However, a discerning child, especially one living in colder climes, may notice that many of the trees and shrubs in this story, which takes place in winter in Chicago, are green and in full leaf.

The one or two instances of grammatical errors are easy to overlook and do not affect the story.

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Reviewer: Margaret Welwood

Adoption—what an important topic! And who better to write about it than an adopted child, a foundling? I particularly like the way the birth mother is portrayed here. The author has sensitively portrayed her grief and concern, and the tough decision she made to provide a good life for her baby the only way she knew how. I can see this story being of great comfort to an adopted child, especially one who was “abandoned” in a place where s/he was sure to be found. I also appreciate the fact that proceeds from the sale of Saving Joey and other books from this publisher are used to provide mini-libraries for orphanages in developing countries.

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