Finding Family

Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA is the highly suspenseful account of an adoptee trying to reclaim the biological family denied him by sealed birth records. This fascinating quest, including the author's landmark use of DNA testing, takes readers on an exhilarating roller-coaster ride and concludes with a twist that rivals anything Hollywood has to offer.In the vein of a classic mystery, Hill gathers the seemingly scant evidence surrounding the circumstances of his birth. As his resolve shores up, the author also avails of new friends, genealogists, the Internet, and the latest DNA tests in the new field of genetic genealogy. As he closes in on the truth of his ancestry, he is able to construct a living, breathing portrait of the young woman who was faced with the decision to forsake her rights to her child, and ultimately the man whose identity had remained hidden for decades.Finding Family offers guidance, insight, and motivation for anyone engaged in a similar mission, from ways to obtain information to the many networks that can facilitate adoption searches. The book includes a detailed guide to DNA and genetic genealogy and how they can produce irrefutable results in determining genetic connections and help adoptees bypass sealed records and similar stumbling blocks.

“Mr. Hill has the rare talent of telling his family research and story interestingly enough to keep the reader engaged. He covers many years of searching, but moves the story along nicely. Mr. Hill offers his story from the perspective of an adoptee. It's a different way to tell the age-old story of wondering about your ancestors, and it's interesting to read about his feelings about his biological roots, the parents who raised him, and the wonderings of why the events of his life happened. A very satisfying read.”

“An engaging, page-turning memoir that thoughtfully puts together the pieces of a family puzzle.”
—Kirkus Reviews

"Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, an inherently fascinating and compelling read from beginning to end, Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA is an extraordinary account."
—Midwest Book Review

"Mr. Hill has the rare talent of telling his family research and story interestingly enough to keep the reader engaged. He covers many years of searching, but moves the story along nicely. Mr. Hill offers his story from the perspective of an adoptee. It’s a different way to tell the age-old story of wondering about your ancestors, and it’s interesting to read about his feelings about his biological roots, the parents who raised him, and the wonderings of why the events of his life happened. A very satisfying read."
—Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
 

"Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, an inherently fascinating and compelling read from beginning to end, Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA is an extraordinary account. While unreservedly recommended, especially for community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that Finding Family is also available in digital book format and as a complete and unabridged audio book."

At 18 years old, Richard Hill accidentally discovered a deeply hidden family secret: he was adopted. Assuming he would never know any details, he was startled to learn many years later that he had a brother out there somewhere. What then began as a search for his mother and brother turned into a decades long search for the identity of his biological father.Thwarted for years by sealed records, lies, and cover-ups, Richard eventually turned to a series of new DNA tests designed for genealogists. His groundbreaking use of this new science to uncover the name of his birth father was reported on the front page of The Wall Street Journal. Subsequently, newer DNA tests would lead him to an even more startling conclusion.Richard has made it his personal mission to share what he learns with other adoptees and genealogists. He does that through his web site, DNA-Testing-Adviser.com, social media, presentations, and now his books.His memoir, Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA, was named a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. The electronic version was awarded a gold medal in the Global Ebook Awards.His "Guide to DNA Testing" eBook provides an easy-to-understand overview of genetic genealogy. Readers quickly learn how to identify ancestors, confirm relationships, and measure their ethnic ancestry.

What family secrets would you discover in your DNA?Richard Hill did not plan to be a pioneer. He was just an adoptee trying to identify unknown birth parents. Yet his innovative application of DNA testing put him on the front page of The Wall Street Journal in May 2009.Richard shares the whole story of his search in this suspenseful memoir, Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA. His relentless quest to find his birth family takes readers on an exhilarating roller-coaster ride and concludes with a true twist that rivals anything Hollywood has to offer.Now, thousands of adoptees are following Richard's ground breaking path, using DNA testing to bypass sealed birth records and reunite with their first families. Countless more adults are discovering new genetic relatives and extending and confirming their family trees. The emerging science of genetic genealogy provides a fascinating window into the past, yet the growing number of tests can be confusing. A Beginner's Guide to DNA Testing, included here as a supplement, is the concise overview you need to choose the right tests and solve your own family mystery.

Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA is the highly suspenseful account of an adoptee trying to reclaim the biological family denied him by sealed birth records. This fascinating quest, including the author's landmark use of DNA testing, takes readers on an exhilarating roller-coaster ride and concludes with a twist that rivals anything Hollywood has to offer. In the vein of a classic mystery, Hill gathers the seemingly scant evidence surrounding the circumstances of his birth. As his resolve shores up, the author also avails of new friends, genealogists, the Internet, and the latest DNA tests in the new field of genetic genealogy. As he closes in on the truth of his ancestry, he is able to construct a living, breathing portrait of the young woman who was faced with the decision to forsake her rights to her child, and ultimately the man whose identity had remained hidden for decades. Finding Family offers guidance, insight, and motivation for anyone engaged in a similar mission, from ways to obtain information to the many networks that can facilitate adoption searches. The book includes a detailed guide to DNA and genetic genealogy and how they can produce irrefutable results in determining genetic connections and help adoptees bypass sealed records and similar stumbling blocks.

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