For many adopted children, the search for a safe, loving and permanent home is just one part of the process. VICKY ROBSON finds out about a new book created by some of society’s most vulnerable, in a bid to help others

Illustrator Josie Brooks, who lives in Heaton, said: “I thought it was a brilliant setting and for me, as an illustrator, there was just so much to work with.

“There are quite exciting scenes and the space setting is something that all children love because it’s another world. The concept of the space giraffe taxi was quite challenging, but I think he looks really good.

“He was based on a sketch done by one of the young people, so I tried to stay true to that design and used it as my inspiration.”

As the alien’s voyage progresses, Josie’s drawings change in colour to reflect the mood and emotions experienced by the soul-searching space explorer.

Josie adds: “It’s not about having a romantic happy ending. Adopted children can sometimes feel a bit confused and their identity is a bit of mystery.

“It’s more about letting go of things that they are never going to find out and being happy and content with themselves.

“They wanted to create something that would benefit other adopted children, but all children can relate to it because it’s about a journey of self discovery, which all children go through.”

The space analogy was used to help emphasise the multi-dimensional process of adoption, with both the search for a home and identity, to the seemingly endless and often lonely journey along the way.

“Obviously we wanted to address some of the issues of being adopted – identity issues, insecurities, always wanting answers to sometimes unanswerable questions, learning to love and to trust, and not to beat yourself up too much,” explains author Paul Summers, from Blyth.

Paul was commissioned by After Adoption to help facilitate the writing of the book.

He said: “As the project evolved, it became obvious these issues belonged to everybody not just those who had been adopted so we decided to do a more generic self-discovery book.

“The little alien came about as a genderless, raceless and classless character and the space giraffe can be a guardian, befriender or social worker if you want it to be.

“Once we had this notion of a journey of self-discovery we just had to create a few episodes or quests in which the alien evolved into a more rounded little creature ready to stand on his own two feet.”

The Making of U has been published under the pseudonym of Kendra Fairbairn.

It will be officially launched at the Seven Stories childrens’ book centre, in Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle, at an invitation-only event on Thursday.

The book will then be available to buy online from Amazon and direct from After Adoption, priced at £6.99.

All proceeds will go to the charity to help support children and adults affected by adoption.

After Adoption groups meet regularly in Middlesbrough, Teesside and Tyneside under the guidance of the organisation which has a regional office in Newcastle.

For more information about the organisation, visit www.afteradoption.org.uk, or call the helpline on 0800 0 568 578.

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