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Belonging Matters

Conversations on Adoption, Family, and Kinship

By Julie Ryan McGue

Belonging Matters supports the adoption community while creating a conversation with those not directly touched by adoption. The collection explores the pursuit of identity and the boundaries of family and kinship. It challenges the reader to embrace all of who we come to be, and to discern with whom and where we belong. Because belonging defines the human experience, and it is what nourishes our spirit, fuels us with purpose, and compels us to soar beyond the limitations of our lived experience.

RELEASE DATE: Nov, 1, 2023. Published in the U.S. by Muse Literary
PUBLICIST: Muse Literary (hello@museliterary.com)
PRESS KIT: Download here.

“Belonging Matters” Interview with Julie McGue

At Next Best Read, we are pleased to announce that Julie Ryan McGue’s “Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family, and Kinship” has secured 3rd place in our July 2024 Writing Contest. This insightful collection of essays supports the adoption community while inviting broader conversations about identity, family, and kinship.

McGue’s writing explores the profound pursuit of belonging and challenges readers to embrace the complexities of identity and familial bonds. Her thoughtful reflections resonate deeply, highlighting the importance of understanding where and with whom we truly belong.

While the essays are poignant and thought-provoking, some readers might find the thematic repetition a bit heavy at times. However, this also emphasizes the multifaceted nature of belonging and the universal quest for identity.

Overall, “Belonging Matters” is a compelling read that nourishes the spirit and fuels a deeper understanding of family and kinship. We highly recommend it for anyone interested in these vital conversations.”

Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family, and Kinship has been named a Finalist in the 18th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in two categories: Personal Growth and Book Cover Design: Nonfiction.

This just in! Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family, and Kinship was named Winner in the Parenting/Family category by Firebird Book Awards.

Julie Ryan McGue’s story relates to millions of people in America, and her work is sure to start many conversations. Adoptees who enter a loving home are left with a multitude of questions and feel an array of emotions about their biological family and their reasons for choosing adoption. McGue’s writings provide a link to other adoptees, giving them a sense of belonging, as her story reflects the circumstances of many adults who have been adopted. The author’s book is heartbreaking and outlines many social constructs most people take for granted, like feelings of connection at family reunions and holidays. Her views result from serious introspection and observation and are worthy of conscious evaluation. Belonging Matters is a great selection for an adoptee or a family member of an adoptee.” – Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers’ Favorite

“A compelling insight into the life of the author, being an adoptee, and the ups and down of family life. Utterly fascinating!” – The Wishing Shelf

“Accessible and moving account of a twin looking for adoptive parents and discovering that her twin sister is identical and not fraternal as she had thought.” – Reviewer

“I recommend this book to anyone who is a part of an adoption triad.” – Reviewer

The Literary Titan Gold Book Award is bestowed upon books that exemplify exceptional standards in the presentation of original content. For both fiction and non-fiction works, this award appreciates the meticulous development of unique characters or subjects presented in an authentically engaging context. Whether it is an innovative narrative structure for a fiction book or a compelling argumentation in a non-fiction work, we value the ability to support fresh themes and ideas. The award also honors the craft of elegant prose, showcasing a talent for transforming simple words into compelling, beautifully constructed text. This prestigious accolade is our tribute to books that represent an extraordinary achievement in the literary world.

2024 Nonfiction Winner, Honorable Mention in New York Book Festival competition

Julie loves Book Clubs!

Contact Julie to chat with your Book Club about Belonging Matters here.

“Written in a simple-to-understand manner, Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family, and Kinship is a must-read for everyone who has found themselves caught up in the adoption triangle.” (read full review here)

– Lily Andrews, Feathered Quill

“McGue examines her own experience with adoption and reunion under the bright light of identity and belonging. The result forces a reconsideration of what it means to be placed for adoption, what it means to adopt, and, more broadly, what it means to fit within a family.” 

– Jeff Hoffmann, author of Other People’s Children

“I was intrigued by the author’s sensitive perspective, impressed by her scope of knowledge, and found comfort in her heart-felt stories about what family means to her. Ultimately, I rejoiced in Julie’s hard-won wisdom as though it were my own.”

– Carlyn Montes De Oca, award-winning author of Junkyard Girl: A Memoir of Ancestry, Family, Secrets, and Second Chances

“Whether you read this book from cover-to-cover or casually pick up the volume and choose a daily or random selection, your life will be enhanced as you realize the true meaning of family, belonging, and being loved.”

– Laurie Scheer, writing mentor/Instructor

I wrote Belonging Matters to serve as a companion piece to my first memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging. In Belonging Matters, I delve into topics I touch upon in my first memoir, as well as events, situations and conversations that occurred after publication.

The search for identity and belonging is fundamental to the human experience. How we come to a sense of ourselves and where we find belonging are different for each person. Many of us find belonging with the folks with whom we are biologically related, but often the people we connect to on a deep level are not birth relatives. They might be friends, colleagues, or seatmates on an airplane. In Belonging Matters, I explore the concepts of kinship and family and share personal anecdotes to add color to those concepts.

“Julie Ryan McGue’s anthology, ‘Belonging Matters’, offers a narrative where the pursuit of identity intersects with human connection. Through a collection of personal narratives, McGue explores the intricate themes of adoption, familial relationships, and the quest for belonging.

At the core of ‘Belonging Matters’ lies McGue’s own odyssey—a journey fueled by an innate yearning to uncover the essence of her identity. With unwavering honesty, McGue invites readers to embark on this transformative voyage alongside her, where the revelation of one’s origins becomes a catalyst for introspection and personal growth.

The book resonates with authenticity, reading almost like a personal diary. It weaves together moments of vulnerability and resilience as McGue navigates the complexities of reuniting with her birth family. While deeply personal, the significance of ‘Belonging Matters’ transcends its narrative. Through eloquent and empathetic prose, McGue illuminates the threads that bind us—the yearning for connection, the pursuit of meaning, and the power of love.

The anthology intricately portrays childhood experiences where McGue grappled with discomfort in her own skin as an adopted child. She delves into family reunions, Holidays, planting tulips, rejections, and the challenges of navigating through the COVID era. These stories, totaling over 70 ‘chapters,’ offer a comprehensive exploration of her life’s story.

Each chapter stands as a vignette, painting vivid snapshots of poignant moments, humorous anecdotes, and profound reflections. Moreover, McGue shares a poignant story about finding inspiration in an unexpected place—the ladies’ room. This small anecdote encapsulates the essence of most of the stories—down-to-earth and seemingly mundane moments that hold profound meaning within the overall tapestry of her life.

In an era where the sense of belonging often feels elusive, McGue’s words serve as a reminder that, indeed, belonging matters.” 

– American Writing Awards

Julie Ryan McGue is an American writer, a domestic adoptee, and an identical twin. Her first memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging, released in May 2021, won multiple awards. Her work has appeared in the Story Circle Network Journal, Brevity Nonfiction Blog, Imprint News, Adoption.com, Lifetime Adoption Adoptive Families Blog, Adoption & Beyond, and Severance Magazine. Her personal essays have appeared in several anthologies, including Real Women Write: Seeing Through Her Eyes (Story Circle Network) and Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis (She Writes Press). Her collection of essays, Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family, and Kinship (Muse Literary) was released in November 2023. She writes a weekly blog and monthly column (The Beacher Newspapers), in which she explores the topics of finding out who you are, where you belong and making sense of it. Julie splits her time between northwest Indiana and Sarasota, Florida. 

“Receiving compassion and offering empathy are not just gifts we offer ourselves and others. The ripple effect is felt within the family unit, the community, and beyond. And it serves to strengthen our sense of belonging.” – Julie Ryan McGue