Finding Mother After Five Decades: A Story of Hope

Gr 9 Up–At 18, Henderson began the process of trying to locate and reconnect with the mother who left when she was just two years old. With very little information, Henderson knew that the search would not be easy. She didn’t foresee years of ups, downs, and dead ends. Henderson recounts her journey, though names are changed. The author’s determination to find her mother and her perseverance through the 33 years of searching is inspiring. As this is the first volume in a planned series, the book leaves readers wondering what will happen at the long-awaited reunion. The narrative does a bit of jumping back and forth in the time line; some parts feel repetitive. Henderson’s mother has a mental illness, and the book’s mission is to increase awareness of mental health. However, that mission gets easily lost after the first two chapters. Though the content is appropriate for teens, the story seems more appealing to an adult audience. Discussion questions are included in the back matter, making it accessible for classroom or other group settings.