Adopted Teens

Twin sisters separated at birth. One black. One white. One adopted. One homeless. Music and a magical connection that draws them together. After the devastating loss of her husband, Gladys spirals into a deep depression while struggling to raise her teenage daughter, Dionne. But everything changes when a mysterious voice guides them to a musically gifted homeless woman whom people on the street call Sister Soul. When Sister Soul claims Gladys is her long-lost sister, Gladys and Dionne are sent on an inspirational journey of discovery filled with music, magic, and the true meaning of family....

Keira Johnson, a 50-year-old mother of two grown sons, believes she lives a good Christian life without secrets - until she discovers a life-jarring fact her late mother kept hidden all her life. Kiera was born out of wedlock, and the man she had always known as her father had adopted her as an infant. Meanwhile, Keira's beloved 17-year-old niece, Kirsten, has just discovered an unwanted pregnancy. Her boyfriend, Jose, is bound for college and Kirsten does not know what to do.

Once again blending multiple story strands that transcend time and place, Grasshopper Jungle author Andrew Smith tells the story of 15-year-old Ariel, a refugee from the Middle East who is the sole survivor of an attack on his small village. Now living with an adoptive family in Sunday, West Virginia, Ariel's story of his summer at a boys' camp for tech detox is juxtaposed against those of a schizophrenic bomber and the diaries of a failed arctic expedition from the late 19th century.

Milly Kaufman is an ordinary American teenager living in Vermont, until she meets Pablo, a new student at her high school. His exotic accent, strange fashion sense, and intense interest in Milly force her to confront her identity as an adopted child from Pablo's native country. As their relationship grows, Milly decides to undertake a courageous journey to her homeland and along the way discovers the story of her birth is intertwined with the story of a country recovering from a brutal history.

Simone has always felt different, though her life seems pretty normal. Her mom's a lawyer for the ACLU, so she's grown up spending her Saturdays outside the food co-op, gathering signatures for worthy causes. Her dad's a political cartoonist who does most of the work around the house. Her little brother is a jock who seems to know how to do everything just right. Her best friend has a new boyfriend, and Simone has a crush on a really smart and funny guy who spends all his time with another girl.

Synopsis: A teenager must decide if he wants to start his new life without the memories of his difficult life waiting for adoption. After Dinner Conversation is a growing series of short stories across genres to draw out deeper discussions with friends and family. Each story is an accessible example of an abstract ethical or philosophical idea and is accompanied by suggested discussion questions. Podcast discussions of this short story, and others, is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Youtube. ★★★ If you enjoy this story, subscribe via our website to "After Dinner ...