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Taken - book review

Posted: July 10 2023

Social Work student & staff projects, Social Work
Social Work student & staff projects, Social Work

Interested in Social Work and want to learn more about the subject? The book reviews written by our Social Work students and staff help you identify the best literature to advance your learning.

This week:

  • Title: Taken
  • Publisher: Mardle Books Ad Lib Publishers Ltd
  • ISBN: 9781914451768 (paper); ISBN: 9781914451775 (eBook)
  • Author/s: by Michelle Pearson with Eve Hatton
  • Originally published in 2022
  • Reviewer/s: Salma Ismail, MSc Social Work student
  • Published first online at
book cover of Taken

Taken’, co-authored by Michelle Pearson and Eve Hatton, serves as a profound exposition of the intricate layers of child welfare, specifically within the context of foster care and adoption systems. The book bridges the personal and systemic dimensions of these themes, underpinned by Pearson’s intimate autobiographical narrative. From the lens of social work, ‘Taken’ elucidates the importance of principles such as dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, and social justice.

Pearson’s narrative begins in 1972, delving into her personal experience of having to relinquish her son for adoption as an unwed young woman. She provides a detailed account of societal norms and prejudices that overshadowed her life, eventually leading to a myriad of mental health challenges, including PTSD, memory loss, agoraphobia, and anxiety. Pearson’s candid exploration of her lived experience reveals the reverberating impacts of societal stigma and system-inherent oppressions that lingered beyond the time of the event.

Central to the narrative is the delicate portrayal of Pearson’s relationship with her parents, reflecting the societal and familial stressors surrounding single pregnancies in that era. The familial estrangement and abandonment that Pearson experienced underscore the critical need for supportive family systems. For social work practitioners and theorists, it illustrates the necessity of intervention at the micro level, emphasizing family therapy and strength-based approaches to nurture supportive familial bonds.

Additionally, Pearson critically discusses her experiences with mental health services. She shares the beneficial aspects of counselling and medication, simultaneously pointing out the limitations she experienced. These observations illuminate the need for holistic, trauma-informed, and client-centred mental health interventions in social work, emphasizing the impact of societal norms and individual trauma on mental well-being.

A significant portion of Pearson’s critique is directed toward her interaction with her assigned social worker. She felt a lack of genuine support, perceiving that the professional was judging her based on societal morals rather than adopting an empathetic stance. This critique is a crucial lesson for the profession, reminding practitioners of the importance of empathy, active listening, unconditional positive regard, and client-centred practice, principles fundamental to social work.

Pearson’s experiences with memory loss as a coping mechanism for trauma offer invaluable insights into the complex psychological responses to traumatic events. This highlights the necessity of trauma-informed care in social work, reinforcing the need for practitioners to understand and incorporate trauma-specific interventions in their practice.

Perhaps one of the most inspiring sections of ‘Taken’ recounts Pearson’s pursuit of justice for women who experienced forced adoptions in the mid-20th century. Her advocacy efforts, carried out through the ‘Movement for Adoption Apology’, culminated in an official investigation into forced adoption practices. Pearson’s tireless work emphasizes the power of advocacy, demonstrating the potential of collective action for systemic change, a cornerstone of macro social work. In the context of Pearson’s narrative of grief and struggle, the element of resilience and strength emanates powerfully. The culmination of her story, marked by her reunion with her son and subsequent journey of healing and reconciliation, adds a poignant and uplifting dimension to her narrative. It underscores the potential for resilience and healing despite profound adversities, embodying the strength-based perspective of social work.

While ‘Taken’ offers a comprehensive critique of the system, the narrative might have been more compelling if the authors had delved into potential solutions for the identified systemic issues. Despite this shortcoming, the book remains a highly recommended resource for social work professionals, policymakers, and academics. Pearson’s personal narrative invites practitioners to reflect on their practice, challenging them to re-evaluate how they would have responded differently in similar scenarios and to continuously strive for more compassionate and client-centred practice. In summation, ‘Taken’ offers a profoundly insightful, multi-layered analysis of the complexities surrounding foster care and adoption practices, as well as their consequential mental health implications. It shines a light on the lingering effects of societal stigma and systemic oppression, while simultaneously highlighting resilience and the potential for healing.

Pearson’s work is not just an exposé of the adversities faced by many within the foster care and adoption systems, but also a beacon of hope for change. It embodies a call to arms for all social work professionals to advocate for systemic reform within the child welfare system. Inherent within its narrative is an urgent plea for a shift toward more humane, compassionate practices that truly serve the best interests of the child and promote the well-being of all involved.

The author has effectively used Pearson’s personal narrative as a vehicle to illuminate broader systemic issues, thereby humanizing abstract policy discussions. Furthermore, Pearson’s accounts of her interactions with social work professionals and mental health services are particularly enlightening, providing an opportunity for introspection and improvement within these fields. The themes of trauma, resilience, systemic oppression, advocacy, and healing are not only relevant to professionals in the field of social work but also to those working in allied disciplines such as psychology, counselling, and public policy. ‘Taken’ is a compelling testament to the human capacity for resilience, the necessity for systemic reform, and the vital role of empathetic, client-centred support systems.