International adoption is a hot and relevent topic these days. Russia is a destination for many. So, any information about adopting from Russia and therefore its orphanage system, might be helpful and useful for those considering the country. However, this is not the book to offer any insight or educated, integrated, defensibly researched understanding of what you will be facing. Or even of what the book purports to explain. Unfortunately, this is a text compiled at about a B- grade level of a sophomore level research paper at a third tier university. Written by a diplomat's wife in collaboration with two others, I can almost see the disjointed quotes, on the index cards. Certainly not the "pioneering work on child abandonment" it purports to be.