How does the revelation of one's adoption status and the subsequent search for biological origins reshape an individual's identity and psychological development? Betty Jean Lifton, a writer and psychologist, utilizes her personal history as a case study to examine the complexities of the adoptee experience. She combines her own narrative with clinical observations to argue that the 'twice-born' individual must reconcile two distinct identities to achieve psychological wholeness.

Experts in the field of adoption studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the psychological nuances of the adoptee experience. Readers often note that the prose is both deeply personal and clinically insightful, making it a standard reference for those navigating similar family histories.