In 2017, Maria Laurino had already written multiple books exploring her Italian heritage when her cousin called her and, off-handedly, mentioned he had found a Facebook group of fellow adoptees who had all come to America via the same Catholic Church program. There, he had heard concerning stories—rumors of falsified documents, exploited unwed mothers, and forced adoptions.
Intrigued, Laurino pressed her cousin to find out more, and he put her in contact with the leader of the group. Seven years later, after uncovering archival correspondence and conducting interviews with various mothers and children from the program, she published her findings in The Price of Children.
As she dug deeper, Laurino uncovered the shocking truth behind the program: the Church and State wanted “illegitimate” children sent abroad, and so unwed mothers were coerced—or even tricked—into giving their babies up for adoption.
Laurino's “extraordinary work of investigative journalism” (Corrier della Sera) made waves upon publication in Italy, and is now shocking readers in the United States as well. On October 13, Laurino appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss her book and discoveries in depth.
"There were women who were trapped into this situation and tremendous pressure to relinquish their children," Laurino said. "There were women who were tricked, who signed forms they didn't understand. And, in the worst cases, there were women who were told their child had died."
Beyond the horrors of the past, The Price of Children examines the effects of patriarchy, religion, and how antiquated beliefs about female purity continue to affect women today.
Want to learn more? Download The Price of Children now.
The Price of Children
“I could not put this book down. An amazing read…I was spellbound by the variety of stories revealed here of heartache, of children longing for their mothers and mothers forced to give up their children. Lives were changed irrevocably, and she warns us that they can be changed again in a similar, though more-up-to date manner. One of the best books I’ve recently read.” —Elizabeth Strout, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Olive Kittredge
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