Book Reviews Book Review Editor: Karen Broadhurst The Adoption Process in England: A Guide for Children’s Social Workers Jenifer Lord British Association for Adoption and Fostering, London, 2008, vi + 130 pp. £12.95. ISBN 978 1 905664 41 2 As the title suggests, this volume is essentially a prac- tice guide to the adoption process. Reflecting this aim, it is structured around the various stages of the process – from making permanence plans and working with children and birth family members to panels, placement orders, the matching process, supervision of placements and the adoption order application itself. Also included are chapters on contact, support services and the relinquishment of infants for adoption. Although targeted particularly at children’s social workers, the book offers very useful information for anyone seeking to understand the often highly detailed ‘nuts and bolts’ of the adoption process. It is written in a very straightforward style and the author has incorporated a wide range of material, including flow charts, forms and templates in addition to infor- mation on statute and (recent) case law. Each chapter also concludes with guidance towards further reading and, in some instances, resources for use with chil- dren. Such direction is important because although some acknowledgement is given to the complexity of practice issues, the scope for their coverage in the text is limited.This applies equally to research findings and theoretical issues. The book also draws on children’s perspectives, notably from Thomas et al.’s (1999) research and more recent work from the Children’s Rights Director (Morgan 2006). As might be expected from the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and Jenifer Lord, the book is generally of a very high standard. I found the chapter on contact particularly good in its cover- age of practice issues, closely followed by that on family finding and matching. The only chapter I felt could have been stronger was that on working with birth families, which was rather legalistic in tone and offered relatively little on practice, other than the value of independent support.Tellingly, perhaps, no further reading was indicated. This emphasis may have reflected the book’s primary target audience – chil- dren’s social workers – but does detract a little from its all-round coverage. There is some repetition between chapters, but this is probably justifiable as many readers will be seeking guidance on particular aspects of the adoption process rather than reading the book in its entirety. In this regard, it is a pity that, like many BAAF publications, there is no index, as this would have been a useful aid to those searching for particular information. Finally, I thought that discussion of identity needs might have projected further into the (adult) future, with the potential for linking up with discussion of support services. Collectively, however, these are relatively minor matters, and overall this is an excellent resource that is likely to prove invaluable for social workers involved in adoption work and for other readers who need a com- prehensive account of the adoption process and useful pointers to its dilemmas and wider contexts. Derek Kirton Reader in Social Policy and Social Work University of Kent REFERENCES Morgan, R. (2006) About Adoption: A Children’s Views Report. London, CSCI. Thomas, C., Beckford, V., Lowe, N. & Murch, M. (1999) Adopted Children Speaking. London, BAAF. Child Exploitation and Communication Technologies Alisdair A Gillespie Russell House Publishing Ltd, Lyme Regis, 2008, 149 pp. £19.95. ISBN 978 1 905541 23 2 The world of child exploitation through the medium of information communication technologies is a rapidly moving and often complex field, but if anyone has the credentials to write a comprehensive account of current theory and practice, the author has. As the references at the rear of the book illustrate, he is an 123 Child and Family Social Work 2009, 14, pp 123–127 © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd