What others are saying about “The Missing Child.”

"The Missing Child is a fascinating family mystery and a loving portrait of an extraordinary American mother. A deeply engaging book."

 David Zucchino, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning best-selling author of “Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy.”

“The Missing Child” is a poignant account of the stigma that children placed in the foster home/adoption world often carry through life. In Charlotte O’Connor’s story, however, we see how two adorable grandchildren lifted this shame from her.”

Lee S. Varon, LICSW, a clinical social worker and former director of The Adoption Network who has written extensively about adoption and its lifelong impact on children and families.

Paul O’Connor’s wonderful biography of his mother, follows in part a verse of an old hymn known to all. For Charlotte O’Connor once was lost, but thanks to her son, now is found. “The Missing Child” is a painful story of a hard childhood, a hard marriage, a hard struggle to raise two kids — but ultimately a story of triumph in the stability, success and devotion to her memory those children shared. Life was tough for Charlotte, but she made it through. In this book, grace is hers at last. How sweet the sound.

 Jim Jenkins is a retired editorial page columnist for The (Raleigh, NC) News & Observer.