By Chris McCarthy/Publisher
Photo courtesy of Sandra Bost
Local educator Sandra Mullins Bost (pictured above with two of her grandchildren) recently published her book “Real Sisters: A Sisters’ First Story of Adoption,” a heartwarming children’s story that explores the concept of family through the lens of love and adoption.
What makes a “real” family? Is it biology? Is it having the same skin color? Is it liking the same things? Charly and Zoe know the answer. Despite not sharing the same biological origins or physical similarities, they find their true sisterhood through the profound love that God places in their hearts.
Unique in its Christian perspective, “Real Sisters” is specifically geared toward those persons who are part of or interested in open adoption. Charly and Zoe’s story depicts that love and connection are the true elements that make a family real. The book, which is published by WestBow Press, will resonate with a broad audience, fostering a sense of acceptance and celebration of the diverse ways families are formed. “The book is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
“I want adoptees to feel like they truly belong in the family they were adopted into,” said Bost, a Calhoun, Ga., native who taught at Etowah and Ashville high schools and is currently a high school special education teacher for Alabama Virtual Academy. “I want adoptive families to feel supported and loved by Jesus, the maker of families, and I want the general public to be equipped with language to engage adoptive families in thoughtful dialogue.”
Bost’s 17-year career in education includes teaching high school English at Ashville for one and a half years, working as the system-wide Speech Language Pathologist for Attalla City Schools for two and a half years, teaching English at Etowah High School for four and a half years, teaching Special Education at Etowah for one year, teaching Special Education at Odenville Middle School for one year, teaching fourth grade at Coosa Christian for three years and working as an SLP in Sumner County Tenn., for one year. She and her husband of 30 years, Jeff, also spent three years in Saudi Arabia.
While recognizing that every adoption story is unique and may not always have a conventional “happily ever after,” Bost acknowledged the diverse perspectives of readers and seeks to ensure that all readers feel seen and understood.
Bost focuses her writing on the world of adoption, which is near to her heart and the heart of God. She and Jeff have two grown children, Mackenzie (Jacob) and Keegan (Mary), and five grandchildren. The couple were foster parents for 19 years before becoming foster grandparents. In 2021, their daughter and son-in-law welcomed a daughter through adoption. It is from this perspective that Bost brings her first book to publication, in hopes of giving adoptees and their parents a place to begin telling their adoption story. When she is not teaching, Bost enjoys time with her family and sipping coffee with her deaf dog while porch-sitting to the happy sounds of nature.
Bost is currently working on a sequel to “Real Sisters” called “Zoe (Without the Y).”
“It will tell the next part of Zoe’s story, with an 8-to-12 year-old audience in mind,” said Bost. “I want to walk the beautiful but broken story of adoption out incrementally to help adoptees, their families, and their friends have a place to begin talking about their stories, as they gain understanding and learn to accept all of the hard and precious parts with Grace.”
Sandra and Mackenzie are available to speak about adoption and fostering. Visit www.sandramullinsbost.com for more information.
