Lexie Cook

The Search for Faith Lexie Cook

The search for Faith takes the reader on a journey with a nurse and a young man who is searching for his identity. The story portrays life in the swinging 60's and 70's and the social and sexual revolution that released the youth from post-World War 2 conventional life. Unfortunately so many of them were carried along with the changing times, with limited knowledge of sex education and contraception, which were unavailable to the single girl. Many fell victim to the persuasions of a boyfriend or a casual acquaintance which often resulted in an unexpected pregnancy. Some families supported their daughter, but others sent the pregnant girl away so as not to bring shame on the family. So many young mothers had their babies taken from them and others who without financial or family support had no alternative but to relinquish their child for adoption. This had long-term effects on these women and their children. During the time of the Vietnam war attitudes in New Zealand and Australia changed towards such conflicts and the slogan make love, not war rang out amongst the emerging hippy culture as sex before marriage became more acceptable in society. Recreational drugs although illegal became more accessible and the use of marijuana often led to other drugs and drug addiction. As laws changed and information became more available adults who had been adopted as children began to look for their real identity and some birth mothers began to search for their children. The introduction of computers and the internet made this task so much easier.