Maja and Me: My Journey with My Lesbian Daughter

by Mary Rose Knutson

A memoir about family, faith, and unconditional love * * * MULTIPLE AWARD WINNER • Gold Winner, Human Relations Indie Book Awards • Finalist, National Indie Excellence Award • Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards * * * "Mom, I think I’m gay." When Maja comes out to her mom, Mary tells her daughter she loves her and will support her. But Mary soon discovers that protecting her daughter from pain and rejection will not always be possible. As she faces conflict within her own family, among her friends, and in her church, Mary relies on her faith and her belief in justice. Eventually she becomes an advocate for more love and inclusion in the Lutheran church, the state of Minnesota, and the wider world.

148 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2018

Reviews

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom wrote this book about her response to my coming out! I’m very proud of her!

[Jane Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using a metaphor of paddling a canoe through rough waters, the author writes an honest account of her daughter's coming out and what happens next. The author, a devout Christian living in Minneapolis, shares her emotional journey from shock to learning to acceptance to becoming an advocate. She meets the challenge with love, amid much soul searching and looking to church leaders for ways to think about this revelation. Though other family members' reactions are included, Knutson keeps the book tightly focused on herself and her daughter. This book is a good step toward understanding a parents' dilemma and would help other mothers in a similar situation.