Now Available on Friesen Press Bookstore, soon on Amazon, Indigo.
Based on the true story of Getruda Peters, this poignant, unflinching novel exposes the abuse and neglect she suffered as a resident of a government-run institution in Ontario in the 1980s. After witnessing the brutal murder of her father, followed by her mother abandoning her, young Gerda and her siblings are forced to leave the insular world of their Old Colony Mennonite community. Separated from her brothers and sisters, she is shuffled from foster home to foster home and endures bullying and cruelty. She is sent to an institution for intellectually disabled adults, which is meant to nurture her, provide community, and give her life skills. But when a supervisor sexually abuses her and the staff doesn’t believe her, she becomes trapped in the patterns of survival she has endured her whole life.
Left traumatized and stripped of belonging, Gerda finds fragile peace in a nearby forest, beneath a canopy of whispering leaves and amidst the quiet company of birds and wild creatures. Nature becomes her unlikely teacher, offering gentle lessons in kindness and resilience. This story offers a haunting and lyrical portrait of a young woman’s journey through loss and isolation toward self-discovery and strength. Through the darkness, Gerda forges a future shaped not by her past, but by the courage and compassion she learns to claim as her own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maria Moore is a Canadian author, mental health advocate, and retired registered nurse with roots in both Mexico and southwestern Ontario. With over four decades of experience in nursing—focused on mental health, addictions, and trauma—Maria brings a compassionate, lived perspective to her writing.
Her debut memoir, Not My Kind of Mennonite, explores the often-hidden world of abuse, silence, and generational trauma within conservative Mennonite communities. Through storytelling, Maria aims to break down stigma and encourage healing conversations.
Maria is available to attend book clubs, group readings, and community discussions either in person or via Zoom free of charge. These sessions offer a safe space to ask questions, unpack difficult themes, and connect directly with the author.
Her second book ,The Silenced Path, was released November 6 2025
Reach the Author
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