"I had mixed feelings in thinking of writing here about this book. Sadly these kinds of stories are all too prevalent among the Mennonites from Mexico and need to be told. Mennonite history is so often sanitized. On the other hand I fear that it will perpetuate the stereotype that is all too prevalent, in Canadian communities at least, that ALL Mennonites from Mexico live like this.

It takes courage to face our stories honestly and I'm glad the author was able to do so."

"very powerful book. This woman has survived an incredibly difficult childhood and yet finds the grace to explore the who and why and how with forgiveness and incredible insight."

"This is the type of book that stays with you.
Not My Kind of Mennonite starts and ends with the murder of the author’s father, George Peters. There’s no mystery regarding who his killer is or how he died. Instead the question that propels this family biography is: How could someone murder a man who was so beloved by his small community and then walk free? Why did the murderer feel so righteous about killing a man who presented no physical danger, and why did the court system condone his actions?
Maria Moore unravels the complicated story of her own family with unwavering honesty. She examines factors such as the role of the Mennonite church, her mother’s undiagnosed and untreated mental illness, the family’s poverty and cultural isolation, and a generations-long history of abuse.
Not My Kind of Mennonite isn’t an easy read. It deals with difficult topics and doesn’t sugarcoat any of them. In fact, the straightforward manner in which Moore describes the abuse her parents endured speaks perfectly to how commonplace such abuse was.
The tone throughout is gripping and foreboding. Moore describes the increasing desperation, despair, and isolation of her parents with a matter-of-fact clarity that’s truly chilling at times. As compelled as I was to keep reading, I had to step away from this book frequently because of the intensity of the story it told.
I highly recommend Not My Kind of Mennonite. It’s a deeply empathetic, non-judgmental, and comprehensive look at one family’s path to tragedy and dissolution. It’s honestly one of the best and most original biographies/autobiographies I’ve ever read. If I hadn’t already received my own physical copy as a gift, I would have had to go out and buy a hard copy to keep on my shelf."