As the father of an adopted son, I found Valerie Kreutzer's memoir
both a gripping personal account and an immensely helpful resource in
understanding the twists and turns of the adoption journey. Even birth
parents in traditional families sometimes express the wish that their
baby had come with a map or a set of instructions. Adoptive parents
get an extra dollop of puzzlement and more than a few extra
challenges. "A Girl Named Maria" will provide valuable insights to
anyone who has embarked upon this journey, either as adoptive parent
or as adoptee. Ms. Kreutzer's honest and moving account is suffused
with grace and humor. In her struggle to understand her daughter's
complex needs, tensions, and feelings, she finds hope and meaning
without ever losing hold of the stark realism of Maria's circumstances
and the blunt fact of her untimely death. This poignant story will be
a welcome and valued addition to the literature of adoption.