My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family [Hardcover]

Zach Wahls (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 26, 2012

A resounding testament to individuality and the power of family in all forms from the young man who “lit up the Internet” (Ellen DeGeneres)

On January 31, 2011, Zach Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public forum regarding full marriage equality. The nineteen-year-old son of a same-sex couple, Wahls proudly proclaimed, “The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.” Hours later, his speech was posted on YouTube, where it went viral, quickly receiving more than two million views. By the end of the week, everyone knew his name and wanted to hear more from the boy with two moms.

Same-sex marriage will be a major—possibly the defining—issue in this year’s election cycle, and Wahls speaks to that, but also to a broader issue.  Sure, he’s handsome and athletic, an environmental engineering student, and an Eagle Scout. Yet, growing up with two moms, he knows what it’s like to feel different and to fear being made fun of or worse. In the inspirational spirit of It Gets Better edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller, My Two Moms also delivers a reassuring message to same-sex couples, their kids, and anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider: “You are not alone.”

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Here he expands on his life story, speaking to all those who feel like outsiders. A needed book, and Wahls is a known quantity." ---Library Journal

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Zach Wahls is a twenty-year-old engineering student at the University of Iowa. He lives in Iowa City, Iowa.

Bruce Littlefield is a bestselling author and journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, People, and the Chicago Tribune, among other publications. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Gotham; 1 edition (April 26, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592407137
• ISBN-13: 978-1592407132
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Parenting & Families
  • #30 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Civil Rights

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 82 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Fantastic young man! April 26, 2012

By In 2 Design

Format:Hardcover

Zach Wahls, thank you for bravely standing up to tell your story, to not remaining silent. Like Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus, your courage to stand before the Iowa Legislature, and now the world, and say this is not right, that all people are equal and should be treated as such, is heartwarming and inspiring. Here's to the day when we don't need heroes like you. Until then, thank you. I will pass on the message of love, integrity, loyalty, courage,... that you share in your book to others, just as your moms passed them on to you. Congratulations!

110 of 119 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF FAMILY AND LOVE April 26, 2012

By RJ Parker TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

MY TWO MOMS by Zach Wahls is an amazing book told by a brave young man who was raised by two mothers. What a lucky boy! To be loved by both parents who taught him about love, family values, honor and courage.

The foundation of this book is about marriage equality. I totally agree with it. If a child can be raised by two moms or two dads and be taught values of family, love and respect, then who are we as a society to judge them? At only 20 years old, Zach stood in front of the Iowa Legislature and articulately summarized his belief in same sex marriage.

These two women obvious love each other and have put their children first. I salute Mr. Wahls for speaking out and telling his story by way of this book and making public appearances.

Thank you for sharing your story and Blessings to you and your family. A must read. Highly recommended.

59 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Story! April 27, 2012

By Labs4Life

Format:Hardcover

I love this book. Zach's famous speech was powerful and intelligent, and the book is too with an intimate look into his life, the values his moms taught him, and his ideas about equality. He is frank and inspirational, and delivers a strong rebuttal to every argument the opposition usually delivers. Congrats Zach! You are indeed an amazing person!

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book For Everyone! Thank you Zach! April 29, 2012

By PrairieBookCellar

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Thank you Zach for sharing your family story with everyone so that bit by bit fear and prejudice may be replaced with love and acceptance. It is only by getting to know same sex couples and their families that fear of the unknown can be overcome. You have shared intimate family stories that everyone can relate to and understand whether they be gay or straight. Your book made me laugh, and it made me cry. Most of all it made me proud to be living during this time of change towards acceptance of all families, no matter how they be configured. You are right Zach, it is the love that binds that makes a family. Your family is an inspiring example of love and being well connected. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "That's what makes a family"... May 1, 2012

By Jill Meyer TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

You know, it really is a shame that sixth-generation Iowan Zack Wahls felt he had to write his book, "My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family". The son of a gay mother, born, along with his younger sister, as the product of a sperm donation, Zack was raised by - horrors - two lesbians! OMG - what WILL the children think!

Zack gained fame in early 2011 when he testified in front of an Iowa House of Representatives public forum. For three minutes this young man talked with stunning articularity about growing up with with gay parents. The resulting video has bounced around the Internet, and added another dimension to the debate about gay marriage - or "marriage equality".

I was not going to read this book. I bought it - as I do many political books - because I wanted to support the author monetarily and I was going to donate it straight-away to the local library. But when it arrived yesterday and I sat down and leafed through it, I realised that I could learn something about a subject that I was already in agreement with. Zack talks about his upbringing that his parents - and they ARE his parents - gave him and teamed it with the many good ideals he learned as an Eagle Scout. Faithfulness, cleanliness, politeness, etc, are only some of the life virtues drummed into this young man and his sister. They seem to have "caught on", because Zack - and I assume sister Zebby - are remarkable young people.

Let's talk to the specific case of good parenting here, because, that, in the end, is what Zack Wahls is a product of. I've often said, "We're not raising children, we're raising adults", because adulthood is the ultimate goal of every parent's long, weary slog.... We try to install in our children the good values that will take them through life as responsible adults. And, ya know what? Gay parents can do this just as well as straight parents. So can divorced parents - if they can work together as many of us are able to do. Single mothers and single fathers can do it, too. Zack Wahls and his sister are proof of this.

Zack's book's a quick read but it is worth reading to see the family behind the video. I had no idea that Terry, his birth Mom, is a doctor and Jackie, his other Mom, is a nurse. Zack writes about Terry's diagnosis of MS and how his family, as a whole, has dealt with it through the years.

I assume that most people who buy and read this book are supporters of "marriage equality". But the book goes a little deeper than that and looks at a "family". Read more ›

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A View From First-Hand Experience May 1, 2012

By M. Crouch

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This young man writes eloquently and beautifully -- from his first-hand experiences of being raised by two moms. The reviewer who gives this book one star (S. Hill) has obviously not read the book, and makes it very clear she has an issue with gays raising kids. She defends her view, by claiming that being raised by two people of the same sex is a decision made for the benefit of the adults, not the child; she ignores the fact that divorced (and therefore single) parents is also a condition caused by a decision of adults to benefit the adults. She never once addresses anything Mr. Wahl writes about, with the exception of accusing him of claiming he has no dad; one of the most ignorant claims about this book, which alone proves she has not read it. Please, do not pay attention to the one negative review, and give this book a chance. It preaches/teaches humanity and understanding -- again, the one thing missing from that one negative review. For a 20-year-old to be so compassionate and understanding of the travails of life, alone, proves his upbringing was not endangered by the fact he had two moms. These two women have to be so proud of their son that they could burst. Kudos to two women who raised an incredibly compassionate young man; kudos to a young man who learned to be so exceptionally well-spoken and intelligent.