Never Broken

Malia Johnson is adopted and, at six months of age, diagnosed as deaf. Her horrified mother desperately tries to raise her as hearing, which confuses young Malia. Her silent world is wrought with teasing from her peers and harsh discipline from her mother as she forces her to learn lip reading and speech six hours a day, seven days a week. Feeling isolated and unable to express herself, Malia plunges into a life of sex, drugs, alcohol, and anorexia. She represses her sexuality at risk of further alienation - and looks for love in the wrong places.

Never Broken discusses Malia's challenges while growing up deaf and struggling with her sexuality. In her adult years, she relentlessly works to overcome the barriers that separate her from her hearing family and friends and finally find inner peace. No matter the struggle, Malia shows us that nothing is impossible with perseverance.

About the Author:

Malia K. Johnson was born Deaf in Los Angeles, CA. She was mainstreamed in hearing schools and learned to survive in a hearing world. Malia owns a sign language interpreting agency and has a passion advocating for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, traveling all over the world to promote awareness of the Deaf and need for interpreters. Malia currently resides in Orlando, Florida with her hearing dog, Ayla, and life partner, Peggy Wells.