Prompt – A book by an author in their 20s.
Medium – Audiobook
About the book – This book tells the stories of refugee girls from around the world who have fled from different types of situations in their home countries, and their lives now as they come to terms with their displaced statuses and their new lives. The book is written by Malala Yousafzai, the famous Nobel Peace Prize winner and girls’ education activist, and is in the form of her own story of displacement as well as the stories of other girls and young women who have been displaced, sometimes alone, sometimes with their friends and families.
My Rating – 7.5/10. This is a book that I found immensely refreshing, helpful and enlightening. This book brings to light the important issue of girls who are displaced – whether they be fleeing across the Mexican border, sailing in boats to Europe, running through mountains and jungles. They are girls who live in refugee camps, who are internally displaced in the homes of families or who have been able to get visas and green cards. The girls are running from religious persecution, from physical and sexual violence, from war, from crime. Their stories are told by the girls themselves, who explain what they decided to do, how they got to the places they have ended up in, and what their hopes for the future are. Their struggles and how they have been forced out of their homes deeply touched me, and I feel the need to learn more – to read more and to find out new information.
The stories of the girls were incredible, as was the deep desire of each of them to further their education – to work hard to pursue learning and help others to do so to. The stories of Malala herself, of sisters Zaynab and Sabreen and of Marie-Claire (and her ‘American Mum’ Jennifer) I found particularly affecting. Whatever your views on immigration, I recommend that you read this book to see the bravery of these women and the things that they are fleeing from. It was a book I can’t say was an easy listen, but it did make me want to do and learn more, and to not take my comfortable existence for granted.
Would I read it again? Maybe, I’m not sure. I would definitely recommend it though!
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