The Girl from Aleppo: Nujeen's Escape from War to Freedom
By Nujeen Mustafa and Christina Lamb
4/5
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About this ebook
Prize-winning journalist and the co-author of smash New York Times bestseller I Am Malala, Christina Lamb, now tells the inspiring true story of another remarkable young hero: Nujeen Mustafa, a teenager born with cerebral palsy, whose harrowing journey from war-ravaged Syria to Germany in a wheelchair is a breathtaking tale of fortitude, grit, and hope that lends a face to the greatest humanitarian issue of our time, the Syrian refugee crisis.
For millions around the globe, sixteen-year-old Nujeen Mustafa embodies the best of the human spirit. Confined to a wheelchair because of her cerebral palsy and denied formal schooling in Syria because of her illness, Nujeen taught herself English by watching American soap operas. When her small town became the epicenter of the brutal fight between ISIS militants and US-backed Kurdish troops in 2014, she and her family were forced to flee.
Despite her physical limitations, Nujeen embarked on the arduous trek to safety and a new life. The grueling sixteen-month odyssey by foot, boat, and bus took her across Turkey and the Mediterranean to Greece, through Macedonia to Serbia and Hungary, and finally, to Germany. Yet, in spite of the tremendous physical hardship she endured, Nujeen's extraordinary optimism never wavered. Refusing to give in to despair or see herself as a passive victim, she kept her head high. As she told a BBC reporter, "You should fight to get what you want in this world."
Nujeen's positivity and resolve infuses this unforgettable story of one young woman determined to make a better life for herself. Told by acclaimed British foreign correspondent Christina Lamb, Nujeen is a unique and powerful memoir that gives voice to the Syrian refugee crisis, helping us to understand that the world must change—and offering the inspiration to make that change reality.
Nujeen Mustafa
Born with cerebral palsy, 16-year-old Nujeen Mustafa has spent her life in a wheelchair. She had little formal education in Syria but taught herself English by watching US soap operas. In 2014 her home town of Kobane was at the centre of fierce fighting between Isis militants and US-backed Kurdish forces, forcing her family to flee first across the border into Turkey and then further into Europe, where they currently live, in Germany.
Read more from Nujeen Mustafa
The Girl from Aleppo: Nujeen's Escape from War to Freedom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nujeen: One Girl's Journey from War-Torn Syria in a Wheelchair Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for The Girl from Aleppo
17 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wonderful book. Inspiring indeed. Highly recommended. I am appalled by the mindless violence perpetrated on the civilians by their own rulers and the religious zealots bigotry responsible for killing countless number of people. Wish Kurdistan will be a reality in the coming years and it should be built on secular values and not on Islamic bigotry.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I'm not going to go into great detail about this book to save arguments. I believe that everyone deserves freedom and a place to call home. No one should have to stuffer in any way to have basic human needs met. If taxes have to be higher so be it.
My only issue is that I wish the writing style was more mature. For two adult women it is written very child-like. Have faith in your audience, we will understand what is written. It doesn't have to be dumbed down.
It's an interesting and easy read. There aren't many details so I feel the full extent of her journey is not expressed well enough.
I won't say don't read it, because you should. I just wish there was more, to get the full effect of this tragedy into people's hands. It's unfortunate, but "all the gory details" is what makes people pay attentiom.