No One Takes My Children: The Dramatic Story of a Mother's Determination to Regain her Kidnapped Son and Daughter

by Donya Al-Nahi, Eugene Costello

In March 2003, Donya al-Nahi's worst nightmare came true when her Iraqi husband took their daughter and youngest son and fled to the Middle East. Donya immediately begged and borrowed whatever funds she could and flew there to begin the hunt. But the search came to nothing, and she was forced to return home without her two missing children. A further trip with a private detective also proved fruitless, and Donya's hopes began to fade.

As the fighting in Iraq continued and Saddam Hussein's regime was overthrown, she received news that her husband had returned to his home town of Najaf with the children. She knew she had no choice but to follow - and nothing would stand in her way this time.

No One Takes My Children is the gripping account of Donya's heroic quest. It is a dramatic, emotional and ultimately inspiring story of how one woman's determination and courage in the face of extremely daunting odds brought about the reunion of her family.

Genres: Nonfiction, 21st Century, British Literature

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2005

Reviews

[Silvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Che tristezza!

Nonostante l’importanza dell’argomento trattato, questo libro è riuscito solamente ad innervosirmi.
L’ipocrisia della protagonista mi ha raggelato il sangue in più di un’occasione. Da pagina 3 la sua natura risulta piuttosto chiara: un donna che si atteggia da ragazzina alla ricerca continua di avventura e adrenalina.
Considero il suo ruolo autoimposto di “James Bond col velo” un tentativo estremo di scappare alla noia che la assale, sempre e da sempre. Diverse volte si è innamorata (?) di perfetti sconosciuti che ha poi sfruttato, da cui ha rubato (ridendoci poi su) e che, in due dei casi, ha anche sposato.
Il testo risulta scarno, spesso scheletrico, colmo di frasi e concetti ripetuti senza alcuna modifica. Idee poco chiare, racconti incompleti o totalmente inutili e la voce costantemente fastidiosa della protagonista hanno reso questa lettura un peso quasi insopportabile.
Peccato.

[فيّ . . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Gave it 5 stars because i really enjoyed the book despite the grammar , spelling mistakes . However I hate her personality.
She seemed selfish to me .

[Zainab Alawi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to rate it 3/5 at first but the last chapter made me change my mind! The fourth star is for the children.

[Sanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een boeiend verhaal over een vrouw die zich inzet voor vrouwen met ontvoerde kinderen.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone new to Donya Al-Nahi will probably give this book five stars, but for me....
Well I could have saved myself some time if I had skipped past the first seven chapters. The whole first half of the book is a rushed version of her first book HEROINE OF THE DESERT.
I don't know why she felt the need to put so much of her first book in this one. She said in an authors note that the first chapters of this book would cover some of the same things as her first book but the way it was going I thought I was going to read the whole thing over again. She could have made her point and then went on to tell about her own children.
When she finally startes telling about how her own children were abducted from her it feels really briefe and you don't really get a sense of great joy once she is reunited with her children because she hasn't drawn you in to her feeelings very well.
I really enjoyed her first book, but this one was just ok.....

[Sara Bezzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

La storia è sicuramente interessante ed è giusto che si parli di queste cose e che le stesse vengano portate a conoscenza dell'opinione pubblica in tutti i modi possibili.
Purtroppo, per quanto riguarda il libro, non è riuscito a coinvolgermi. Non saprei dare una spiegazione in merito ma nonostante la storia drammatica il libro non è riuscito a suscitarmi alcuna emozione. L'ho trovato freddo, impersonale (sebbene narrato in prima persona). Secondo me l'autore non è riuscito a trasmettere attraverso le parole i suoi sentimenti. Peccato!

[Sylwia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story of a heroic woman and her passion to help other women only to find herself in their shoes. Beautiful story of the horrific tragedies that some women endure. Having their children kidnaped and living in fear that they will never see them again. A touching story and definitely makes you wonder how a single woman could find the courage to do what Donya had done for complete strangers.

[Eneli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sama hästi oleks võinud esimese osa raamatust jätta lugemata, kuna teise osa algus oli täielikult ümberjutustus esimesest osast. Kui on esimene osa juba loetud, võib vabalt hakata raamatut lugema keskelt, mil jutustab autor loo, kuidas tema enda mees varastas nüüd tema lapsed. Sealt alates oli lugu põnev, kaasahaarav ning mõtlemapanev.

[Diana Barbosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lembro-me que este livro resultou de uma compra impulsiva. Mas mal o comecei a ler descobri que tinha sido uma excelente compra. Trata-se de uma história veridica e por isso conquistou-me e fez-me reflectir sobre determinados aspectos de outras sociedades. Muito bom mesmo.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced book and easy to read. Very tense and stressful at times. Would make a good book club book I think.

[Auburn ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo libro mi ha un po' delusa, nel senso che non era come me lo aspettavo. Troppi aspetti negativi riguardo la protagonista mi hanno fatto storcere parecchio il naso, un vero peccato.