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Scattered: The making and unmaking of a refugee
**A Guardian book to look out for in 2024**
'A compelling story from a gifted storyteller … In a moment where refugees are often talked about but rarely heard from, her voice breaks through' GARY YOUNGE
A staggering investigation into the costs and consequences of displacement, from a young woman uniquely placed to explore the refugee experience and its aftershocks
In 2015, Aamna Mohdin travelled to Calais to report from the frontlines of the refugee crisis. When she returned to London, and discussed what she had seen with her parents, their response surprised didn't she remember being a refugee herself?
Aamna was faced with a reality she had been outrunning for nearly two that her parents had been refugees of the Somali civil war; and that her arrival in the UK aged seven had been preceded by an early childhood in a refugee camp, followed by years of displacement and desperation – as her family, sometimes together but often separated, fought for a place to call home.
For the first time, Aamna's parents told her their of the lives they had built in the newly independent Somalia, and the shattering effects of civil war that followed. From London, she travelled to Somalia, a homecoming to a place that had never been home; before retracing her parents' flight to Kenya, and the Kakuma refugee camp – the site of a very present refugee crisis, now three decades in the making.
Scattered is a staggering investigation into the costs and consequences of displacement, from a young woman uniquely placed to explore the refugee experience and its aftershocks. A powerful reportage, it is also an epic story of returns and reunions; and a joyful celebration of family and belonging.
'The only way out of the crisis of exclusion sweeping across the Atlantic Ocean is storytelling … In so luminously recounting the story of her family Mohdin achieves an imaginative breakthrough that everyone should read' SAMUEL MOYN, Professor of Law and History at Yale University
'A compelling story from a gifted storyteller … In a moment where refugees are often talked about but rarely heard from, her voice breaks through' GARY YOUNGE
A staggering investigation into the costs and consequences of displacement, from a young woman uniquely placed to explore the refugee experience and its aftershocks
In 2015, Aamna Mohdin travelled to Calais to report from the frontlines of the refugee crisis. When she returned to London, and discussed what she had seen with her parents, their response surprised didn't she remember being a refugee herself?
Aamna was faced with a reality she had been outrunning for nearly two that her parents had been refugees of the Somali civil war; and that her arrival in the UK aged seven had been preceded by an early childhood in a refugee camp, followed by years of displacement and desperation – as her family, sometimes together but often separated, fought for a place to call home.
For the first time, Aamna's parents told her their of the lives they had built in the newly independent Somalia, and the shattering effects of civil war that followed. From London, she travelled to Somalia, a homecoming to a place that had never been home; before retracing her parents' flight to Kenya, and the Kakuma refugee camp – the site of a very present refugee crisis, now three decades in the making.
Scattered is a staggering investigation into the costs and consequences of displacement, from a young woman uniquely placed to explore the refugee experience and its aftershocks. A powerful reportage, it is also an epic story of returns and reunions; and a joyful celebration of family and belonging.
'The only way out of the crisis of exclusion sweeping across the Atlantic Ocean is storytelling … In so luminously recounting the story of her family Mohdin achieves an imaginative breakthrough that everyone should read' SAMUEL MOYN, Professor of Law and History at Yale University
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 8, 2024
I don’t think I’ve read a text since Baldwin, Márquez, Saramago or Ferrante, that has taken me through such a whirlwind of emotions as ‘Scattered: The making and unmaking of a refugee’. This book is that rare combination of captivating storytelling, gut-wrenching honesty and relentless wit, all geared towards telling one family’s story of struggle against war, the global border system, racism and the affects these systems of power have on our sense of self. It’s a book that takes you through - in unflinchingly lucid and clearsighted ways - the chronicle of a refugee who has fought to make a life for themselves in a foreign country they now call home. It’s a tale of life-making, of the experience which confronts refugees, and the interpersonal and political struggles they have to wage to ensure their claim to life, freedom and a connection to the country they once lived in. It’s an account of one woman’s battle over the terms of her own subjectivity in the face of racism and the new and novel of starting a life in a new country
In this dark world that we live in, as colonial genocides rage and empires and climate change make new refugees everyday, this book is of enormous importance. It tells us that we can and must fight for a world free from racism and borders. If you read anything this year, then make it this. Even better, organise a launch or a reading group around it in your ends. This is one of those magical examples of a text that has the power to move and change people.
In this dark world that we live in, as colonial genocides rage and empires and climate change make new refugees everyday, this book is of enormous importance. It tells us that we can and must fight for a world free from racism and borders. If you read anything this year, then make it this. Even better, organise a launch or a reading group around it in your ends. This is one of those magical examples of a text that has the power to move and change people.
May 5, 2024
“This is a book about finding where I belong in the world”
A heart wrenching and thought provoking memoir from a Somali refugee. “Scattered” tells the story of Aamna and her family’s transition into British Somalis and the horror story of how they got here.
As someone who was heavily involved with the Calais refugees, I knew this was a story I’d be interested in. And it didn’t disappoint.
“I look at the similarities between the refugee crisis I was born into, and the one I report on several decades later. Their fear and desperation is the same. Their deaths are the same. The response from the neighbouring countries, the indifference and hostility - that too has remained the same”
Mama, in particular, I adored. What a brave, brave woman. What she must have gone through, as a mother, is the absolute stuff of nightmares. Deportation, imprisonment, being separated from her child. I can’t even begin to try and understand her experiences.
I learned so much about Somalia. The history, the people. And what stood out most to me was their laughter and their resilience. I found myself on instagram and Google, wanting to know more. Wanting to see pictures and try and get a bigger sense of what the author was describing and where she was. I wanted to see the photography in Kakuma that she spoke of, I wanted to see the country she felt naturally at home in.
“Why do some children get to live their lives never worrying about whether they’d see their parents again? Why am I always losing one of my parents? Why was this the life that was chosen for me? Why don’t I just get to be a child?”
The sense of family and the kindness from others was heartwarming. Aamna’s family, immediate and extended, provided great support along the way and the love she has for her parents in particular, just shines through the pages and made me smile. I found this book really emotive and I felt such a wide range of feelings throughout her story.
Aamna’s struggles didn’t end when she reached the UK. The racism she speaks of makes me cringe in embarrassment at the behaviour of my “fellow countrymen” and the story of Mama and her shoe only made me love her more!
“I scratched my legs and saw the white, ashy streaks it left behind. I started scratching myself all over, with a desperate vigour. I wanted to cover myself in those white ashy streaks. I scratched as deep into the skin as I could, wanting to tear at the blackness. I didn’t stop once I started bleeding.”
I’ll never understand why Britain seems to have open arms for the Ukrainians, yet shun the African nations. The unashamed, outwardly racist, remarks that can be read in comments sections on social media are absolutely disgusting. I wish more people would educate themselves on the harrowing histories people have suffered in these countries.
I am so proud of you Aamna, for building a wonderful career, all the while supporting your family, discovering who you are, where you come from and integrating yourself into Britain. You’re truly remarkable.
Thank you to you, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read your story. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has taught me so much and been so thought provoking. This is one story that will stay with me.
A heart wrenching and thought provoking memoir from a Somali refugee. “Scattered” tells the story of Aamna and her family’s transition into British Somalis and the horror story of how they got here.
As someone who was heavily involved with the Calais refugees, I knew this was a story I’d be interested in. And it didn’t disappoint.
“I look at the similarities between the refugee crisis I was born into, and the one I report on several decades later. Their fear and desperation is the same. Their deaths are the same. The response from the neighbouring countries, the indifference and hostility - that too has remained the same”
Mama, in particular, I adored. What a brave, brave woman. What she must have gone through, as a mother, is the absolute stuff of nightmares. Deportation, imprisonment, being separated from her child. I can’t even begin to try and understand her experiences.
I learned so much about Somalia. The history, the people. And what stood out most to me was their laughter and their resilience. I found myself on instagram and Google, wanting to know more. Wanting to see pictures and try and get a bigger sense of what the author was describing and where she was. I wanted to see the photography in Kakuma that she spoke of, I wanted to see the country she felt naturally at home in.
“Why do some children get to live their lives never worrying about whether they’d see their parents again? Why am I always losing one of my parents? Why was this the life that was chosen for me? Why don’t I just get to be a child?”
The sense of family and the kindness from others was heartwarming. Aamna’s family, immediate and extended, provided great support along the way and the love she has for her parents in particular, just shines through the pages and made me smile. I found this book really emotive and I felt such a wide range of feelings throughout her story.
Aamna’s struggles didn’t end when she reached the UK. The racism she speaks of makes me cringe in embarrassment at the behaviour of my “fellow countrymen” and the story of Mama and her shoe only made me love her more!
“I scratched my legs and saw the white, ashy streaks it left behind. I started scratching myself all over, with a desperate vigour. I wanted to cover myself in those white ashy streaks. I scratched as deep into the skin as I could, wanting to tear at the blackness. I didn’t stop once I started bleeding.”
I’ll never understand why Britain seems to have open arms for the Ukrainians, yet shun the African nations. The unashamed, outwardly racist, remarks that can be read in comments sections on social media are absolutely disgusting. I wish more people would educate themselves on the harrowing histories people have suffered in these countries.
I am so proud of you Aamna, for building a wonderful career, all the while supporting your family, discovering who you are, where you come from and integrating yourself into Britain. You’re truly remarkable.
Thank you to you, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read your story. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has taught me so much and been so thought provoking. This is one story that will stay with me.
August 12, 2025
I feel honoured to have been able to read such an intimate, gut-wrenchingly honest account of a family’s struggle with war, statelessness, border politics, and the weight of experience itself.
Cried profusely, no notes.
Cried profusely, no notes.
July 30, 2024
This memoir written by an established journalist follows the lived experiences of a Somali-British refugee. Tracing the political through the personal, and the collective through the intimate, Mohdin illustrates the ongoing struggles with her past and the lack of belonging she receives in contemporary Britain. In particular, this book documents the author's thinking on the topic as well as the conversations she held with her parents trying to dig into her own heritage and family history. Following Mohdin across time and place - both literally and figuratively, the book is structured around the different stages of the refugee experience. Altogether, this is a fascinating work which manages to intersect personal reflection with journalistic investigation.
July 30, 2024
3.5* but rounded up because I've never read a non-fiction account of a refugee or about Somali hence needing to appreciate this gem (as well as all the many great authors and poets the author includes such as Viet Thanh Nguyen). It would have received a further * if there were photos. The author encounters photographers in Mogadishu but didn't add any photos of all the beautiful and fascinating scenery she describes. In fiction I'm happy to use my imagination but for non-fiction i would rather see what the author is seeing, whether it's Italian colonial architecture, hipster cafes (they have a big coffee culture) or beaches.
Chapter 1: A Fine Line
The first thing I'm going to take from this is that human kindness is part of us. That hatred or indifference to suffering is harder when faced with a refugee directly in front of you rather than statistics in a tabloid. No different to witnessing lambs being slaughtered rather than seeing them in sanitised packages in a supermarket.
"She was then put on a coach, but she didn't know where it went. It was there that she met a young Indian man. 'I spoke to him in Hindi and told him what happened. I said I was caught be border guards and needed to return to my family in Holland. I told him I didn't have any money or food on me,' she says.
The man, who looked about twenty-four years old, told her to get off the bus and took her to a nearby cafe. He bought her food and drink, which she wolfed down. He then scolded her. "He said, "When you're pregnant, you shouldn't travel long distances without any food for yourself and your baby." He gave her money to use a payphone and call her family.
The Indian man paid for a ticket to get her on a train that would take her to the Netherlands. He took her to the train station.
Chapter 2: When Faatma Met Mohamed
Aamna Mohdin shreds the stereotypical image that the West has of women from developing countries, particularly of Muslim heritage. Her parents, Faatma and Mohamed have a loving relationship where they laugh constantly and Faatma, a "do-not-mess-with-me" bada$$ always has the last word. This chapter shares some of their love story.
Faatma is Yemeni on her mother's side (Arab) and Somali on her father's side and thus speaks both languages fluently. Her father was living in India, when Indra Ghandi was assassinated.
This chapter explores the changes brought by the new revolutionary government leading to the civil war that engulfs Somalia.
Chapter 3: The Great Escape
Explores the collapse of Said Barre, the former commander of the Somali National Army, who becomes the president of Somalia after the 1969 coup d'état that overthrew the Somali Republic. He was initially a Marxist–Leninist who had adopted scientific socialism (with support from the Soviet Union). He had brough in many popular reforms that allowed Somalia to flourish. But in 1977, he started the Ogaden War against the Derg in Ethopia, against the advise of the Soviet Union. Upon losing that war he pivots away from the Soviet Union and turns to the USA, which leads to inequality and corruption.
Chapter 4: The Making of a Refugee
This chapter starts with the funny account of how Somalians give each other funny nicknames e.g. Faatma's nickname is John because she had a crush on a man named John.
This details the account of the family applying for asylum and being rejected.
Chapter 5: The Separation
Details the account of how the author had to pretend her aunt was her mother so that she could remain in Saudi Arabia while her mother was deported to Kenya.
Chapter 6: Finally in Europe
The long journey to the UK. They first land in Germany in 1998 and then after many attempts manage to reunite in the UK after years of being apart.
Chapter 7: A Journey Back in Time
The author finally goes back to Somalia to understand her roots. And discovers how Somalia is a Nation of Poets
Chapter 8: You Were Once Amina
The author's name had been changed at some point. She explores how it feels to try and reclaim her original name.
Chapter 9: Lunch with the Youth of Mogadishu
Explores the women's football team, the experiences of the youth in Mogadishu including the terrorist attacks and the losing the use of one's mother tongue called "first language attrition" which Monika Schmid of the University of Essex is the leading researcher on this field.
Chapter 10: The Permeance of Exile
Explore Harmar Weyne where the author's father has renovated the house and he and Faatma lived in when they first were married. More of the diaspora who left are returning, hoping to transform the country.
Chapter 11: The Past Isn't Dead
The author visits a coastal town called Malindi, where the Italians once launched their satellites from. The Ngomeni beach is considered dangerous due to kidnappings and terrorist attacks. Lots of shipwrecked boats scatter the beach.
Chapter 12: Welcome Back to K-Town
The author visits Kakuma refugee camp, where the author had spent part of her childhood and attended school. The contrast of her, a UK citizen and the refugees is very sad.
Chapter 13: Girlhood on Two Fronts
The struggles of fitting in and navigating her identities.
Chapter 14: Black and British
Accepting her Black British identity and racism in the UK (the rise and fall of the BNP) as well as gaining British citizenship (the meaning of being Stateless to being a citizen of one of the richest countries in the world).
Chapter 15: The Trauma that Binds Us
Her mother's panic attacks and the trauma they both share.
Chapter 16: We Were Girls Together
The other thing I learned from this book is that women who are denied stability and education seem to have a lot of children. Whether it's the author's mother or the author's childhood friend, who had 3 children while living in a refugee camp and then another while being resettled in The Netherlands. And she's barely 30 years old. In contrast the author is hoping to pursue her career before considering children. This isn't said in judgement against refugees. I've noticed this with my own family who arrived to the UK as first generation immigrants
Part One
Chapter 1: A Fine Line
The first thing I'm going to take from this is that human kindness is part of us. That hatred or indifference to suffering is harder when faced with a refugee directly in front of you rather than statistics in a tabloid. No different to witnessing lambs being slaughtered rather than seeing them in sanitised packages in a supermarket.
"She was then put on a coach, but she didn't know where it went. It was there that she met a young Indian man. 'I spoke to him in Hindi and told him what happened. I said I was caught be border guards and needed to return to my family in Holland. I told him I didn't have any money or food on me,' she says.
The man, who looked about twenty-four years old, told her to get off the bus and took her to a nearby cafe. He bought her food and drink, which she wolfed down. He then scolded her. "He said, "When you're pregnant, you shouldn't travel long distances without any food for yourself and your baby." He gave her money to use a payphone and call her family.
The Indian man paid for a ticket to get her on a train that would take her to the Netherlands. He took her to the train station.
Chapter 2: When Faatma Met Mohamed
Aamna Mohdin shreds the stereotypical image that the West has of women from developing countries, particularly of Muslim heritage. Her parents, Faatma and Mohamed have a loving relationship where they laugh constantly and Faatma, a "do-not-mess-with-me" bada$$ always has the last word. This chapter shares some of their love story.
Faatma is Yemeni on her mother's side (Arab) and Somali on her father's side and thus speaks both languages fluently. Her father was living in India, when Indra Ghandi was assassinated.
This chapter explores the changes brought by the new revolutionary government leading to the civil war that engulfs Somalia.
Chapter 3: The Great Escape
Explores the collapse of Said Barre, the former commander of the Somali National Army, who becomes the president of Somalia after the 1969 coup d'état that overthrew the Somali Republic. He was initially a Marxist–Leninist who had adopted scientific socialism (with support from the Soviet Union). He had brough in many popular reforms that allowed Somalia to flourish. But in 1977, he started the Ogaden War against the Derg in Ethopia, against the advise of the Soviet Union. Upon losing that war he pivots away from the Soviet Union and turns to the USA, which leads to inequality and corruption.
Chapter 4: The Making of a Refugee
This chapter starts with the funny account of how Somalians give each other funny nicknames e.g. Faatma's nickname is John because she had a crush on a man named John.
This details the account of the family applying for asylum and being rejected.
Chapter 5: The Separation
Details the account of how the author had to pretend her aunt was her mother so that she could remain in Saudi Arabia while her mother was deported to Kenya.
Chapter 6: Finally in Europe
The long journey to the UK. They first land in Germany in 1998 and then after many attempts manage to reunite in the UK after years of being apart.
Part Two
Chapter 7: A Journey Back in Time
The author finally goes back to Somalia to understand her roots. And discovers how Somalia is a Nation of Poets
Chapter 8: You Were Once Amina
The author's name had been changed at some point. She explores how it feels to try and reclaim her original name.
Chapter 9: Lunch with the Youth of Mogadishu
Explores the women's football team, the experiences of the youth in Mogadishu including the terrorist attacks and the losing the use of one's mother tongue called "first language attrition" which Monika Schmid of the University of Essex is the leading researcher on this field.
Chapter 10: The Permeance of Exile
Explore Harmar Weyne where the author's father has renovated the house and he and Faatma lived in when they first were married. More of the diaspora who left are returning, hoping to transform the country.
Chapter 11: The Past Isn't Dead
The author visits a coastal town called Malindi, where the Italians once launched their satellites from. The Ngomeni beach is considered dangerous due to kidnappings and terrorist attacks. Lots of shipwrecked boats scatter the beach.
Chapter 12: Welcome Back to K-Town
The author visits Kakuma refugee camp, where the author had spent part of her childhood and attended school. The contrast of her, a UK citizen and the refugees is very sad.
Part Three
Chapter 13: Girlhood on Two Fronts
The struggles of fitting in and navigating her identities.
Chapter 14: Black and British
Accepting her Black British identity and racism in the UK (the rise and fall of the BNP) as well as gaining British citizenship (the meaning of being Stateless to being a citizen of one of the richest countries in the world).
Chapter 15: The Trauma that Binds Us
Her mother's panic attacks and the trauma they both share.
Chapter 16: We Were Girls Together
The other thing I learned from this book is that women who are denied stability and education seem to have a lot of children. Whether it's the author's mother or the author's childhood friend, who had 3 children while living in a refugee camp and then another while being resettled in The Netherlands. And she's barely 30 years old. In contrast the author is hoping to pursue her career before considering children. This isn't said in judgement against refugees. I've noticed this with my own family who arrived to the UK as first generation immigrants
October 1, 2024
Amazing! Amazing! A must read !!!!
May 27, 2024
Scattered is a bittersweet memoir about the refugee experience, and an honest and thought-provoking exploration of how it shapes a family and a girlhood.
Mohdin takes a sensitive and considered approach to her subject matter, starting with a brief history of the Somali Civil War and her family's flight from Mogadishu. It's a deeply personal story, but always carefully contextualised by time and place, and the views and experiences of others. Mohdin approaches every stage of her journey with a warmth, honesty and understanding that celebrates the complexity of experience, and as a reader I felt like I was right there with her every step of the way.
Thoughtful and compassionate, brave and vulnerable, Scattered feels like a very special autobiography.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
Mohdin takes a sensitive and considered approach to her subject matter, starting with a brief history of the Somali Civil War and her family's flight from Mogadishu. It's a deeply personal story, but always carefully contextualised by time and place, and the views and experiences of others. Mohdin approaches every stage of her journey with a warmth, honesty and understanding that celebrates the complexity of experience, and as a reader I felt like I was right there with her every step of the way.
Thoughtful and compassionate, brave and vulnerable, Scattered feels like a very special autobiography.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
July 6, 2024
Absolutely incredible. I hardly have words for it, but I’ll try. This is beautiful and powerful memoir that tells the story of a family and a country that is worth telling a thousand times over. I learned so much and the book also does a great serve to society by showing, with such compassion, the lives of people before and after their identities get flattened into the status of refugee. This story is also filled with joy and laughter. I loved this book so much.
July 21, 2024
A beautiful and illuminating book. It’s a gift to be able to accompany such an engaging, empathetic writer on a deeply personal journey to understand her own experience and identity. Highly recommend.
June 2, 2025
Nicely written personal memoir of the events of Ammina’s childhood as a
Somalian refugee. Highlights the plight of all refugees and the displacement from their homeland. And how they can struggle to assimilate into their new homes and the prejudices they face. An important record and a deep wish from me that the western world would be more sympathetic to a refugees struggle
Somalian refugee. Highlights the plight of all refugees and the displacement from their homeland. And how they can struggle to assimilate into their new homes and the prejudices they face. An important record and a deep wish from me that the western world would be more sympathetic to a refugees struggle
August 31, 2025
This is an essential read—I want everyone to experience it. It's a deeply honest account of the struggles faced by those who are displaced and the lasting impact this has on individuals and families. How brave her parents were (and had to be) stands out powerfully throughout.
The book sheds light on the harsh realities of seeking asylum when there are no legal pathways, the immense challenges of settling in a new country, and the ongoing search for belonging. I appreciate how we come to know not just the author, but also her parents personalities and the people who crossed their paths, some of whom offered help and compassion. This renews my faith in humanity.
The storytelling is vivid and evocative—it made me want to visit Somalia myself. One thing that struck me, and that I hadn't fully considered before reading Scattered, is the experience of children who grow up in safety, yet feel disconnected both from their heritage and the country they now live in. The emotional support needed by those from different cultural backgrounds is sorely lacking, and this book highlights that gap with clarity.
By the end, I wasn't sure what to feel. The journey stirred so many emotions—hope, anger, sadness, admiration. The world it portrays is undeniably cruel: marked by racism, corruption, profiteering, and political inaction. The injustice is overwhelming—calling it unfair feels like an understatement.
The book sheds light on the harsh realities of seeking asylum when there are no legal pathways, the immense challenges of settling in a new country, and the ongoing search for belonging. I appreciate how we come to know not just the author, but also her parents personalities and the people who crossed their paths, some of whom offered help and compassion. This renews my faith in humanity.
The storytelling is vivid and evocative—it made me want to visit Somalia myself. One thing that struck me, and that I hadn't fully considered before reading Scattered, is the experience of children who grow up in safety, yet feel disconnected both from their heritage and the country they now live in. The emotional support needed by those from different cultural backgrounds is sorely lacking, and this book highlights that gap with clarity.
By the end, I wasn't sure what to feel. The journey stirred so many emotions—hope, anger, sadness, admiration. The world it portrays is undeniably cruel: marked by racism, corruption, profiteering, and political inaction. The injustice is overwhelming—calling it unfair feels like an understatement.
July 7, 2024
Scattered is a beautiful memoir, a modern history of Somalia, and a philosophical investigation of what it means to become a refugee. But above all it's a great story, with the author driven to try and resolve a mystery at the heart of her own identity, and its twists and turns kept me so hooked I read the book in a couple of days. Makes a valuable contribution to the themes of exile and return that are prominent in diaspora literature: I liked the idea of the refugee as a time-traveller, and at times there was an almost magical-realist quality to the book. Away from the central familial narrative, the book pushes the reader to reflect on the stories of other refugees, with similarly extraordinary experiences: I'm sure it will inspire many others to tell their story.
July 15, 2024
Through the story of one Somali family, this book gives real insight into the journeys and travails of refugees.
The middle part of the book is the weakest section. The story of her parents’ landing on the Kenyan coast is gripping but her re-imagining of it is not. The prose style is a bit plodding at times: do we need to be told that on arrival at Mogadishu she went through passport control? While it is good to have a positive view of the country, the warm people, beautiful surroundings and yummy food feel a bit superficial.
However the first and third parts more than compensate for these complaints. The family’s challenges on arrival in the UK and their triumph over them, conflicting identities and the importance of language are all considered with lucidity and depth.
The middle part of the book is the weakest section. The story of her parents’ landing on the Kenyan coast is gripping but her re-imagining of it is not. The prose style is a bit plodding at times: do we need to be told that on arrival at Mogadishu she went through passport control? While it is good to have a positive view of the country, the warm people, beautiful surroundings and yummy food feel a bit superficial.
However the first and third parts more than compensate for these complaints. The family’s challenges on arrival in the UK and their triumph over them, conflicting identities and the importance of language are all considered with lucidity and depth.
June 3, 2024
This is a story the world should know. It is Aamna's story, a Somali refugee who through many difficulties was able to find a place in the UK. But it is also story that shows the huge challenges that millions of refugees in the world face. A story of displacement, broken worlds, scattered memories, and a pieced-together self. It is rare to find a person with such a story who both has the skill to tell it and the strength to face the difficulties necessary in telling it. Read it to have your horizons broadened and your heart made bigger.
September 28, 2025
I was drawn to this autobiography to learn more of such desperate people’s lives, but it disappointed me . Whilst I have the greatest admiration for the author and her meteoric rise in the world of journalism I was not drawn into her story and found it easy to put it down
June 25, 2025
This book is a classic.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews