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Lo straordinario viaggio di Nujeen
Nujeen Mustafa ha sedici anni e soffre di una grave forma di paralisi cerebrale che l'ha costretta su una sedia a rotelle e le ha impedito di frequentare la scuola pubblica. Ma questo non l'ha fermata: ha imparato l'inglese guardando le soap opera americane trasmesse dalla tv del suo paese e nello stesso modo ha studiato storia, letteratura, scienze. Dimostrando di avere un coraggio da leone, questa adolescente che sogna di incontrare la Regina d'Inghilterra e di diventare astronauta si è messa in viaggio insieme alle sorelle e ha seguito la rotta dei migranti, oltre 6000 chilometri dalla Siria fino al confine con l'Ungheria e poi in Germania.
Con voce fresca e originale, Nujeen ci racconta cosa significa crescere in un paese in guerra e cosa si prova a dipendere dagli altri per ogni cosa; ci spiega come la guerra civile abbia distrutto una nazione orgogliosa e abbia smembrato intere famiglie, e soprattutto ci fa capire quanto coraggio occorra per continuare a sorridere e sperare nonostante tutto.
Una storia dei giorni nostri, raccontata da una ragazza incredibile.
Con voce fresca e originale, Nujeen ci racconta cosa significa crescere in un paese in guerra e cosa si prova a dipendere dagli altri per ogni cosa; ci spiega come la guerra civile abbia distrutto una nazione orgogliosa e abbia smembrato intere famiglie, e soprattutto ci fa capire quanto coraggio occorra per continuare a sorridere e sperare nonostante tutto.
Una storia dei giorni nostri, raccontata da una ragazza incredibile.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
137 people are currently reading
2836 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
February 7, 2017
I love how Nujeen not only told of her month long journey towards freedom, but she also addresses the entire migrant/refugee crisis and the racism, discrimination and fear towards them and how what we're told in the media isn't always true. Nujeen wants all refugees to be seen as PEOPLE, not just a number. She also addresses the fact that a lot of refugees didn't want to leave their country and hope to one day return there. She says that yes, looking after migrants costs money, but these people have skills and most are educated and can benefit any country they settle in. People are so against bringing in refugees and if the EU brought in all the 1.1 million Syrians who came to Europe, they would still only make up 0.2% of the population! This was not only inspiring and heartbreaking, but I also learnt a lot from this. I highly recommend it!
February 21, 2017
So Leid es mir tut, aber dieses Buch hat mir absolut nicht gefallen: Sämtliche Punkte, die das Buch zu einem guten Buch gemacht hätten, fehlen: Es ist unpersönlich, auf die Beschreibung der zwischenmenschlichen Ebene wird komplett verzichtet, Hintergründe werden einfach nicht erklärt, sie beschreibt oberflächlich, wie die Zustände der Reise bzw. Flucht waren (aber das ist doch der Grund, wieso ich ein Buch zur Flucht eines Mädchens lese) und das ganze erscheint so distanziert, dass es auch ein Artikel in einer Zeitung sein könnte.
Was mich aber viel mehr gestört hat, ist dass Nujeen es nicht gelingt, multiperspektivisch oder empathisch zu denken: Sie beschwert sich über blaue Flecken, die sie an ihren Unterarmen von den den Armstützen ihres Rollstuhls hat, während ihre Schwester sie im Rollstuhl durch Schlamm schieben soll, fremde Menschen sie Stundenlang über Berge tragen, kreischt vor Vergnügen im Boot nach Lesbos bei jeder Welle auf, während ihr Rollstuhl droht das Boot zu beschädigen und ihnen allen der Tod näher ist als das Leben, sie ist beleidigt, wenn sie ihre Soap nicht gucken kann und macht ein riesen Aufstand darum, während ihre Familie versucht, die Flucht zu planen und sich zu nformieren und Nujeen ist voller Vorurteile und Unverständnis anderen Menschen, Religionen und Kulturen gegenüber.
Ich gebe dem Buch nur deshalb nicht nur 1 Stern, weil dieses Mädchen natürlich schreckliches erlebt hat und auch erst 16 Jahre alt ist. Das darf man weder unterschätzen noch unberücksichtigt lassen, aber literarisch ist dieses Buch wirklich schlecht in meinen Augen, ganz unabhängig von ihrem Schicksal...
Was mich aber viel mehr gestört hat, ist dass Nujeen es nicht gelingt, multiperspektivisch oder empathisch zu denken: Sie beschwert sich über blaue Flecken, die sie an ihren Unterarmen von den den Armstützen ihres Rollstuhls hat, während ihre Schwester sie im Rollstuhl durch Schlamm schieben soll, fremde Menschen sie Stundenlang über Berge tragen, kreischt vor Vergnügen im Boot nach Lesbos bei jeder Welle auf, während ihr Rollstuhl droht das Boot zu beschädigen und ihnen allen der Tod näher ist als das Leben, sie ist beleidigt, wenn sie ihre Soap nicht gucken kann und macht ein riesen Aufstand darum, während ihre Familie versucht, die Flucht zu planen und sich zu nformieren und Nujeen ist voller Vorurteile und Unverständnis anderen Menschen, Religionen und Kulturen gegenüber.
Ich gebe dem Buch nur deshalb nicht nur 1 Stern, weil dieses Mädchen natürlich schreckliches erlebt hat und auch erst 16 Jahre alt ist. Das darf man weder unterschätzen noch unberücksichtigt lassen, aber literarisch ist dieses Buch wirklich schlecht in meinen Augen, ganz unabhängig von ihrem Schicksal...
October 30, 2016
This memoir puts a different face on the Syrian refugee crisis. Nujeen was born with cerebral palsy and has spent her life in a wheelchair. She is a sixteen-year-old Kurdish girl and has very little formal education. She taught herself English by watching U.S. soap operas on television. In 2014 her City, Koban, was the center of fighting between ISIS and the U.S. backed Kurdish forces. They escaped to Aleppo where they lived a few years and then fled to Turkey.
Her sister Nisreen helped her and they fled to the island of Lesbos in Greece. This is where Fegal Keane of the BBC interviewed her. They traveled by ferry and bus to the Serbian/Hungarian border; they arrived as it was closed to the refugees. This is where the BBC again interviewed her. They had to then walk to Croatia and on to Germany. The sisters finally reached Germany and were reunited with brother Bland and sister Nahda. She has asked Germany for Asylum. She is attending a special school for pupils with disabilities. She states that Germany and the German people have been kind to her. She is learning German and making friends. Her parents remain in Turkey.
This is an uplifting story. Nujeen faced many dangers and met life with a positive attitude. I have great admiration for her sister Nisreen who took care of her on the trip. The memoir was written with Christine Lamb who also co-wrote “I am Malala”. The courage of both these young women is amazing. The memoir is clearly written and the details from life in Aleppo to the trek to Germany are dramatic. This is a must-read book for everyone of all ages.
Raghad Chaar does an excellent job narrating the story. Chaar is an actress and producer. She is a graduate of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and an audiobook narrator.
Her sister Nisreen helped her and they fled to the island of Lesbos in Greece. This is where Fegal Keane of the BBC interviewed her. They traveled by ferry and bus to the Serbian/Hungarian border; they arrived as it was closed to the refugees. This is where the BBC again interviewed her. They had to then walk to Croatia and on to Germany. The sisters finally reached Germany and were reunited with brother Bland and sister Nahda. She has asked Germany for Asylum. She is attending a special school for pupils with disabilities. She states that Germany and the German people have been kind to her. She is learning German and making friends. Her parents remain in Turkey.
This is an uplifting story. Nujeen faced many dangers and met life with a positive attitude. I have great admiration for her sister Nisreen who took care of her on the trip. The memoir was written with Christine Lamb who also co-wrote “I am Malala”. The courage of both these young women is amazing. The memoir is clearly written and the details from life in Aleppo to the trek to Germany are dramatic. This is a must-read book for everyone of all ages.
Raghad Chaar does an excellent job narrating the story. Chaar is an actress and producer. She is a graduate of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and an audiobook narrator.
August 24, 2017
Slightly ranty review. I think I need to stop reading memoirs.
Nujeen's book certainly puts a face on the Syrian refugee crisis, but ... ugh, I feel like a total arse for saying this ... I didn't find it a particularly likeable one. I think I expected another Malala, who after seeing her on TV had me absolutely mesmerised by her eloquence and maturity, but unfortunately I didn't find this in Nujeen. Let's not mince around: her situation is absolutely horrific, and what she and the millions of other refugees have gone though, nobody should have to endure, but ... in all honesty, and I don't exactly know how, she came off as whiny, selfish and entitled. She even complained when her favourite show (Days of Our Lives) made a clip, just for her, with her favourite characters - because it wasn't realistic.
She notes, many times, that refugees are people, not statistics, and this is something we all need to remember, however at the end of the book, states "In some ways, I am glad that they blocked off the way and no one is coming any more.". Seriously? Are the refugees now stranded somehow less "people" than you are? That was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for me with this.
Funnily enough, although I adore Malala, I wasn't a fan of her book as it didn't feel like it was written by her. This book, I didn't enjoy because it really felt like it was written by Nujeen. (I know, I know!). It felt clunky, disjointed and in need of editing - or hey, a co-writer! Wait ...
I will say one thing, there was a sentence in the book that absolutely resonated with me:
"This is the real world, and I wish I lived in a better one."
Agreed.
Nujeen's book certainly puts a face on the Syrian refugee crisis, but ... ugh, I feel like a total arse for saying this ... I didn't find it a particularly likeable one. I think I expected another Malala, who after seeing her on TV had me absolutely mesmerised by her eloquence and maturity, but unfortunately I didn't find this in Nujeen. Let's not mince around: her situation is absolutely horrific, and what she and the millions of other refugees have gone though, nobody should have to endure, but ... in all honesty, and I don't exactly know how, she came off as whiny, selfish and entitled. She even complained when her favourite show (Days of Our Lives) made a clip, just for her, with her favourite characters - because it wasn't realistic.
She notes, many times, that refugees are people, not statistics, and this is something we all need to remember, however at the end of the book, states "In some ways, I am glad that they blocked off the way and no one is coming any more.". Seriously? Are the refugees now stranded somehow less "people" than you are? That was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for me with this.
Funnily enough, although I adore Malala, I wasn't a fan of her book as it didn't feel like it was written by her. This book, I didn't enjoy because it really felt like it was written by Nujeen. (I know, I know!). It felt clunky, disjointed and in need of editing - or hey, a co-writer! Wait ...
I will say one thing, there was a sentence in the book that absolutely resonated with me:
"This is the real world, and I wish I lived in a better one."
Agreed.
October 16, 2016
I fell in love with Nujeen Mustafa, like many did, when Last Week Tonight host John Oliver used BBC interview clips of the teenage Syrian refugee at a way station on the Serbian-Hungarian border as she traveled to Germany with her sister. She was so sweet and optimistic despite her unimaginably difficult journey and experiences in the war-torn homeland she’d fled. And she was so unabashedly in love with Days of Our Lives, it was impossible not to be charmed by her. And at the same time, heartbroken for her – separated from her parents, on the way to an unknown destination through difficult terrain in European countries that were often less than welcoming to the flood of refugees fleeing ISIS and war in the Middle East. It’s a situation incomprehensible for us in the West, and in the last years it’s been the reality for thousands.
Nujeen, a Kurd originally from Manbij in northern Syria, tells her story with eloquence and a wisdom that exceeds her years, plus a rare talent that many adults don’t even have, of directly acknowledging her flaws and how she’s trying to learn and grow. It’s clear she’s had to grow up faster and differently than many her age, not only because of her life in the troubled Middle East but managing her physical struggles. Born with cerebral palsy, she’s confined to a wheelchair and tells in her memoir of the distance that disability created between her and other kids, even in her own family. At the same time, it helped her illuminate a life of the mind instead. Unable to easily leave her family’s fifth floor apartment in Aleppo, she became a TV fanatic but a smart one, consuming documentaries on all kinds of topics but with a special preference for science, space and nature, and of course honing her English with the melodrama of Days.
We learn a lot of what makes her tick – she likes entrepreneurs – Google’s Sergey Brin, Apple’s Steve Jobs; and she doesn’t like being deceived, whether that’s by manipulated marketing or government propaganda. It’s in passages like these that so much of her exuberant, optimistic personality shines through, and like John Oliver said, she would enrich any country lucky enough to have her. Her expression is certainly helped and shaped by co-author Christina Lamb, the British journalist and foreign correspondent for the Sunday Times. She’s written extensively about current events in the Middle East and also collaborated with Malala Yousafzi on 2013’s I Am Malala.
Now living with two of her sisters in a suburb of Cologne and still awaiting her official asylum permission, Nujeen writes about new difficulties she faces, like the prejudice against refugees and the challenge of going to school after a lifetime of self-education with TV documentaries at home. But she’s also had a lot of triumphs and been the recipient of small kindnesses shown to her and her sister, like a bag of chocolate from a German neighbor, or an iPad from fellow Days fans. She’s far more adept than some people twice her age at taking the good with the bad, and making the best of situations that would’ve broken others with her own brand of light, breezy philosophizing.
When refugees began arriving on European shores, they were faceless. Nujeen talks about this, pointing out the insensitivity of much of the language used to refer to them. She forces us to confront this, and to see them individually, the same as everyone else. It’s not such a big request.
I received an advance ebook copy for review courtesy of the publisher.
Nujeen, a Kurd originally from Manbij in northern Syria, tells her story with eloquence and a wisdom that exceeds her years, plus a rare talent that many adults don’t even have, of directly acknowledging her flaws and how she’s trying to learn and grow. It’s clear she’s had to grow up faster and differently than many her age, not only because of her life in the troubled Middle East but managing her physical struggles. Born with cerebral palsy, she’s confined to a wheelchair and tells in her memoir of the distance that disability created between her and other kids, even in her own family. At the same time, it helped her illuminate a life of the mind instead. Unable to easily leave her family’s fifth floor apartment in Aleppo, she became a TV fanatic but a smart one, consuming documentaries on all kinds of topics but with a special preference for science, space and nature, and of course honing her English with the melodrama of Days.
We learn a lot of what makes her tick – she likes entrepreneurs – Google’s Sergey Brin, Apple’s Steve Jobs; and she doesn’t like being deceived, whether that’s by manipulated marketing or government propaganda. It’s in passages like these that so much of her exuberant, optimistic personality shines through, and like John Oliver said, she would enrich any country lucky enough to have her. Her expression is certainly helped and shaped by co-author Christina Lamb, the British journalist and foreign correspondent for the Sunday Times. She’s written extensively about current events in the Middle East and also collaborated with Malala Yousafzi on 2013’s I Am Malala.
Now living with two of her sisters in a suburb of Cologne and still awaiting her official asylum permission, Nujeen writes about new difficulties she faces, like the prejudice against refugees and the challenge of going to school after a lifetime of self-education with TV documentaries at home. But she’s also had a lot of triumphs and been the recipient of small kindnesses shown to her and her sister, like a bag of chocolate from a German neighbor, or an iPad from fellow Days fans. She’s far more adept than some people twice her age at taking the good with the bad, and making the best of situations that would’ve broken others with her own brand of light, breezy philosophizing.
When refugees began arriving on European shores, they were faceless. Nujeen talks about this, pointing out the insensitivity of much of the language used to refer to them. She forces us to confront this, and to see them individually, the same as everyone else. It’s not such a big request.
I received an advance ebook copy for review courtesy of the publisher.
September 10, 2019
I think I was expecting more of a memoir than history not that I dislike history. It just wasn't what I expected. I'd like to finish it though.
I went back and finished this one and decided it is a 2.5 maybe even a solid 3 star. I really like Nujeen but truthfully it seems as though some of this may not be 100% true.
Maybe I'm wrong. Did anyone else get that feeling though?
Almost put it under "'written by the C.I.A." but decided that would be going a bit too far.
Let me know what others thought of this harrowing tale of escape across borders.
I went back and finished this one and decided it is a 2.5 maybe even a solid 3 star. I really like Nujeen but truthfully it seems as though some of this may not be 100% true.
Maybe I'm wrong. Did anyone else get that feeling though?
Almost put it under "'written by the C.I.A." but decided that would be going a bit too far.
Let me know what others thought of this harrowing tale of escape across borders.
August 10, 2017
Nujeen este o persoană ambiţioasă, zâmbitoare, curajoasă şi deşteaptă, iar povestea ei este una interesantă. Recomand! I-am dat doar 3 steluţe, pentru că sunt cam multe informaţii despre politică, ocupând pagini întregi, acest aspect m-a făcut să trag de carte aproape o săptămână. Mi-ar fi plăcut să aflu mai multe despre Nujeen şi ar fi fost pe placul meu dacă aveam şi câteva pagini cu poze din viaţa lui Nujeen, poze prezente în ediţia în limba engleză, dar, când a fost publicată în română, s-au pierdut şi nu apar în carte.
April 10, 2017
Such an incredible story. The refugee crisis is so relevant, especially here in Germany, and it was eye-opening to hear Nujeen's story of how she had to flee her country Syria in a wheelchair (!!) and how she settled here in Germany. While being a fangirl of Days of Our Lives, hahah.
October 12, 2016
I want to put this book into the hands of every politician on the planet. Nujeen is the face and spirit of Syrians forced out of their homes. The abuse and obstacles she and her sister faced as they met barrier after barrier in their search for peace and rest.
Let us show that we can learn from our mistakes and that we can take pride in doing the right thing, which is seeing refugees as people with the right to live anywhere they want.
Let us show that we can learn from our mistakes and that we can take pride in doing the right thing, which is seeing refugees as people with the right to live anywhere they want.
January 30, 2017
Me llegó muchísimo esta historia. Nujeen, pasa por mucho y nunca se rinde a pesar de su discapacidad. ¡Qué valiente!
February 6, 2017
(Ich habe es als Hörbuch gehört)
Ein eindrucksvolles Buch, das meiner Meinung nach zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit erfährt. Ich kannte zwar viele der hier genannten Fakten schon, aber sie alle zusammengeführt und mit Nujeens Lebensgeschichte verknüpft zu sehen, hat mir die Augen geöffnet. Es ist ein bewegendes, wichtiges und aktuelles Buch, das mir neue Einblicke in das Leben von Flüchtlingen gegeben hat und mich gelehrt hat, mehr zu verstehen.
Zudem war es mein erstes Buch über eine Frau im Rollstuhl - Es hat mich staunend zurückgelassen, v.a. in Anbetracht dessen, was sie durchgemacht hat.
Nujeen ist eine beeindruckende Person und ihre Geschichte ist nur eine von so vielen, die wir eigentlich alle hören sollten.
Ein eindrucksvolles Buch, das meiner Meinung nach zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit erfährt. Ich kannte zwar viele der hier genannten Fakten schon, aber sie alle zusammengeführt und mit Nujeens Lebensgeschichte verknüpft zu sehen, hat mir die Augen geöffnet. Es ist ein bewegendes, wichtiges und aktuelles Buch, das mir neue Einblicke in das Leben von Flüchtlingen gegeben hat und mich gelehrt hat, mehr zu verstehen.
Zudem war es mein erstes Buch über eine Frau im Rollstuhl - Es hat mich staunend zurückgelassen, v.a. in Anbetracht dessen, was sie durchgemacht hat.
Nujeen ist eine beeindruckende Person und ihre Geschichte ist nur eine von so vielen, die wir eigentlich alle hören sollten.
July 25, 2017
How do you rate someone's life story? This was a very interesting story of one person's escape from the war in Syria into Germany. This situation is something I wish my country (New Zealand) would do more about and make more of an effort to understand- myself included, so this was an important read in my opinion too.
March 31, 2020
I have been to Lesbos. It is one of the Greek Islands. It was this island that 16-year-old Nujeen Mustafa gets to in 2015. It is a tranquil island even though it is touristy and quite beautiful. It was odd seeing the news at the time of Syrian refugees paying smugglers ($1,500 each plus another 50 for a life jacket) to get to that island. The gateway to Europe. Nujeen explains in the prologue that it was not just Syrians. There were people from Iraq, Morocco and Afghanistan. ‘To be leaving all you knew and had built up in your own country to make this dangerous uncertain journey, it must be bad.’ 1.2 million refugees headed to Europe in 2015.
Nujeen is a Kurd. She was born with a type of cerebral palsy so all the above was done with her in a wheelchair and her sister, Nasrine, pushing and dragging her. Incredible. She provides a wonderful description of her life in the first few chapters and also the political turmoil at that time. From the Arab Spring that started in Tunisia that sent a wave across North Africa and the Middle East. Unlike Egypt the protestors in Syria were hit by Assad’s tanks. The family were living in Aleppo at this time but by July 2012 they had to leave. The destruction got to close. ‘By the end of 2012 it seemed like the Battle of Aleppo would never end. It was a full-scale war where on one side there was Assad and Hezbollah and on the other all sorts of rebel groups including criminal gangs and Jabhat al-Nusra (also known as the al-Nusra Front), which is the al-Qaeda branch in Syria.’
This is such a personal human story of a normal family trying not to get killed as brutal destruction engulfs everywhere they go. ‘After a while we got so used to the bombing that one day I realized I couldn’t remember normal any more.’ Her story to get to the promised land of Germany is captivating but not without humour along the way. ‘Unlike some refugees who paid smugglers for the whole journey, we were Pay as You Go Migrants.’ It’s like a crazy plane, trains and automobiles but with refugees.
Syria, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Germany. I have probably missed some of the countries she passed through but it was an epic 3,500 mile journey. Smugglers, con men, people that want to do you harm but also kind, caring people who would do anything to help you. All of humanity in its grotesque and beauty is met along the way.
An amazing journey from a war-torn home through the wilds of Europe. A quite captivating read.
Nujeen is a Kurd. She was born with a type of cerebral palsy so all the above was done with her in a wheelchair and her sister, Nasrine, pushing and dragging her. Incredible. She provides a wonderful description of her life in the first few chapters and also the political turmoil at that time. From the Arab Spring that started in Tunisia that sent a wave across North Africa and the Middle East. Unlike Egypt the protestors in Syria were hit by Assad’s tanks. The family were living in Aleppo at this time but by July 2012 they had to leave. The destruction got to close. ‘By the end of 2012 it seemed like the Battle of Aleppo would never end. It was a full-scale war where on one side there was Assad and Hezbollah and on the other all sorts of rebel groups including criminal gangs and Jabhat al-Nusra (also known as the al-Nusra Front), which is the al-Qaeda branch in Syria.’
This is such a personal human story of a normal family trying not to get killed as brutal destruction engulfs everywhere they go. ‘After a while we got so used to the bombing that one day I realized I couldn’t remember normal any more.’ Her story to get to the promised land of Germany is captivating but not without humour along the way. ‘Unlike some refugees who paid smugglers for the whole journey, we were Pay as You Go Migrants.’ It’s like a crazy plane, trains and automobiles but with refugees.
Syria, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Germany. I have probably missed some of the countries she passed through but it was an epic 3,500 mile journey. Smugglers, con men, people that want to do you harm but also kind, caring people who would do anything to help you. All of humanity in its grotesque and beauty is met along the way.
An amazing journey from a war-torn home through the wilds of Europe. A quite captivating read.
September 17, 2017
E' davvero difficile scrivere una recensione per una biografia, però sono davvero contenta di averla letta. La storia apre gli occhi sulle difficoltà incontrate dai migranti e dai rifugiati. Nel corso del viaggio di Nujeen non ci vengono mostrati solo la difficoltà della guerra e della disabilità, ma soprattutto la forza, il coraggio e la speranza di una ragazza piena di sogni. Ho apprezzato il fatto che nel libro siano presenti anche foto di Nujeen con la sua famiglia e con altre persone importanti nel suo viaggio: permette al lettore di immedesimarsi completamente nel racconto di Nujeen. Ovviamente questo libro non sembra scritto da una diciassettenne: Nujeen è molto matura per la sua età. Tutto ciò che sa lo ha imparato guardando soap opera, documentari, reality show: i suoi unici contatti con la realtà. Infatti Nujeen non può camminare ed è costretta a rimanere chiusa in casa, in compagnia dei personaggi dei libri o della tv. Nel libro sono presenti informazioni politiche e religiose che danno un quadro completo della complessa situazione nella quale viviamo. Consiglio questo libro a chiunque voglia approfondire i seguenti temi: disabilità, indipendenza, libertà, immigrazione. Voto: 4.5/5.
July 20, 2020
Nujeen : An extraordinary story of a Syria girl
To be a successful migrant you need to know the law. You need to be resourceful. You need a smartphone and to be on Facebook and Whatsapp. You need some money. Ideally you know a bit of English. And in my case you need a sister to push your wheelchair.
– Nujeen
An inspirational story of an extraordinary Syrian teenager. Read this book and feel the pain of all those people who had left their countries either because of the war or natural calamities, and because of which they are living as refugees in an unknown country.
The language of the book is very easy to be read. And I recommend to all the readers to read this book. Very inspirational story.
My Ratings : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I hope you like this, thanks for reading, Jai Hind.
For more information You can visit - https://dontbignorant.in/
To be a successful migrant you need to know the law. You need to be resourceful. You need a smartphone and to be on Facebook and Whatsapp. You need some money. Ideally you know a bit of English. And in my case you need a sister to push your wheelchair.
– Nujeen
An inspirational story of an extraordinary Syrian teenager. Read this book and feel the pain of all those people who had left their countries either because of the war or natural calamities, and because of which they are living as refugees in an unknown country.
The language of the book is very easy to be read. And I recommend to all the readers to read this book. Very inspirational story.
My Ratings : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I hope you like this, thanks for reading, Jai Hind.
For more information You can visit - https://dontbignorant.in/
December 1, 2016
3,5/5
No se trata de una obra que destaque literariamente. Su estilo es correcto pero nada del otro mundo. Asimismo, la traducción deja un poco que desear. No obstante, se la recomiendo de corazón. Les conmoverá y les abrirá los ojos. Reseña completa: http://www.libros-prohibidos.com/nuje...
No se trata de una obra que destaque literariamente. Su estilo es correcto pero nada del otro mundo. Asimismo, la traducción deja un poco que desear. No obstante, se la recomiendo de corazón. Les conmoverá y les abrirá los ojos. Reseña completa: http://www.libros-prohibidos.com/nuje...
April 14, 2017
This book was co-written by the same person who co-wrote Malala's book. It is an easy enough read to be suited to young adults but an interesting enough book to be read by adults as well. It tells the story of teenage Nujeen, a Kurdish girl from Syria who also happens to have a form of cerebral palsy. The book starts as she waits to board a boat to Lesbos in Greece but then goes back to her early days as the youngest child in a large family, spoiled by all because of her disability. Her family lived in a fifth floor walk up apartment, so Nujeen rarely left her home. Eventually her family moves to Aleppo because of fears for where they were living but life in Aleppo gradually gets worse and worse until her family makes a decision to send the younger family members to Germany where a brother lives. Nujeen has never been to school but has watched enough television to teach herself English from watching "Days of Our Lives" among other shows. She tells from her perspective how the war in Syria began and escalated and I personally came away with a much better understanding of the issues than I had before reading the book. Each refugee faces their own unique challenges as they leave Syria for what they hope will be a better life. Nujeen felt that relatively speaking, her journey was easier than that faced by others because of special care she received as a person with a disability. All her life she had really defined herself by her disability and on reaching Germany and going to school for the first time she finally came to see herself as a person who could be more independent. I think this would be a great book to have on a school reading list as it truly shows that a refugee is also a human being who loves and cares for others and who has hopes and dreams just as we all do.
April 17, 2017
Honestly, I never would have chosen this book to read outside of school, but I'm so glad that I did. It opened my eyes to the real, personal, horrific trials that refugees face. Nujeen displayed so much kindness, good humor, and optimism throughout her journey. I also love that this book is interactive: I looked up a lot of the real places and videos that Nujeen mentions. She includes very discussive themes like living with a disability, knowing the importance of home, sibling relationships, and of course, politics and religion. I would recommend this memoir to anyone who is even remotely interested in the refugee crisis!
February 8, 2017
"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."
I finished this audiobook a few days ago just as the news was coming out about the Syrian government retaking Aleppo. If you don't have a good understanding of the causes of the conflict in Syria or the history of the Kurds, read this book.
Nujeen's family was well off. Her siblings are all older than she is. One is a director living in Germany. The rest were university students or graduates. She was unable to go to school because of her cerebral palsy. They lived in a fifth floor apartment with no elevator so she almost never left the house. She learned by watching TV. She is very smart. She taught herself English by watching Days of Our Lives.
When the rebellion against Assad started, life didn't change too much for her family. They didn't think it would because they lived in such a safe city - Aleppo. Her sister joined in the protests at her university until the regime's response became too violent. Eventually they moved to their other house in Manbij.
They got used to the hardships. When her brother visited from Germany, he was horrified at their living conditions and what they were now accepting as normal. They started to make plans to leave.
Her insistence that live didn't change that much for them and that no one thought that anything bad could happen in a city as safe as Aleppo was upsetting. I kept thinking that someday we'll be telling this story about the U.S. I had to sit this audiobook aside for a bit because it was making me really depressed. I listened to it on the way to work one morning and was on the verge of tears all day. I finished it by listening to it in large sections on the way to and from large family gatherings so I didn't have time to dwell as soon as I finished listening.
The family first left for Turkey and then the children headed on to Europe. I would love to hear this story from her sister Nasreen's perspective. Nujeen was a teenager who had never left the house. Nasreen was in charge of her. It sounds like she drove poor Nasreen to distraction with her excitement about being out in the world. Nasreen was trying to get them through hostile countries and Nujeen was bubbling over with how exciting it all was. She did realize that there were times that Nasreen just wanted her to shut up.
They went through Turkey and then took an inflatable boat illegally to Greece. Whether or not to take her wheelchair on the boat was a major point of contention. They made the trip on the same day as three-year-old Aylan Kurdi drowned trying the trip from farther down the coast. From there they moved country to country to Germany to meet their brother just as the countries in Europe were starting to close their borders to refugees.
Nujeen talks about how her status as an English speaking refugee in a wheelchair led to a lot of interviews. One of them made its way into this John Oliver piece.
I enjoyed Nujeen's story because she is a very smart and very sassy teenager. That comes through in the writing. She's funny. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to put a human face on the humanitarian crisis.This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
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."
I finished this audiobook a few days ago just as the news was coming out about the Syrian government retaking Aleppo. If you don't have a good understanding of the causes of the conflict in Syria or the history of the Kurds, read this book.
Nujeen's family was well off. Her siblings are all older than she is. One is a director living in Germany. The rest were university students or graduates. She was unable to go to school because of her cerebral palsy. They lived in a fifth floor apartment with no elevator so she almost never left the house. She learned by watching TV. She is very smart. She taught herself English by watching Days of Our Lives.
When the rebellion against Assad started, life didn't change too much for her family. They didn't think it would because they lived in such a safe city - Aleppo. Her sister joined in the protests at her university until the regime's response became too violent. Eventually they moved to their other house in Manbij.
They got used to the hardships. When her brother visited from Germany, he was horrified at their living conditions and what they were now accepting as normal. They started to make plans to leave.
Her insistence that live didn't change that much for them and that no one thought that anything bad could happen in a city as safe as Aleppo was upsetting. I kept thinking that someday we'll be telling this story about the U.S. I had to sit this audiobook aside for a bit because it was making me really depressed. I listened to it on the way to work one morning and was on the verge of tears all day. I finished it by listening to it in large sections on the way to and from large family gatherings so I didn't have time to dwell as soon as I finished listening.
"We will just be numbers while the tyrant is engraved in history." Nujeen wondering why history only remembers the names of the dictators and not their victims.
The family first left for Turkey and then the children headed on to Europe. I would love to hear this story from her sister Nasreen's perspective. Nujeen was a teenager who had never left the house. Nasreen was in charge of her. It sounds like she drove poor Nasreen to distraction with her excitement about being out in the world. Nasreen was trying to get them through hostile countries and Nujeen was bubbling over with how exciting it all was. She did realize that there were times that Nasreen just wanted her to shut up.
They went through Turkey and then took an inflatable boat illegally to Greece. Whether or not to take her wheelchair on the boat was a major point of contention. They made the trip on the same day as three-year-old Aylan Kurdi drowned trying the trip from farther down the coast. From there they moved country to country to Germany to meet their brother just as the countries in Europe were starting to close their borders to refugees.
Nujeen talks about how her status as an English speaking refugee in a wheelchair led to a lot of interviews. One of them made its way into this John Oliver piece.
I enjoyed Nujeen's story because she is a very smart and very sassy teenager. That comes through in the writing. She's funny. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to put a human face on the humanitarian crisis.This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
April 20, 2019
A must read
June 9, 2017
Ce témoignage est tout simplement incroyable. Je viens de le finir et je suis encore toute émue par cette lecture. On connait tous la traversée des réfugiés syriens quittant leur pays en guerre sous le régime Assad, pour l'Europe, dont l'Allemagne et la France. Mais dans cette foule, nous rencontrons Nujeen Mustafa, c'est cette jeune fille sur la couverture, âgée de 16 ans, tellement intelligente, si admirable et attendrissante dans ses réactions, qu'il est impossible de ne pas l'aimer. Elle a été découverte par un journaliste anglais de la chaîne BBC, envoyé sur place pour suivre les migrants ; complètement sous le choc mais surtout admiratif de la voir ainsi, en chaise roulante, qu'il lui pose quelques questions, qui vont par la suite, faire le tour des médias et des réseaux sociaux.
On fait connaissance avec toute sa famille, à Alep. Elle, c'est la dernière de la fratrie, arrivée bien tard avec une malformation au niveau des jambes. Comme elle ne peut pas faire grand chose à cause de son handicap, Nujeen, décortique tous les programmes télé et du coup, fait son école ainsi. D'ailleurs, c'est en regardant une série américaine, qu'elle apprend l'anglais. Une langue qui l'aidera énormément au moment de la fuite. On s'aperçoit très vite, que c'est une jeune fille très intelligente, en soif de connaissances, qui rêve d'aller à l'université pour devenir plus tard, astronaute.
Nujeen est souvent dans l’autodérision, c'est souvent comme ça quand il y a mal-être quelque part. Elle ne s'apitoie pas sur son sort, bien au contraire. Pour moi, cette fille est dotée d'une force, d'un courage et d'une détermination, que moi-même, je ne suis pas certaine d'avoir. Alors quand le président syrien, Bachar el-Assad bien plus dictateur que président, déclenche cette guerre civile, que tout le monde connait à travers les infos, toute la famille décide de partir dans une ville à côté, pour être en sécurité. Hélas, cela empire et la situation devient alarmante quand les maisons s'écroulent sous les bombes, ou les civils tombent comme des mouches ou encore, quand le manque de nourriture se fait sentir. Mais c'est surtout quand les djihadistes prennent le contrôle et imposent leurs règles que là, tout le monde comprend qu'il est temps de partir. Choisir entre vivre ailleurs ou mourir, ici.
C'est dans la deuxième partie et la troisième, que l'on va suivre cette aventure hallucinante, car c'est bien le mot.
Nujeen décide de vivre et part avec sa grande soeur, pour rejoindre leurs frères en Allemagne mais le parcours sera terriblement long, chaotique et périlleux pour arriver à destination. Cette histoire est véritablement une belle claque sur la détermination et l'espoir depuis la Syrie jusqu'en Allemagne qui les accueillera les bras ouverts malgré quelques réticents, bien évidemment.
Un livre que je vous recommande. Gros coup de coeur !
On fait connaissance avec toute sa famille, à Alep. Elle, c'est la dernière de la fratrie, arrivée bien tard avec une malformation au niveau des jambes. Comme elle ne peut pas faire grand chose à cause de son handicap, Nujeen, décortique tous les programmes télé et du coup, fait son école ainsi. D'ailleurs, c'est en regardant une série américaine, qu'elle apprend l'anglais. Une langue qui l'aidera énormément au moment de la fuite. On s'aperçoit très vite, que c'est une jeune fille très intelligente, en soif de connaissances, qui rêve d'aller à l'université pour devenir plus tard, astronaute.
Nujeen est souvent dans l’autodérision, c'est souvent comme ça quand il y a mal-être quelque part. Elle ne s'apitoie pas sur son sort, bien au contraire. Pour moi, cette fille est dotée d'une force, d'un courage et d'une détermination, que moi-même, je ne suis pas certaine d'avoir. Alors quand le président syrien, Bachar el-Assad bien plus dictateur que président, déclenche cette guerre civile, que tout le monde connait à travers les infos, toute la famille décide de partir dans une ville à côté, pour être en sécurité. Hélas, cela empire et la situation devient alarmante quand les maisons s'écroulent sous les bombes, ou les civils tombent comme des mouches ou encore, quand le manque de nourriture se fait sentir. Mais c'est surtout quand les djihadistes prennent le contrôle et imposent leurs règles que là, tout le monde comprend qu'il est temps de partir. Choisir entre vivre ailleurs ou mourir, ici.
C'est dans la deuxième partie et la troisième, que l'on va suivre cette aventure hallucinante, car c'est bien le mot.
Nujeen décide de vivre et part avec sa grande soeur, pour rejoindre leurs frères en Allemagne mais le parcours sera terriblement long, chaotique et périlleux pour arriver à destination. Cette histoire est véritablement une belle claque sur la détermination et l'espoir depuis la Syrie jusqu'en Allemagne qui les accueillera les bras ouverts malgré quelques réticents, bien évidemment.
Un livre que je vous recommande. Gros coup de coeur !
October 23, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads.
I remember hearing about Nujeen last year from the Television. I didn't think much of the crippled refuge girl from Syria back then. Now, I'm holding her book in my hands and it changes everything.
Can you imagine? Can any anyone who has been nothing but safe all their life really imagine what it is like to live in a war-zone? To have terrorists running around freely, and your own government bombing you with no intervention from other countries? To absolutely have no other choice but to leave? And to leave members of your family behind in said war-zone? To have people scamming you, threatening you, and trying to stop you and send you back the entire way? And to top it all off: in a wheelchair.
I can't.
And I don't have too.
I'm lucky enough to have been born in America.
But not everyone is that lucky.
Reading of Nujeen's plight inspired a kaleidoscope of emotions I'm still trying to untangle. I can't believe these things are still happening today. Sure, I've seen the news. I've seen so much of it that it doesn't faze me anymore.
But reading the book did.
It makes it real. It shoves everything you pretend you don't notice right in your face and rubs it in.
America it still bickering over the 'refugee crisis'. Many of my family members cheer and jeer when violence and unfairness is reported against Muslims. It makes my heart hurt because people are so cruel! They don't care about anything, until it happens to them, and then they expect the help, human rights, and understanding that they never gave to anyone else!
Reading Nejeen's book submerged me in stone cold realization of what it is like for the other side. Of looking up at the razor wire and armed guards with desperation, knowing you can't go back and fearing you can't go forward either.
......On a lighter note I would love to read of Nujeen's older sister, Nasrine. I want to read a book about her, too!
I remember hearing about Nujeen last year from the Television. I didn't think much of the crippled refuge girl from Syria back then. Now, I'm holding her book in my hands and it changes everything.
Can you imagine? Can any anyone who has been nothing but safe all their life really imagine what it is like to live in a war-zone? To have terrorists running around freely, and your own government bombing you with no intervention from other countries? To absolutely have no other choice but to leave? And to leave members of your family behind in said war-zone? To have people scamming you, threatening you, and trying to stop you and send you back the entire way? And to top it all off: in a wheelchair.
I can't.
And I don't have too.
I'm lucky enough to have been born in America.
But not everyone is that lucky.
Reading of Nujeen's plight inspired a kaleidoscope of emotions I'm still trying to untangle. I can't believe these things are still happening today. Sure, I've seen the news. I've seen so much of it that it doesn't faze me anymore.
But reading the book did.
It makes it real. It shoves everything you pretend you don't notice right in your face and rubs it in.
America it still bickering over the 'refugee crisis'. Many of my family members cheer and jeer when violence and unfairness is reported against Muslims. It makes my heart hurt because people are so cruel! They don't care about anything, until it happens to them, and then they expect the help, human rights, and understanding that they never gave to anyone else!
Reading Nejeen's book submerged me in stone cold realization of what it is like for the other side. Of looking up at the razor wire and armed guards with desperation, knowing you can't go back and fearing you can't go forward either.
......On a lighter note I would love to read of Nujeen's older sister, Nasrine. I want to read a book about her, too!
April 25, 2017
Több szempontból is érdekes volt olvasni ezt a könyvet. Egyrészt bepillanthattam a másik oldal életébe, gondolataiba, másrészt kissé összeszedettebbé vált az elmúlt évek történése. Bár ne ilyen apropóból lett volna átláthatóbb. Kicsit tudathasadásos volt például az a rész, amikor elérkeztek a határhoz, melyet addigra már lezártak a kerítéssel. Vagy hogy mit gondoltak a politikánkról.
Hihetetlen, mekkora kitartás volt ebben a lányban, hogy nekivágott ennek az útnak, még úgyis, hogy sokkal nehezebb volt a dolga a kerekesszéke miatt.
Csodáltam a nővérét is, mert ő volt az, aki végigkísérte, és igyekezett minden felmerülő problémát megoldani, vigyázni rá.
Még a könyv elolvasása után is nehéz elképzelni azt az életet, ahonnan elmenekültek. Attól rettegni, hogy egyszer csak eltalálja az otthonunkat egy bomba, vagy este hazatér-e minden szerettem...ezeket szerintem senkinek sem lenne szabad megtapasztalnia, főleg nem ennyire fiatalon, és ily sok éven át.
Igazából érthető, hogy sokan az indulás mellett döntenek, mert mindenki vágyik a biztonságra.
Legalább ennyire elszomorító volt azt olvasni, hogyan használták/használják ki a kiszolgáltatottságukat, és mennyi pénzért menekítik őket az embercsempészek. A körülményekről már inkább nem is beszélek.
Azt hiszem lesz mit emésztgetnem.
Hihetetlen, mekkora kitartás volt ebben a lányban, hogy nekivágott ennek az útnak, még úgyis, hogy sokkal nehezebb volt a dolga a kerekesszéke miatt.
Csodáltam a nővérét is, mert ő volt az, aki végigkísérte, és igyekezett minden felmerülő problémát megoldani, vigyázni rá.
Még a könyv elolvasása után is nehéz elképzelni azt az életet, ahonnan elmenekültek. Attól rettegni, hogy egyszer csak eltalálja az otthonunkat egy bomba, vagy este hazatér-e minden szerettem...ezeket szerintem senkinek sem lenne szabad megtapasztalnia, főleg nem ennyire fiatalon, és ily sok éven át.
Igazából érthető, hogy sokan az indulás mellett döntenek, mert mindenki vágyik a biztonságra.
Legalább ennyire elszomorító volt azt olvasni, hogyan használták/használják ki a kiszolgáltatottságukat, és mennyi pénzért menekítik őket az embercsempészek. A körülményekről már inkább nem is beszélek.
Azt hiszem lesz mit emésztgetnem.
February 6, 2017
"Nujeen" is a memoir of a young girl in a wheelchair who scapes from the war in Syria, and starts a difficult journey in order to get a new life in Germany. The book mostly focuses on the period between 2014 and 2016, since our protagonist is forced to leave her home until she is set in Germany.
This is a thought-provoking novel that talks about what it's like to live in a war-torn area, what it means being a refugee seeking for asylum, and on top of all how it feels having a disability.
It's true that the book deals with lots of tough issues and the story of Nujeen is a hard one, as well as the stories of the people she meets while travelling. However, it leaves room for hope and positivity, for it presents a very brave, strong-willed girl who overcomes really difficult situations and achieves her goals despite facing so many problems.
All in all, this is a moving, inspiring novel that everybody should read, and I strongly recommend it to those who loved "I am Malala".
This is a thought-provoking novel that talks about what it's like to live in a war-torn area, what it means being a refugee seeking for asylum, and on top of all how it feels having a disability.
It's true that the book deals with lots of tough issues and the story of Nujeen is a hard one, as well as the stories of the people she meets while travelling. However, it leaves room for hope and positivity, for it presents a very brave, strong-willed girl who overcomes really difficult situations and achieves her goals despite facing so many problems.
All in all, this is a moving, inspiring novel that everybody should read, and I strongly recommend it to those who loved "I am Malala".
August 1, 2017
I'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.
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.
September 8, 2017
A fost o carte tristă, dar dincolo de tristețea ei am întâlnit o familie remarcabilă, o tânără ambițioasă, veselă, optimistă și determinată. Nujeen poate fi oricum, da numai tristă nu. Da, știe multe despre istoria neamului ei de kurzi, cei care sunt considerați orfanii lumii (un popor fără țară proprie), a încheiat o călătorie uimitor de grea pentru a ajunge de la război la pace, a suportat mii de kilometri de stat într-un scaun cu rotile pentru a se simți om.
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https://ancasicartile.wordpress.com/2...
November 5, 2016
Probably the most frustrating book I've read for a long time. It's nicely written, with a cheeky innocence that shines through and made me smile. But Nujeen clearly has so much more to tell than is written here, and I want to hear it. I want to know about the Syrian war, why and how they left, what happened at the funeral, what happened in the boat and on Lesbos... I want to hear Nujeen's story in full, and this book is only a prologue.
** Free copy received through GoodReads giveaways **
** Free copy received through GoodReads giveaways **
May 25, 2018
I learned so much about the history of what is going on in Syria through reading this memoir written by Nujeen Mustafa, a Syrian refugee with cerebral palsy. Nujeen's story is engaging, thought-provoking, informative, and inspiring. I believe young adults need books like this one-- true stories written by teens-- as examples of the potential they, too, have within themselves to survive the unmentionable and pursue their dreams.
September 19, 2017
Fantastic eye opener!
Nujeen is funny and its amazing how she stayed so positive through out all the dreadful stuff she went through! This book has opened my heart more towards refugees and I hope it opens many more hearts across the world. Thank you for telling your story Nujeen. X
Nujeen is funny and its amazing how she stayed so positive through out all the dreadful stuff she went through! This book has opened my heart more towards refugees and I hope it opens many more hearts across the world. Thank you for telling your story Nujeen. X
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