“No, I didn't understand, and I couldn't understand. Not only was he hurting me, but my family—my own family—was defending him. All that for a question of—what was it? Honor?”

review

This book is definitely an eye-opening read.
It’s heartbreaking to know that girls half my age are subjected to the most horrific physical and emotional abuse—and what’s even more disturbing is that sometimes, their own families support or ignore that abuse.

It’s shocking how wide the gap is between the women in Nujood’s family and the women in the courtroom of the same country.
This really made me reflect on how crucial it is to know your rights. Knowledge isn’t just power—it’s the foundation of self-confidence, dignity, and true happiness.

This book beautifully conveys a powerful truth:

A little courage and inner strength can completely change the course of your life.
The choice of how you want to live—that power lies in your own hands.

Nujood, a little girl, fought against her husband, her own family, and a patriarchal society—for her basic right to live freely.
What’s even more inspiring is that she didn't even fully know she had those rights—she simply felt that what was happening to her was wrong. That inner voice became her strength.

It makes me wonder—how many girls are still out there, silenced, unheard, and yet fighting quietly inside?

Here are some quotes that shook me to the core while reading:

“When I would try to keep him from lying down on the mat next to me after he'd extinguished the lamp, he would start to hit me—first with his hands, then with a stick. Thunder and lightning, over and over. And his mother egged him on.”

“Don’t think about that right now. Tell yourself that the hardest part is over. The hardest part was having the strength to escape, and you carried that off beautifully.”

“With him, I finally understood the real meaning of the word cruelty.”

“Knocking on every possible door in search of someone who would, I went to see Dowla, my father's second wife, who lived with her five children in a tiny first-floor apartment in an old building at the end of a blind alley, right across from our street.”

“I must learn not to be afraid of looking men right in the eye when I speak to them. In fact, one of these days, I’ll have to gather enough courage to tell Aba that I don’t agree with him when he says that, after all, the Prophet married Aisha when she was only nine years old.”

If you’ve read this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And if you haven’t—please pick it up. Stories like these deserve to be heard, remembered, and shared.

Rate : ⭐⭐⭐⭐