Scan barcode
akross's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those stories which, if it were fiction, it would be totally unbelievable. It's the story of a young Togolese woman who flees Togo to escape an arranged marriage and genital mutilation, only to get trapped in the immigration system upon arriving in the US.
As I was reading this book, I would have given it four stars- the writing could have been more concise and there were some stylistic things that I didn't like. But by the end, I was so heartbroken and angry for Fauziya that to rate it any lower would have been wrong. The writing is simple (if you scan over some of the legalese) and straightforward and utterly poignant.
As I was reading this book, I would have given it four stars- the writing could have been more concise and there were some stylistic things that I didn't like. But by the end, I was so heartbroken and angry for Fauziya that to rate it any lower would have been wrong. The writing is simple (if you scan over some of the legalese) and straightforward and utterly poignant.
stitchykitch's review against another edition
5.0
A harrowing tale told by a very strong women. This book encouraged me to see what I can do as jane doe to help people who need it. Fauzia Kassindja is an 18 year old refugee from Togo who is treated worse than a convict for her first year in America behind bars. How someone can hold on the hope and be strong for as long as she has is beyond me. I'm very glad I read her book, and i applaud her for writing it to share with everyone.
misspalah's review
4.0
I’ve read about female genital mutilation (FGM) 12 years ago. I am not going to call it circumcision because it is not - Not if you remove the whole clitoris and labia majora. To think that this culture is still prevalent in some countries and it was being justified in the name of tradition and religion, it sickens me to death. Before you point fingers saying it doesn’t happen in Malaysia, it does. There are 4 types of FGM, and in Malaysia - FGM type 1 is widely practiced especially Muslim Girls. Do your research and asked your parents directly — Has it been done on you? Of course some would say you wont even noticed it, you were so small or some would say, we only remove a little bit of it — nothing is harmful. This topic
is so controversial among muslims despite it has no linkage whatsoever with Islam. I believe RAGE did one documentary about female circumcision in Malaysia. I won’t write much on this as this whole issue will turn into a debate in another minutes but these FGM is becoming more severe as in other region especially in some African and Middle eastern countries, they do the type 2 and type 3 of FGM which caused the women to bleed to death and some suffered the impact of it through the childbirth and intercourse. This is exactly the reason Fauziya escaped from Togo and went to Germany.
.
.
She was raised in a fairly educated and modern family. Although both her parents are devout muslims, they believe Fauziya and her sisters knew how to take care of themselves hence they are free to do whatever they want. Besides, her father believe that FGM or known as Kakiya in her language is barbaric hence he never imposed it on their daughters. However, things changed when her father passed away. According to Fauziya, her tribal custom dictates that her uncle and aunt will be her guardian. At that time, all her eldest sisters already married and her mother has been banished from the house. She was helpless and alone. Her aunt has decided to marry her off to another man who’s already has 3 wives at that time. Whats more concerning is he insisted that Fauziya will go through the ‘Kakiya’ as he wanted fauziya to be clean for him once they got married. FGM type 2 and 3 usually will be done by midwife. Most of the cases, this midwife doesn’t sterilise their tools. Hence, most victims prone to have an infection. Whats more worse is Type 2 and 3 FGM is usually done during their teenage years when the would takes longer time to heal. Luckily for Fauziya, her eldest sister helped her to escape from this and insisted her to go to germany as if she just escaped to Ghana or other neighbouring countries , her uncle and aunt can find her and take her home. Fauziya met a kind german woman named Rudina who gave her a temporary shelter and Charlie whose a Nigerian Immigrant that advised her to go to USA and applied for an asylum.
.
.
I wished she didn’t listen to Charlie and choose to stay in Germany but she didnt. She went to USA and was detained right away as she’s using someone else’s passport to enter into the country and she didn’t come clean on why she’s seeking asylum in USA. If she did tell that she will be forced to be circumcised and if she were to send back she might suffer punishment from her family, she probably will be spared from going to the prison. Half of the story did entail on how she met her lawyers in USA, Eric Bowman and eventually Layli Miller Bashir and Karen Musanto. The memoir was a straightforward piece and easy to follow. Fauziya might not write eloquently but the subject matter she raised in this book deserved a spotlight. It didn’t sit well with me
knowing that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation in the countries where the practice is concentrated. Be it type 1, 2 or 3, no one has to go through it.
is so controversial among muslims despite it has no linkage whatsoever with Islam. I believe RAGE did one documentary about female circumcision in Malaysia. I won’t write much on this as this whole issue will turn into a debate in another minutes but these FGM is becoming more severe as in other region especially in some African and Middle eastern countries, they do the type 2 and type 3 of FGM which caused the women to bleed to death and some suffered the impact of it through the childbirth and intercourse. This is exactly the reason Fauziya escaped from Togo and went to Germany.
.
.
She was raised in a fairly educated and modern family. Although both her parents are devout muslims, they believe Fauziya and her sisters knew how to take care of themselves hence they are free to do whatever they want. Besides, her father believe that FGM or known as Kakiya in her language is barbaric hence he never imposed it on their daughters. However, things changed when her father passed away. According to Fauziya, her tribal custom dictates that her uncle and aunt will be her guardian. At that time, all her eldest sisters already married and her mother has been banished from the house. She was helpless and alone. Her aunt has decided to marry her off to another man who’s already has 3 wives at that time. Whats more concerning is he insisted that Fauziya will go through the ‘Kakiya’ as he wanted fauziya to be clean for him once they got married. FGM type 2 and 3 usually will be done by midwife. Most of the cases, this midwife doesn’t sterilise their tools. Hence, most victims prone to have an infection. Whats more worse is Type 2 and 3 FGM is usually done during their teenage years when the would takes longer time to heal. Luckily for Fauziya, her eldest sister helped her to escape from this and insisted her to go to germany as if she just escaped to Ghana or other neighbouring countries , her uncle and aunt can find her and take her home. Fauziya met a kind german woman named Rudina who gave her a temporary shelter and Charlie whose a Nigerian Immigrant that advised her to go to USA and applied for an asylum.
.
.
I wished she didn’t listen to Charlie and choose to stay in Germany but she didnt. She went to USA and was detained right away as she’s using someone else’s passport to enter into the country and she didn’t come clean on why she’s seeking asylum in USA. If she did tell that she will be forced to be circumcised and if she were to send back she might suffer punishment from her family, she probably will be spared from going to the prison. Half of the story did entail on how she met her lawyers in USA, Eric Bowman and eventually Layli Miller Bashir and Karen Musanto. The memoir was a straightforward piece and easy to follow. Fauziya might not write eloquently but the subject matter she raised in this book deserved a spotlight. It didn’t sit well with me
knowing that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation in the countries where the practice is concentrated. Be it type 1, 2 or 3, no one has to go through it.
natduncs's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible read. Would recommend to everyone. We all need to realise the human aspect of asylum seekers and refugees and this is a good start. A captivating read that taught me so much
mrsjmontalvo's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing story of a young woman is is thrust into the U.S. immigration system. She comes from Africa in hopes of beig granted asylum without knowing that she will have to overcome mutiple obstacles before she can win her case. This book is the reason I realized I was interested in knowing more about immigration & asylum law. & it is a quick read.
zazreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
This book is not a literary masterpiece. I'm not rating it 5 stars for any brilliance in writing.
It is, however, a story that desperately needed to be told and that desperately needs to be read. It is a reminder for why intersectional feminism is so important, and so needed. I'll be clear, this is not fun to read, and the writing is flat as flat gets, and yet I wish everybody in the world would read this book. The lack of ratings and reviews, the lack of interest shown to this heart wrenching account of human experience and human injustice, calls to the very necessity to keep pushing for stories like this to be heard.
It is, however, a story that desperately needed to be told and that desperately needs to be read. It is a reminder for why intersectional feminism is so important, and so needed. I'll be clear, this is not fun to read, and the writing is flat as flat gets, and yet I wish everybody in the world would read this book. The lack of ratings and reviews, the lack of interest shown to this heart wrenching account of human experience and human injustice, calls to the very necessity to keep pushing for stories like this to be heard.
andy5185's review against another edition
4.0
I was so ashamed of the U.S. reading this book! This is such a personal and vivid account of what Fauziya went through in order to live freely. I was inspired and awed by her strength as well as the strength of those who worked in the legal system on her behalf. I'll never forget this book. I highly recommend.
ta_ta_ta_tia's review against another edition
2.0
So, I haven't exactly finished this book yet. I got bored with it and had to put it down. The beginning was quite interesting, but it got incredibly slow towards the middle.