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A review by ri123
Nujeen: One Girl's Incredible Journey from War‐Torn Syria in a Wheelchair by Christina Lamb, Nujeen Mustafa
3.0
Nujeen is a young girl with cerebral palsy who in this delightful memoir recounts her journey from 'War-Torn Syria' to Germany in a wheelchair. Nujeen taught herself English by watching American soap operas, after being denied schooling in Syria due to her condition. After her town becomes caught between the war of terrorism, she leaves with her older sister Nasrine for 16 month journey across many countries, attempting to find a new home.
Overall this novel was a delightful read. I enjoyed how Kurdish History and Syrian politics at the time, were intertwined with her own story of growing up, providing a unique insight into Nujeen's circumstances. The book sheds light on not only the "atypical" refugee journey across the ocean, but the odyssey across borders, the dangers of being fingerprinted, and the unsanitary condition of the interment camps refugees were held in at the borders of European countries, some of which I did not know about.
But for such a glowing review, this novel should have been rated 5 stars, but there were a few little quirks about the novel that brought it down. I hate to say this but, i did not enjoy the reading style at all. Some of the sentences were clunky, and at times, it seems that Nujeen was whining. Now i am sure that in real life, Nujeen is a wonderful and intelligent girl, as evidence by the last few pages of the novel, just the way some sentences are written, to me, makes it sound like she is an ignorant brat.
Overall this novel was a delightful read. I enjoyed how Kurdish History and Syrian politics at the time, were intertwined with her own story of growing up, providing a unique insight into Nujeen's circumstances. The book sheds light on not only the "atypical" refugee journey across the ocean, but the odyssey across borders, the dangers of being fingerprinted, and the unsanitary condition of the interment camps refugees were held in at the borders of European countries, some of which I did not know about.
But for such a glowing review, this novel should have been rated 5 stars, but there were a few little quirks about the novel that brought it down. I hate to say this but, i did not enjoy the reading style at all. Some of the sentences were clunky, and at times, it seems that Nujeen was whining. Now i am sure that in real life, Nujeen is a wonderful and intelligent girl, as evidence by the last few pages of the novel, just the way some sentences are written, to me, makes it sound like she is an ignorant brat.