Title: I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
Author: Nujood Ali
First published October 1, 2009
188 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780307589675 (ISBN10: 0307589676)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
For as long as she could remember, Nujood Ali was taught to obey the men in her life. But at the age of 10, her childhood was cut short when she was forced into marriage with a man three times her age.
Nujood’s story is one of unrelenting hardship and abuse but also one of resilience and bravery. In this powerful memoir, Nujood recounts her journey to freedom with harrowing honesty, inspiring countless other young girls in the Middle East to speak out against child marriage.
Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.
About the Author
Meet Nujood Ali, a young Yemeni girl who has become a symbol of resistance against forced marriage in her country. Despite being only ten years old at the time, she was able to obtain a divorce and break away from the restrictive tribal customs.
Her bravery has not gone unnoticed; in November 2008, she and her lawyer, Shada Nasser, were recognized as Women of the Year by Glamour magazine. Nasser, a feminist and human rights expert, gained widespread recognition for her involvement in Nujood’s case.
Editoral Review
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali is a powerful memoir that sheds light on the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in many parts of the world. Ali, a Yemeni child bride, courageously shares her story of forced marriage and divorce, and the fight for justice that followed.
As a memoir, the book falls under the nonfiction genre, but it reads like a novel. Ali’s storytelling is engaging, emotional, and vivid, making it an easy and compelling read.
The book’s themes center on women’s rights, child marriage, and domestic abuse, all of which are still major issues in Yemen and many other parts of the world. The book starts with Ali’s happy childhood in a small village in Yemen, but her life takes a drastic turn when she is forced to marry a man three times her age at the age of 10.
Ali’s vivid descriptions of her life as a child bride are heart-wrenching, but the worst is yet to come. She experiences physical and emotional abuse from her husband and his family, and she is ultimately forced to flee to the courthouse to file for a divorce with the help of a brave lawyer.
One of the book’s strengths is Ali’s characterization of the people in her life. Despite her young age, she is able to capture the essence of her family, friends, and abusers in a way that is both nuanced and honest.
The reader is able to understand the motivations behind their actions, even if they are abhorrent, and gain insight into the cultural and societal pressures that contribute to the prevalence of child marriage and domestic violence. However, the book could benefit from more detailed descriptions of the setting and cultural background.
While Ali’s experiences are universal in many ways, readers who are unfamiliar with Yemeni culture may struggle to understand the context of her story. Additionally, some readers may find the book too simplistic in its portrayal of Yemeni society, reducing it to a dichotomy between progressive forces and backward traditionalism.
Overall, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced is an important book that brings attention to the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in many parts of the world. While it has its flaws, it is an emotional and engaging read that will leave a lasting impact on readers.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in women’s rights, social justice, or memoirs. It is a powerful reminder that we still have a long way to go in achieving gender equality, but every person can make a difference in their own way.
I give this book four out of five stars for its emotional impact and compelling storytelling.
