My Story

I saw that there's a documentary about Elizabeth Smart coming out early next year, and it made me realize I never read her memoir and always wanted to -- so I got My Story by Elizabeth Smart and Chris Stewart on audiobook from the library. The book description says, "In this memoir, Elizabeth Smart reveals how she survived and the secret to forging a new life in the wake of a brutal crime. On June 5, 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart, the daughter of a close-knit Mormon family, was taken from her home in the middle of the night by religious fanatic Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. Elizabeth was kept chained, dressed in disguise, repeatedly raped, and told she and her family would be killed if she tried to escape. After her rescue on March 12, 2003, she rejoined her family and worked to pick up the pieces of her life. With My Story, Elizabeth tells of the constant fear she endured every hour, her courageous determination to maintain hope, and how she devised a plan to manipulate her captors and convinced them to return to Utah, where she was rescued minutes after arriving. Smart explains how her faith helped her stay sane in the midst of a nightmare and how she found the strength to confront her captors at their trial and see that justice was served."

This was an engaging and inspiring read. I remember when Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped (it hit close to home because she was a member of the same religion as me and I was also a teenager at the time) and when she was found. At times reading this book was sickening and upsetting, just learning all that she went through and picturing it from the perspective of my daughter who is the same age. I was also inspired by Elizabeth's ability to make the most of her circumstances and thrive in her life after. This was one of those books that I always wanted to keep reading.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Zarina Divided

I saw Reem Faruqi had a new book out, so I got Zarina Divided from the library. The books description says, "Zarina loves her life in Poona, India. She spends her days happily hanging out with her best friends, Geeta and Jahana, and playing with her three brothers. However, Zarina and her family are given unsettling news: Muslims and Hindus are to separate by religion. Hindus are expected to stay in India, while Muslims are expected to move to a new land, Pakistan. Zarina is heartbroken at having to move away from all she knows and loves, and after the frightening journey to Pakistan, she feels unsure that the unfamiliar country will ever feel like home. When an accident happens that leaves Zarina grappling with extreme guilt, she decides it’s best to attend boarding school far away, much to the protest of her mom. Will a fresh start at a new school give Zarina the chance to thrive in Pakistan, or will the divisions within herself and her family continue to widen?"

This was such a great read! It was a super quick read since it was written in verse (probably just took me an hour), but I loved the characters and the storyline. I didn't know much about the partition in India, so it was great to learn more--plus it was super cool that this was based on the experiences of the author's grandmother. I thought the author did a great job portraying the difficulties of the experiences surrounding the partition in a middle grade–appropriate way. This one was really close to loved it. I definitely would recommend this to others.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)