Reviews

Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian - My Story of Rescue, Hope, and Triumph by Yusra Mardini

the_kooky_monster's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.75

hanarainbow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

rainbowrachel's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

yrc's review against another edition

4.0

This is a great non fiction read that has been made into a Netflix movie.

I enjoyed Yusra's tale a lot and was inspired by her courage, authenticity and journey.

I did have an issue with her opinion about charity. I understand she came from a well off family in Syria (which is fortunate for her) but felt at times as if she was looking down at others with harsher conditions and less previlaged backgrounds.

In addition, for some unknown reason, the audiobook lacked the last section that's more up to date on recent news . Still a great story exposing many of us to the ongoing struggles of Syrian refugees escaping the horrific civil war. Highly recommended!

karimorton33's review against another edition

5.0

A super compelling story of a girl from Syria whose life changed irreversibly. I read this one super fast as it drew me in really quickly and I found it seemed true to a teenager’s life but also depicted things accurately in regards to the Syrian refugee crisis. Important to remember that refugees are just humans that want a good life just like everyone else. (Read for Feminist Book Club)

hgranger's review against another edition

4.0

Gripping first-hand account of Yusra’s life before and during the war in Syria, and her and her sister’s harrowing escape to try to find a new life with peace and opportunities. Yusra’s struggle to accept the description of being a refugee that is thrust upon her is heart wrenching and eye-opening. She finally accepts her place on the Olympian refugee team in order to become a voice for the millions of displaced refugees around the world, and her quote “no one chooses to become a refugee” should be required memorization for everyone who tries to push their fear-mongering anti-immigration agenda.

mmonimu's review against another edition

4.5

Este libro es total inspiración. Mi total respeto y admiración a Sara y Yusra Mardini por contar su historia y por darnos esperanza

alexnoel's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

coops456's review against another edition

5.0

Watching the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, I saw the small refugee team taking part under the Olympic flag, as a representation of the millions of people displaced by war and oppression across the globe.

This is the story of one of those athletes - Yusra Mardini is a swimmer from Syria. Her normal teenage life gradually collapsed as war took hold of her country and finally her family took the impossible decision to send Yusra and her sister Sara to Europe.

This is a must-read - we are all human, it's just geography and dumb luck whether you live at peace or not. Anyone with an ounce of empathy will read the sisters' terrifying journey to safety and count their own blessings. The welcome given to refugees - each one of whom is an individual like Yusra - by Germany is uplifting and puts my own country to shame.

celina31's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0