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Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian - My Story of Rescue, Hope, and Triumph by Yusra Mardini
emelymarieft's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
k_lee_reads_it's review against another edition
3.0
Yusra and her sister Sara, endured a great deal during their flight from Syria to Germany. I found their story interesting and compelling. It definitely gave me much to contemplate and encouraged more study on my part of the situation. That said, the writing was not always engaging, especially after they made it to Berlin.
mamaorgana80's review against another edition
5.0
Read for work. Recommend for anyone but will definitely be passing on to the young people in my life.
annknee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.25
jennykeery's review against another edition
5.0
Yusra Mardini and her sister Sara are two of the bravest people I've ever read about. They had to leave their lives in Syria when their home became a warzone, and paid smugglers to help them get to Europe so they could seek asylum. The extortionate fee bought them passage on a glorified dinghy that was so overcrowded it took on water in the rough waves. Somewhere between Turkey and Greece, the engine died. They desperately called the coastguard, who told them to go back to Turkey. The teenage sisters - and other passengers who took turns - jumped into the sea to keep the boat steady and on course. They survived the terrifying crossing (and the rest of the ordeal of trekking through Europe), but many people don't. Yusra's story, and her background as a swimmer for the Syrian national team, eventually earns her a place on the Rio 2016 Olympic Refugee Team.
I know I'm weirdly obsessed with books about swimming, but I honestly think this is one of the most inspirational stories I've ever read. It's told in a very simplistic narrative style, and Yusra's main aim with the book is to give a voice to refugees. She points out in a very poignant way that her middle-class upbringing meant that her and her sister had enough money to make the journey in the first place, and also to reduce the danger with occasional nights in hotels, but many people in dangerous situations can't afford to get out. Such a worthwhile read! I'll be looking out for her in the next Olympic Games, whenever that will be...
I know I'm weirdly obsessed with books about swimming, but I honestly think this is one of the most inspirational stories I've ever read. It's told in a very simplistic narrative style, and Yusra's main aim with the book is to give a voice to refugees. She points out in a very poignant way that her middle-class upbringing meant that her and her sister had enough money to make the journey in the first place, and also to reduce the danger with occasional nights in hotels, but many people in dangerous situations can't afford to get out. Such a worthwhile read! I'll be looking out for her in the next Olympic Games, whenever that will be...