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A review by rachelmansmckenny
The Chibok Girls: The Boko Haram Kidnappings and Islamist Militancy in Nigeria by Helon Habila
3.0
April 14, 2014 is when the kidnapping of the Chibok girls took place, but this book has a much wider scope and longer view. Reading this book as an American with little to no knowledge of the history of Nigeria, I appreciated Habila's emphasis on the rise of Boko Haram and the political climate which enabled it to exist.
This slim volume is just over 120 pages, but packs in narratives from parents of the girls, people in the community, and clergy members, besides including information from other outside sources. When we finally get to the narrative from some of the escaped girls, however, even Habila notes that it's nothing we haven't heard before.
I have to admit I'm of two minds here. I think this book is an excellent, well-written and insightful primer on Boko Haram and conditions that make it possible for extremist groups like it to form. However, I wouldn't recommend this to a person interested only in the #BringBackOurGirls movement. Because the identities of girls who have escaped are so important to protect, you won't learn much new about that. The climate surrounding the incident, however? Rich material, well-explored.
Thank you to NetGalley who gave me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
This slim volume is just over 120 pages, but packs in narratives from parents of the girls, people in the community, and clergy members, besides including information from other outside sources. When we finally get to the narrative from some of the escaped girls, however, even Habila notes that it's nothing we haven't heard before.
I have to admit I'm of two minds here. I think this book is an excellent, well-written and insightful primer on Boko Haram and conditions that make it possible for extremist groups like it to form. However, I wouldn't recommend this to a person interested only in the #BringBackOurGirls movement. Because the identities of girls who have escaped are so important to protect, you won't learn much new about that. The climate surrounding the incident, however? Rich material, well-explored.
Thank you to NetGalley who gave me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.