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

3.0

3.5 stars maybe? Incredible story, if not brilliant writing. Still, facinating to read about an individual experience of making that harrowing voyage. I admit, I've been one of those westerners that sterotyped the refugee experience as one rooted in abject poverty; and I've read a couple other memoirs in which that is the case. But, as Yusra reminds us over and over, the refugee can be anyone whose homeland is destroyed. I'm glad she had the opportunity to participate in the Olympics under refugee status and I hope she gets another opportunity in Tokyo. And just as important, I hope she continues to educate the international community about the lives of refugees and how we can better cope with shifting populations while keeping our humanity intact.