Book Review: I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali and Delphine Minoui

Title: I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
Authors: Nujood Ali and Delphine Minoui
Publisher: Three Rivers Press, New York
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 190
ISBN: 978-0-307-58967-5
Genre: Nonfiction/Memoir

Summary of I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
Nujood is a young girl in Yemen, pulled from school before she can read and forced to marry a man old enough to be her father. After the marriage, she is taken away from her family in the city to live with her husband's family in a remote village. Though the marriage contract specifies he isn't to touch Nujood until she is older, no one will enforce that rule against him. When Nujood decides she can endure the abuse no more, she embarks on a quest to divorce her husband. But many will not approve of her decision, and the journey will not be easy.

Why to Read I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
This book is a fascinating look into Middle Eastern culture. It also depicts how customs, cultural assumptions, and disagreements intertwine with Islam. I Am Nujood celebrates an act of courage by one young girl who did what was not done in her country at that time. When other young girls heard about Nujood's bravery, they also summoned the courage to ask for freedom from their abusers.

Cautions
I Am Nujood is not light reading. It's terrible to read of the abuse of any child, but particularly heartbreaking if you imagine how you'd feel about a daughter, niece, friend, student, or any young girl you love, being treated as Nujood was.

The book also brings up the sticky issue of whether a divorce can be good. Be prepared to wrestle honestly with that question, should you decide to read this book.

People Who Could Benefit from Reading I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
If you can endure the harsh parts of this story, you will find a courage outranking that of many adults. I Am Nujood is worth reading if you are interested in Muslim culture, the issue of divorce, cultural abuse of children, the country of Yemen, humanitarian causes, or women's rights.

Rating by No-Spoilers
4 out of 5