I was so ashamed of the U.S. reading this book! This is such a personal and vivid account of what Fauziya went through in order to live freely. I was inspired and awed by her strength as well as the strength of those who worked in the legal system on her behalf. I'll never forget this book. I highly recommend. ( )

Born into a happy middle class family in Togo, the author's life suddenly undergoes a horrific change when her beloved father suddenly dies. His siblings - hostile to his wife- seize the property, evict her, and arrange for the teenage author to be removed from school and become fourth wife to a much older man...and undergo FGM first. But her escape to Germany, and later the US brings a lengthy spell i grim American detention centres and jails until human rights workers can get the ruling against her overturned.
There are a number of autobiographies on this theme, and I found this more readable and engrossing than some others. It certainly gives a depressing slant on the whole topic of how immigrants are treated.
I did find it (at almost 700 pages) a tad long. ( )

This book made me really interested in the process of claiming asylum. I've never thought much about asylum, but reading a personal account of someone suffering through the process really made me more interested in learning more about those seeking asylum. i went through a phase of reading a lot of books written by and about people in prison, all of which have been depressing to read, but her story added a whole new dimension. she had to suffer all of horrible things that happen in prison without even having a complete understanding of united states culture. i hope that everything she suffered through really did help other women who are claiming asylum for gender based persecution ( )

True story told by Fauziya Kassindja of her life growing up in Togo Africa in a loving, wealthy family with a father who adored her, a loving mother and many sisters and 2 brothers. She tell us about what her life is like as a child, and a muslim and a cherished child. When her father dies the family's future is turned over to her father's brother and we see the darker side of tribal customs mainly, arranged marriages. Fauziya is to be married to a much older man who already has 3 wives. She also will be circumcised in what is know as Female Genital mutilation. With her sister's help she escapes and is one a plane to Germany. From Germany she flies to the US where is asks for asylum but gets thrown in jail where she suffers horribly. The rest of the story shows us the terrible treatment a refugee faces in prison and also shows us Fauziya's immense courage. We meet her legal tam and follow the events that lead to her eventual parole and release.
it's nearly impossible to believe that this is a true story.
A totally amazing book. So glad I read it. ( )

Fauziya courageously escapes the horrible fate that awaits her--a prison constructed by culture and tradition. She hopefully seeks political asylum in the U.S., and her nightmare actually begins as she's bound in a prison of steel, brutality, and bureaucracy. I read this candid autobiographical story in one night, and I'm not a speed reader! It's suspenseful, depressing, and thought-provoking. Fauziya has a lot to show us about culture, human rights, the nonsensical & hypocritical politics of the U.S., human nature, and "freedom." Fauziya fights for the right to be recognized as human, and ultimately succeeds.
Julie
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