Stars: *****
Three Rivers Press (2010) – division of Random House
Memoir
188 pages
Summary: Nujood is married off at age 10 to a man three times her age. He promises to not touch her till the year after she has her first period but does not keep his promise. He also beats her. Fed up with this life, Nujood runs away to the courthouse to get a divorce. This is the first time a young wife has ever done this and she sets a standard for Yemeni women.
The story is told in alternating chapters going from the past when she was married off and early marriage life to the present when she is filing for divorce, including court proceedings.
It’s a short read but includes everything you need to know about Nujood’s life, marriage and divorce. It’s a bit hard to read at times but the most shocking part of all is for those of you who have or know of a 10 year old girl, to imagine her in Nujood’s circumstances.
Nujood’s story made me proud to be a woman and sad that women and girls in other countries are being treated the way they are.
Sidenote:
Her story caught the attention of the press around the world and Glamour Magazine gave Nujood Ali the Woman of the Year Award alongside others such as Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.
All is not necessarily well though: Child bride Nujood Ali’s life after divorce.
Links of Interest: A 10-year-old Divorcee Takes Paris (TIME), (Unofficial) Nujood Ali on Twitter, Nujood Ali and Shada Nasser: Woman of the Year (Glamour),
Other Reviews: 5 Minutes for Books,
Buy I Am Nujood: Age 10 and Divorced
About Kathleen
