Defiant Dreams
The Journey of an Afghan Girl Who Risked Everything for Education
$33.61
- Paperback
320 pages
- Release Date
27 August 2024
Summary
An extraordinary memoir of a young woman from Afghanistan who taught herself in secret when forced out of school by the Taliban. A memoir of education, oppression, misogyny, inequality, determination and incredible resilience.
‘I began to grow up the day my mother warned me to stop laughing’
At age eleven, Sola Mahfouz was told she could no longer attend school. The Taliban threatened that any girl who dared to continue their education would have acid thrown in their face, be …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781529176056 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1529176050 |
| Author: | Sola Mahfouz, Malaina Kapoor |
| Publisher: | Transworld Publishers Ltd |
| Imprint: | Penguin |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 320 |
| Release Date: | 27 August 2024 |
| Weight: | 222g |
| Dimensions: | 198mm x 129mm x 21mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
Stories like this inspire me. Seeing the way people like Sola Mahfouz think about the world reinforces my optimism about the future. – Bill Gates
A compelling, fascinating book. * Daily Mail *
Sola reminds us that the greatest untapped resource around the globe isn’t gold or oil, but the female half of the population. Virginia Woolf wrote that if Shakespeare had had an equally talented sister, she never would have been able to flower-and Sola is Shakespeare’s sister. – Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author
Sola embodies the power of individual determination and serves as an inspiration to us all?she is nothing short of incredible. Her story speaks to the limitless potential of millions who have been held back by circumstances beyond their control. Defiant Dreams is a beautifully written reminder of the transformative power of education. – Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy
Captivating in its intimate details of life behind the burqa, this brave girl’s determination to educate herself despite restrictive Afghan tradition, Talib gunfire, and American rockets is pure inspiration. Defiant indeed?I could not put this beautifully written book down. – Helen Zia, author of Last Boat Out of Shanghai and former executive editor of Ms. magazine
Sola Mahfouz is a beautiful example of a young person who is searching, striving, and reaching. She was born in a city where speaking too loud was unacceptable for a girl- and yet her voice is now reaching overseas. Her story is one of how the impossible became possible. I found it a very moving and inspiring read. – Homeira Qaderi, author of Dancing in the Mosque
I was immediately captivated by this book. Sola is an inspiration and example of what going against the tide is…Everyone should know this story and hold it dear to their hearts. Thank you Sola for sharing your bravery with the world, I cannot wait to see what your future holds. – Payzee Malika, activist
About The Author
Sola Mahfouz
Sola Mahfouz (Author)
Sola Mahfouz was born in Afghanistan and immigrated to the U.S. in 2016 to attend college. She is currently a quantum computing researcher at Tufts University Quantum Information Group. In her free time, she focuses on reading and studying different styles of fiction, as well as writing about the rugged homeland she has left behind. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
Malaina Kapoor (Author)
Malaina Kapoor is a writer from Redwood City, California. She previously served as a Fellow at PEN America, where she advocated for international human rights, press freedoms, and election integrity. Malaina served on the management team of a refugee resettlement organization and was the producer of In Deep, a nationally syndicated public affairs radio broadcast program. She has received national awards for her poetry, personal essays, and short stories. Malaina will graduate from Stanford University in 2025.
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