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Biographies & Memoirs

Πεταλούδα, My story

Author: Yusra Mardini

A true story that inspires and moves; the dangerous journey of a teenage refugee girl to safety; the struggle of a girl to claim her right to dream.

I dive into the shimmering waters. "Yusra! What are...

A true story that inspires and moves; the dangerous journey of a teenage refugee girl to safety; the struggle of a girl to claim her right to dream.

I dive into the shimmering waters. "Yusra! What are you doing there?" I plunge into the waves, ignoring my sister. The sea rumbles above the steady thump of my heartbeat. I feel the life vest rising up my chest...

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Top specs

  • Release Date 12/2018
  • Number of pages Number of pages 432
  • Language Greek
  • Cover Cover Soft
  • Year of publication Year of publication 2018
  • Publisher Publisher Metaichmio
  • See all
Genre: Autobiography Refugees / Migrants Athletes
9 96 €
10 Coins 10 Coins
Delivery Thu, 13 Aug - Wed, 19 Aug
4,50 € shipping cost
Sent from Greece
From Protoporia 5.0 (32)
5.0 (32 reviews)
Greece
20+ pieces
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Description

Description

A true story that inspires and moves; the dangerous journey of a teenage refugee girl to safety; the struggle of a girl to claim her right to dream.

I dive into the shimmering waters. "Yusra! What are you doing there?" I plunge into the waves, ignoring my sister. The sea rumbles above the steady thump of my heartbeat. I feel the life vest rising up my chest and I surface. From the boat, prayers of despair reach my ears. The wave rolls and swells again. The splashes of water hit my head against the sides of the boat. The salty water stings my eyes, fills my mouth and nose. The air makes my hair whip around my head. The cold seeps into my body, starting from my soles and calves and reaching up to my thighs. I feel my legs convulsing uncontrollably. "Yusra! Get back in the boat." I clutch the rope tighter. I won't leave my sister alone in this. No one is going to die while we are here. We are Mardini. And we swim.

The Syrian Yusra Mardini, the youngest current goodwill ambassador of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who competed with the refugee team at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, recounts her personal testimony from the bombed streets of Syria to the pools of Rio de Janeiro. In the first person, we follow the narrative of the journey and the struggles of a hopeful swimmer, but above all of a girl who was forced to leave her homeland due to the war, with the word "refugee" on her back.

However, the book does not limit itself to describing the terror and despair of the refugee; it is above all a hymn to the bonds of friendship that were forged on this difficult journey, to the strength of will and the human spirit, and to Mardini's persistence to make, despite all the adversities, her childhood dream a reality, to compete in the Olympics.

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE BOOK

We are proud of Yusra's courage and determination and of the fact that she serves as a shining example for young people all over the world. Barack Obama, former President of the USA

Mardini, with her book, offers us the rare opportunity to understand what it means for a girl growing up in a middle-class home when one of the most destructive wars of our time erupts. She also gives us a unique account of her journey to Europe. New York Times

An unforgettable autobiography that sheds light on what it means to be a refugee as well as on the potential that sports provides to amplify the voices of victims of armed conflict around the world. Booklist

Mardini's journey is a source of inspiration for people around the world. People

Read an excerpt

I learn to swim before I learn to walk. My dad, Ezat, who is a swimming coach, simply puts me in the water. I'm not old enough to wear arm floats, so he removes the plastic grate from the overflow drain at the edge of the pool and throws me into the shallow water below. "Come on, kick your legs now like this," says dad. He moves his arms like paddles and I kick my legs as best as I can until I figure out how to kick properly. I often get tired, and the gentle rocking of the water lulls me to sleep. Dad never notices. He's too busy giving instructions to my older sister, Sarah. Neither of us chose to learn how to swim. We don't even remember how we started. We just swim; it's always been that way. I am a sweet little girl, with fair skin, big brown eyes, long dark hair, and a smooth, well-shaped face. I am incredibly shy and almost never open my mouth to speak. I am happy only when I am with my mom, Mervat. Whenever she goes to the bathroom, I sit outside until she finishes. Whenever another adult tries to talk to me, I just sit and look at them silently.

On weekends, we usually visit my grandparents in the city. My grandmother, Yusra, whose name I also carry, is like a second mother to me. I hide behind the long folds of her abaya, her fitted coat that reaches the floor, while my grandfather, Abu Bassem, tries to coax me with sweets to make me smile at him. I never fall for it, so he teases me and calls me "little mouse." Sarah is three years older and the complete opposite of me. No one can make her behave. She always talks to adults, even strangers in shops, in her own makeshift language. She likes to interrupt her grandmother's tea by climbing onto the sofa and saying nonsense – she even waves her hands as if giving a speech. When my mom asks her, Sarah says she is speaking English.

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Specifications

Specifications

Product Guides

Book Excerpt

Author
Yusra Mardini
Publisher
Metaichmio
Language
Greek
Subtitle
My Story
Cover
Soft
Number of Pages
432
Release Date
12/2018
Type
Autobiography
Period
Refugees, Migrants
Attribute
Athletes
Publication Date
2018
Dimensions
14x20.5 cm
ISBN-13
9786180315783

Important information

Specifications are collected from official manufacturer websites. Please verify the specifications before proceeding with your final purchase. If you notice any problem you can report it here.

See all specifications

Reviews (1)

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  • Maria_Brenta
    4
    Maria_Brenta

    I learned about the release of this particular book a few days before it came out and I was thrilled. I really wanted to read Yusra's story! I always get excited when I discover books based on true stories. Mardini's story is exceptional!

    The book was written by herself, and for this reason, the writing style is particularly simple. The protagonist, with a very light tone, narrates all the events that happened in her life and influenced her. From living with her family in Syria, going to school, and training hard in swimming, her life quickly turns upside down! Suddenly, she finds herself swimming in the Aegean Sea with her sister, hanging onto a boat, trying to survive along with their fellow human beings who were with them. The heroine's goal is to reach Germany to continue her training. She manages, along with the group of refugees, to participate in the Rio Olympics, and her pride keeps growing!

    Through the pages of the book, the power of friendship among these people who found each other under very difficult circumstances is praised. The terror, fear, and despair of the refugees are described, as well as the strength, determination, and patience of the heroine to save herself and her fellow human beings!

    Yusra Mardini is a girl who teaches us that no matter how difficult the conditions are, no matter how impossible our goal may seem, we owe it to ourselves to exert all our strength and willpower in order to achieve our goals and dreams!

    Today:
    The 20-year-old Yusra Mardini is preparing hard for the Olympic Games in Tokyo while living in Berlin. She has been selected as one of the 25 women who changed the world and one of the 30 teenagers with the greatest influence. She never stops giving hope and joy to people, conveying messages, and trying to break stereotypes about refugees. Her story is soon to be adapted into a feature film.

    Plot (5/5)
    Theme (4/5)
    Setting (4/5)
    Writing style (4/5)
    Characters (4/5)
    Suspense (4/5)

    Overall rating: 4/5

    Translated from Greek ·
    Did you find this review helpful?
  • Maria_Brenta
    4
    Maria_Brenta

    I learned about the release of this particular book a few days before it came out and I was thrilled. I really wanted to read Yusra's story! I always get excited when I discover books based on true stories. Mardini's story is exceptional!

    The book was written by herself, and for this reason, the writing style is particularly simple. The protagonist, with a very light tone, narrates all the events that happened in her life and influenced her. From living with her family in Syria, going to school, and training hard in swimming, her life quickly turns upside down! Suddenly, she finds herself swimming in the Aegean Sea with her sister, hanging onto a boat, trying to survive along with their fellow human beings who were with them. The heroine's goal is to reach Germany to continue her training. She manages, along with the group of refugees, to participate in the Rio Olympics, and her pride keeps growing!

    Through the pages of the book, the power of friendship among these people who found each other under very difficult circumstances is praised. The terror, fear, and despair of the refugees are described, as well as the strength, determination, and patience of the heroine to save herself and her fellow human beings!

    Yusra Mardini is a girl who teaches us that no matter how difficult the conditions are, no matter how impossible our goal may seem, we owe it to ourselves to exert all our strength and willpower in order to achieve our goals and dreams!

    Today:
    The 20-year-old Yusra Mardini is preparing hard for the Olympic Games in Tokyo while living in Berlin. She has been selected as one of the 25 women who changed the world and one of the 30 teenagers with the greatest influence. She never stops giving hope and joy to people, conveying messages, and trying to break stereotypes about refugees. Her story is soon to be adapted into a feature film.

    Plot (5/5)
    Theme (4/5)
    Setting (4/5)
    Writing style (4/5)
    Characters (4/5)
    Suspense (4/5)

    Overall rating: 4/5

    Translated from Greek ·
    0
  • See all
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Description & Specifications

A true story that inspires and moves; the dangerous journey of a teenage refugee girl to safety; the struggle of a girl to claim her right to dream.

I dive into the shimmering waters. "Yusra! What are you doing there?" I plunge into the waves, ignoring my sister. The sea rumbles above the steady thump of my heartbeat. I feel the life vest rising up my chest and I surface. From the boat, prayers of despair reach my ears. The wave rolls and swells again. The splashes of water hit my head against the sides of the boat. The salty water stings my eyes, fills my mouth and nose. The air makes my hair whip around my head. The cold seeps into my body, starting from my soles and calves and reaching up to my thighs. I feel my legs convulsing uncontrollably. "Yusra! Get back in the boat." I clutch the rope tighter. I won't leave my sister alone in this. No one is going to die while we are here. We are Mardini. And we swim.

The Syrian Yusra Mardini, the youngest current goodwill ambassador of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who competed with the refugee team at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, recounts her personal testimony from the bombed streets of Syria to the pools of Rio de Janeiro. In the first person, we follow the narrative of the journey and the struggles of a hopeful swimmer, but above all of a girl who was forced to leave her homeland due to the war, with the word "refugee" on her back.

However, the book does not limit itself to describing the terror and despair of the refugee; it is above all a hymn to the bonds of friendship that were forged on this difficult journey, to the strength of will and the human spirit, and to Mardini's persistence to make, despite all the adversities, her childhood dream a reality, to compete in the Olympics.

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE BOOK

We are proud of Yusra's courage and determination and of the fact that she serves as a shining example for young people all over the world. Barack Obama, former President of the USA

Mardini, with her book, offers us the rare opportunity to understand what it means for a girl growing up in a middle-class home when one of the most destructive wars of our time erupts. She also gives us a unique account of her journey to Europe. New York Times

An unforgettable autobiography that sheds light on what it means to be a refugee as well as on the potential that sports provides to amplify the voices of victims of armed conflict around the world. Booklist

Mardini's journey is a source of inspiration for people around the world. People

Read an excerpt

I learn to swim before I learn to walk. My dad, Ezat, who is a swimming coach, simply puts me in the water. I'm not old enough to wear arm floats, so he removes the plastic grate from the overflow drain at the edge of the pool and throws me into the shallow water below. "Come on, kick your legs now like this," says dad. He moves his arms like paddles and I kick my legs as best as I can until I figure out how to kick properly. I often get tired, and the gentle rocking of the water lulls me to sleep. Dad never notices. He's too busy giving instructions to my older sister, Sarah. Neither of us chose to learn how to swim. We don't even remember how we started. We just swim; it's always been that way. I am a sweet little girl, with fair skin, big brown eyes, long dark hair, and a smooth, well-shaped face. I am incredibly shy and almost never open my mouth to speak. I am happy only when I am with my mom, Mervat. Whenever she goes to the bathroom, I sit outside until she finishes. Whenever another adult tries to talk to me, I just sit and look at them silently.

On weekends, we usually visit my grandparents in the city. My grandmother, Yusra, whose name I also carry, is like a second mother to me. I hide behind the long folds of her abaya, her fitted coat that reaches the floor, while my grandfather, Abu Bassem, tries to coax me with sweets to make me smile at him. I never fall for it, so he teases me and calls me "little mouse." Sarah is three years older and the complete opposite of me. No one can make her behave. She always talks to adults, even strangers in shops, in her own makeshift language. She likes to interrupt her grandmother's tea by climbing onto the sofa and saying nonsense – she even waves her hands as if giving a speech. When my mom asks her, Sarah says she is speaking English.

Manufacturer

Manufacturer Details

Warnings & Safety Information

Product Guides

Book Excerpt

Author
Yusra Mardini
Publisher
Metaichmio
Language
Greek
Subtitle
My Story
Cover
Soft
Number of Pages
432
Release Date
12/2018
Type
Autobiography
Period
Refugees, Migrants
Attribute
Athletes
Publication Date
2018
Dimensions
14x20.5 cm
ISBN-13
9786180315783

Important information

Specifications are collected from official manufacturer websites. Please verify the specifications before proceeding with your final purchase. If you notice any problem you can report it here.

Reviews (1)

1
0.0
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Review this product
  1. 5 stars
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  • Maria_Brenta
    4
    Maria_Brenta

    I learned about the release of this particular book a few days before it came out and I was thrilled. I really wanted to read Yusra's story! I always get excited when I discover books based on true stories. Mardini's story is exceptional!

    The book was written by herself, and for this reason, the writing style is particularly simple. The protagonist, with a very light tone, narrates all the events that happened in her life and influenced her. From living with her family in Syria, going to school, and training hard in swimming, her life quickly turns upside down! Suddenly, she finds herself swimming in the Aegean Sea with her sister, hanging onto a boat, trying to survive along with their fellow human beings who were with them. The heroine's goal is to reach Germany to continue her training. She manages, along with the group of refugees, to participate in the Rio Olympics, and her pride keeps growing!

    Through the pages of the book, the power of friendship among these people who found each other under very difficult circumstances is praised. The terror, fear, and despair of the refugees are described, as well as the strength, determination, and patience of the heroine to save herself and her fellow human beings!

    Yusra Mardini is a girl who teaches us that no matter how difficult the conditions are, no matter how impossible our goal may seem, we owe it to ourselves to exert all our strength and willpower in order to achieve our goals and dreams!

    Today:
    The 20-year-old Yusra Mardini is preparing hard for the Olympic Games in Tokyo while living in Berlin. She has been selected as one of the 25 women who changed the world and one of the 30 teenagers with the greatest influence. She never stops giving hope and joy to people, conveying messages, and trying to break stereotypes about refugees. Her story is soon to be adapted into a feature film.

    Plot (5/5)
    Theme (4/5)
    Setting (4/5)
    Writing style (4/5)
    Characters (4/5)
    Suspense (4/5)

    Overall rating: 4/5

    Translated from Greek ·
    Did you find this review helpful?
  • Maria_Brenta
    4
    Maria_Brenta

    I learned about the release of this particular book a few days before it came out and I was thrilled. I really wanted to read Yusra's story! I always get excited when I discover books based on true stories. Mardini's story is exceptional!

    The book was written by herself, and for this reason, the writing style is particularly simple. The protagonist, with a very light tone, narrates all the events that happened in her life and influenced her. From living with her family in Syria, going to school, and training hard in swimming, her life quickly turns upside down! Suddenly, she finds herself swimming in the Aegean Sea with her sister, hanging onto a boat, trying to survive along with their fellow human beings who were with them. The heroine's goal is to reach Germany to continue her training. She manages, along with the group of refugees, to participate in the Rio Olympics, and her pride keeps growing!

    Through the pages of the book, the power of friendship among these people who found each other under very difficult circumstances is praised. The terror, fear, and despair of the refugees are described, as well as the strength, determination, and patience of the heroine to save herself and her fellow human beings!

    Yusra Mardini is a girl who teaches us that no matter how difficult the conditions are, no matter how impossible our goal may seem, we owe it to ourselves to exert all our strength and willpower in order to achieve our goals and dreams!

    Today:
    The 20-year-old Yusra Mardini is preparing hard for the Olympic Games in Tokyo while living in Berlin. She has been selected as one of the 25 women who changed the world and one of the 30 teenagers with the greatest influence. She never stops giving hope and joy to people, conveying messages, and trying to break stereotypes about refugees. Her story is soon to be adapted into a feature film.

    Plot (5/5)
    Theme (4/5)
    Setting (4/5)
    Writing style (4/5)
    Characters (4/5)
    Suspense (4/5)

    Overall rating: 4/5

    Translated from Greek ·
    0
  • See all
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