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Farida Khalaf
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The Girl Who Beat Isis: Farida's Story Hardcover – International Edition, September 27, 2016

by Farida Khalaf (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,828 ratings
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In August 2014, Farida Khalaf was just a normal Yazidi girl, living in a village high in the mountains of northern Iraq. Then her village was attacked and swiftly taken by ISIS fighters, and her whole world changed. The jihadists murdered the men and the boys of her village, including her father and brothers, before taking Farida prisoner along with the rest of the women.

This is the story of what happened to Farida after she was captured: the beatings, the rapes, the markets where ISIS sold their female prisoners like cattle, and Farida's realisation that the more difficult and resistant she became, the harder it was for her captors to continue their atrocities against her. So she struggled, she bit, she kicked, she accused her captors of going against their religion, and then, one day, the door to her room was left unlocked. She took her chance along with 5 other women, and set out across the Syrian desert ...

This is a story of incredible courage in the face of unthinkable atrocity. As the battle against ISIS continues to ravage the Middle East, The Girl Who Beat Isis provides an astonishing perspective on this very terrifying global threat.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Square Peg
  4. Publication date
    September 27, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    6.3 x 0.9 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1910931012
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1910931011
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Farida and her brothers were brought up in the Yazidi community in Kocho, Iraq. Farida was 19 years old when ISIS attacked her village, killed the men, captured the women and sold them into slavery. After four months, Farida and her best friend managed to escape against all odds. Farida was reunited with her mother and her brothers in an Iraqi refugee camp and was granted asylum in Germany in 2015.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Peg (September 27, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1910931012
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1910931011
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 0.9 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,828 ratings

About the author

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Farida Khalaf

Farida Khalaf

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,828 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

MCR
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend this work, I wish all American's in particular that have the time would take it to read this work.
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
As stated above, I believe more American's should if they have the time read this work, and start to understand the insanity and the impact of ISIS, on so many victims, across a massive portion of this planet. I cannot promise you this book will not upset you if your an adult and have any compassion for your fellow human beings ----but maybe it will wake those up that simply don't care about what's going on, or care for the many that have been and continue to be victims of Muslim Extremists ---------this must be stopped by any and all means and all those involved brought to justice one way or the other------------My prayers go out to these women, and all those that have been victimized by these lunatics called ISIS AND AL QUEDA,----Thankfully justice is never denied forever, delayed perhaps but never denied. But that doesn't help these poor women and children victims, thank God so many have stepped up to help while an equal number turn their backs on these victims. Again well worth the read, but its not easy reading because of the events and aftermath so well documented by this book. Highly recommend it, we should be awake to what has happened and continues to happen in the middle east and Africa.
5 people found this helpful
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William Courtney Hensel
4.0 out of 5 stars Archetypal horror confronted with redeeming grace, clarity and balance.
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2016
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A story that could be lurid, lascivious or depressing is here told with clarity and an amazing emotional balance that leaves only a residue of gratitude and deepened commitment. Farida and her family are admirable; Andrea Hoffmann's contribution is seamless and very effective. It's a book that is traveling from hand to hand and heart to heart among my friends and family. Certainly worth reading, and surely worth sharing.
2 people found this helpful
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Joann R. Greene
5.0 out of 5 stars haunting book
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2017
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This is a riveting firsthand account of life in captivity for a young Yazidi girl and a courageous flight to freedom. This astonishing memoir is also Farida’s way of bearing witness, and of ensuring that ISIS does not succeed in crushing her spirit. In the summer of 2014, Farida, along with her family is following the threat of ISIS in her small and peaceful village of Kocho. In its opening chapters you have Farida enjoying her home and family and then in a few days time, Isis is able to turn the village and its inhabitants on their knees. The women and girls and loaded into buses at gunpoint. Their destination is the human market of Raqqa, the new caliphate’s capital in northern Syria. There, they will be sold as sex slaves. What amazes both Farida and her readers are the glimpses of normality amid this horror. Their escape leaves them in equally uncertain territory – dependent on Kurdish people smugglers who rescue runaways from Isis for thousands of dollars a head. This is a compelling testament to the suffering of ordinary people caught up in violence far beyond their control – and to the particularly terrible price it exacts from women.
4 people found this helpful
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Laticia Mutschler
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018
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This was an excellent book. An account of tragedy and suffering through the eyes of a mere 19 year old girl. It's also very uplifting to know that Farida is a survivor and strong. All young women should read this book and learn about Farida's story....... a young Yazidi girl from Iraq..... who was tortured and nearly killed by her ISIS captives. Yet she somehow escaped her captors and lives today!
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Buttercup
5.0 out of 5 stars is a perfect example telling us of the horrors that are going ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
I found this story truthful and excellently detailed. Farida Khalaf , The Girl Who Escaped Isis, is a perfect example telling us of the horrors that are going on in the middle east with butchers. I was extremely relieved to see that she finally found a way to escape. We would never have learned of how women and young girls are used by these demonic Isis group as their slaves. Sheer horror. I dread to think of what could have happened to Farida had she been unable to escape. Telling us her story makes us here in the U.S. feel impotent in being unable to do anything to stop this horror. Hopefully, our leaders will get strong and do something about the ethnic cleansing that is occurring. There is a clear and present danger with radical Islam . Terrorism is coming towards us. This is a bitter-sweet story. Happy and relieved that Farida is safe but sad to realize that many other girls and women are suffering greatly.
One person found this helpful
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Anne
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2017
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An amazing situation to live through, a very brave girl, who never gave up.
One person found this helpful
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Maggie
5.0 out of 5 stars So much suffering and yet the human spirit conquers all...
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
Oh my where do I start this book was so shocking so heartbreaking and so uplifting, what an amazing young lady you are Farida I admire you so much, you are an inspiration to so many and you must always hold your head up high, you are a true heroine you have proved that even in the most brutal and terrifying situations one doesent lose hope or there humanity, instead you rose up high and never let those despicable monsters from ISIS crush your spirit or your heart....
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Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars More Westerners should read about these struggles
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2016
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This book was extremely well written and galvanizing. I have a better understanding of what went before and after ISIS began to take over large swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. I am well studied in the news surrounding the siege but this book offered an inside look at the lives of the women slaves. Moreover, the boys who were made into soldiers and the men who were killed. This perspective was invaluable and I thank Farida for being brave enough tell her story. I have a lot of respect for the bravery that she showed when odds were against her. Overall good book! Very inspirational.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

MarkJP
5.0 out of 5 stars unimaginable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is truly a brave inspirational lady, the things she went through are unbelievable, so horrific, I don’t know how she got through them. Very upsetting read but a story that needs to be told.
One person found this helpful
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Prithwika Basak
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in India on January 29, 2022
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Beyond amazing. Give it a read and you will love this. I have already read it thrice. Kudos to the writer.
One person found this helpful
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Stéphanie Mathieu
5.0 out of 5 stars Great quality good read
Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2020
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Book came quickly and great quality
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable heroine.
Reviewed in Australia on September 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
I did not know what to expect. But reading Farida's account of what she had to endure, brought tears to my eyes. That people could twist someone's religion and beliefs in such a way that the think it is their God given right to treat another human like that is unbelievable. God bless you and all the girls who were subjected to such terrible injustice, Farieda. You all are truly heros. In my eyes at least.
One person found this helpful
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Biest1976
5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling and page-turning
Reviewed in Germany on August 15, 2016
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I read this thrilling, page-turning book in only one day and I couldn't put it away. Absolutely recommandable to read.
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