TOW # 19 "I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced" (IRB)

            I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced is an amazing story about a young heroine. With the help of a co-author, Nujood tells her story with such sophistication. However, Nujood’s age does affect the way her story is written. Her use of interesting narration underscores her horrible injustice and explains how these injustices need to be taken seriously.

            Nujood’s interesting way of narrating her story is two fold. She writes as if she is experiencing her situation, each step she took, for the first time. Her point of view allows her readers not only to experience the plot with her, but allows her readers to read what she is thinking in that very moment. “It’s hot under my veil, I have a headache, and I’m so ashamed… am I strong enough to keep going? No. Yes. Maybe…” This way of writing is difficult, because Nujood is remembering these specific moments and what she was thinking during them, not reliving them, which makes this writing sophisticated in my mind. Also, the way she thinks about herself in these moments, she is “ashamed” or “weak”, highlights the horrible injustice that was done to her. She has been beaten and abused both physically and mentally almost her whole life, but still wants to fight. The second effect her use of narration has on her story is due to the childlike innocence she portrays and its affect on the character development of her story. Nujood’s character in her book has been through unbelievably rough circumstances, but the way she is able to bounce back and her determination for justice represents the childhood innocence she still has, she still sees the good in the world and the possibilities she could have in it. This develops a strong, independent character, a heroine. This type of character attracts attention and gives inspiration to others like her. Allowing the whole purpose of this book to be achieved, to have these injustices be considered by the public, and to fight them until they no longer exist.

            Nujood and her story are an inspiration. I can tell this without finishing this book, which is why I believe her use of interesting narration is enough to achieve her overall purpose of defeating these injustices.