Child Brides (a book review)

I finished this book today. It is the story of a 10 year old Yemeni girl who was married off and then raped & beaten repeatedly by her husband. This brave young girl found a way (through near impossible circumstances) to escape. She made her way to the public courts, walked right up to a judge and demanded "I want a divorce!"

Her story reflects the horrors that little girls face in too many parts of the world. To be sure, the issue of child brides is not solely a religious issue. Often it is cultural in its roots or even just motivated by poverty or tribal traditions. Regardless of the cause, it is a tough issue to think about, read about, or fight.

The book, which just hit bookstores last week, was a quick and easy read. A ghost writer wrote Nujood's account (as at the time of her marriage/divorce, she could not read and could only write her first name). Its not a complex tale and not even written in an adult voice. In fact, much of her story consists of her admitting "I don't really understand what people are talking about" or "I didn't understand what was going on." Her experience is well beyond her years and her own processing will likely not unfold completely for years to come.

Her new life goal: first-- to never ever marry again, and next-- to become a lawyer in her home country to help fight for the rights of women in her land.