{"product_id":"9781250184405","title":"Butterfly : From Refugee to Olympian - My Story of Rescue, Hope, and Triumph","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eButterfly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Yusra Mardini\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eButterfly \u003c\/i\u003eis the inspiring story of how one woman saved fellow refugees from drowning—and how she went on to become an Olympic swimmer.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen young Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini realized her boat's engine shut down as she was traveling from Syria to Greece with other refugees, there was no hesitation: she dove into the water. Surfacing, she heard desperate prayers and sobbing from the passengers in the sinking boat above her. Between the waves, her elder sister Sarah screamed at her to get back on the boat. But Mardini was determined. She was not going to let Sarah do this alone. Grabbing the rope with one hand, she began kicking up the black water, inching the boat towards the distant shore.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis bold act of bravery saved the lives of a boatload of refugees heading to Turkey from Syria. After her arrival in Greece, Mardini, focused and undeterred, worked toward a lifelong goal: to compete in the Olympics. She succeeded, and competed in 2016 on the Refugee Olympic Team in Rio de Janeiro. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eButterfly\u003c\/i\u003e tells her story, from Syria to the Olympics to her current work with the UN as a Goodwill Ambassador. Mardini is eager to tell her story in the hopes that readers will remember that refugees are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, chased from their homes by a devastating war. In today's political climate, this story is guaranteed to inspire and educate readers from every background.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"War, for all its atrocities, is punctuated by instances of unfathomable human spirit and grace. Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini’s story is a prime example.  \u003ci\u003eButterfly\u003c\/i\u003e recounts this Syrian refugee’s extraordinary tale of bravery, survival, and winsome, never-give-up moxie. It is impossible not to be won over by Yusra, who once swam for her life at sea and is now fighting for the dignity and wellbeing of countless refugees like her whose lives have been upturned by war.\"—Khaled Hosseini, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Kite Runner\u003c\/i\u003e and\u003ci\u003e A Thousand Splendid Suns\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003c\/i\u003e[Mardini] offers an exceedingly rare window into middle-class girlhood in the middle of one of the most destructive wars of our time, and an even rarer start-to-finish account of the arduous migrant journey into Europe.\" —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eButterfly\u003c\/i\u003e is a powerful story of survival, inspiration, and hope with a resounding message: no one chooses to be a refugee; rather, horrific circumstances force ordinary people to take extraordinary measures to save themselves. This unforgettable memoir shines a spotlight on the refugee experience and the role sports can play in giving a voice to those affected by conflict throughout the world.\"—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The extraordinary tale of a Syrian woman's journey from her war-torn country all the way to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil... moving, action-packed...a rousing, exciting true story of remarkable resilience.\" - \u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Yusra, we could not be prouder of you...for your courage, for your resilience and the great example that you're setting for children everywhere.\"   —Barack Obama, UN 2016 Leaders' Summit on Refugees\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250184405\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40654194901198,"sku":"9781250184405","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_3e1c0be3-f9b1-4c12-b43f-85a1d89b671b.jpg?v=1643200688","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250184405","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}