I'm a bit of an old school horror movie geek, so The Last Girl sounded like just the kind of novel I'd enjoy, turns out I was right, I LOVED this The photographs in this one are 5 star- so brave for the survivors to expose themselves in such a manner. Not all will do that. What starts out as harmless fun between friends soon turns sinister and Rachel finds herself entangled in something much bigger than she ever imagined. A truly satisfying read They executed men at their will on whether they agreed to convert or not and made women their sex slaves. I was deeply disturbed by the events that happened in Nadia’s life. These cruel people killed almost her whole family, including her six brothers and mother.

WINNER OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE •In this “courageous” ( The Washington Post) memoir of survival, a former captive of the Islamic State tells her harrowing and ultimately inspiring story. I really like that this story is different from most YA Thriller books I’ve read. There’s just something special and unique about it that hits the spot. The main plot Yazidism is an ancient monotheistic religion, spread orally by holy men entrusted with our stories. Although it has elements in common with the many religions of the Middle East, from Mithraism and Zoroastrianism to Islam and Judaism, it is truly unique and can be difficult even for the holy men who memorize our stories to explain. I think of my religion as being an ancient tree with thousands of rings, each telling a story in the long history of Yazidis. Many of those stories, sadly, are tragedies. (c) Nadia Murad’s courageous account is horrific and essential reading. . . . Anyone who wants to understand the so-called Islamic State should read The Last Girl.”— The Economist Although it’s from her perspective, we do get a lot of detail throughout that maybe she wouldn’t necessarily know but is included so that we, the readers, get a full picture of what’s going on.Nadia and her community in Kocho are Yazidis, a minority religion practiced in Iraq. Yazidis worship what ISIS believed to be a fallen angel Nadia Murad was born and raised in Kocho, a small village of farmers and shepherds in northern Iraq. A member of the Yazidi community, she and her brothers and sisters lived a quiet life. Nadia had dreams of becoming a history teacher or opening her own beauty salon. Courageous . . . Anyone who wants to understand the so called Islamic State should read’ The Economist The ending was a major disappointment to me. Don't get me wrong, you have a wonderful HEA, but it was kind of rushed, and it was kind of a major twist. Now HERE was a point where you wouldn't have minded the author running on for a few more chapters. The WHAAAAAAT?!?! moments and twists and turns toward the end left me feeling totally dissatisfied. The pope also recommended reading Iraqi Yazidi Nobel Prize winner Nadia Murad’s book, The Last Girl, which he said he had read, commenting that “everything that the world thinks about women is concentrated there . . . However, the world cannot function without women,” he insisted’ La Croix International

Surpassingly valuable. . . . With her new book, The Last Girl, Nadia Murad has assumed the stature of an Elie Wiesel for her people. . . . As much as it is an account of the Yazidi genocide, the book is also a loving ode to a way of life that has now been all but obliterated.”— Jewish Journal And, meanwhile, the entire civilized world could not muster the courage to do something about this evil. Going into the book I knew it would be something I would enjoy as the synopsis grabbed my attention. But, I had no idea I’d love it as much as I have.

It’s a strange hollow feeling longing for a lost place makes you feel like you have also disappeared. We need to be more aware of not just of the Yazidis but other groups of people that are being tortured and annhilated throughout our world. I am loath to say this but we are the most destructive and cruel species in God's beautiful world. As we go through the story we see the dynamics and friendship grow, and get an even deeper look into his life. Felicity But when a sinister masked figure appears, Rachel realises that her past has caught up with her. It’s time for the ultimate prank to play out…” The Last Girl Characters

It’s got everything I need in a good story! Well written characters, a good plot, twists and turns, the lot!I don't understand how ISIS can use Yazidi women they capture as sex slaves when although their ISIS interpretation of the Q'uran says that unbeliever (kuffar) women can be used as such, but not Muslim ones, and they forcibly convert them first. If they are converted to Islam, how can they be called 'sabiya' (sex slaves) and raped and sold by many men, sometimes repeatedly in a day? At first I thought this would maybe be a prequel or sequel to The Last Girl because of the title. But sadly it’s not. Also read: Book Review: Raising Feminist Daughters: A 21st Century Guide By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Critics focused on the fact that the Iraq conflict was still ongoing at the moment the book was published. Subin wrote that the book is "difficult to process", that it contains "open wounds and painful lessons", and that it can be "co-opted for any number of political agendas". Subin also wrote that "it places Murad's tragedy in the larger narrative of Iraqi history and American intervention". According to Subin, the book is "intricate in historical context" to avoid being manipulated by sensationalism and Islamophobia. [7] Malek had "[no] doubt [that] controlling her story was part of [Murad's] motivation to tell it in this book". However, Malek opined that Murad harshly criticized Sunni Arabs for not standing up to ISIS and classified others as exceptions to the rule. [5] A teen who went through a traumatic event before moving to a new school in NYC, we follow along as Rachel comes to terms with what happened in her past and navigates the dynamics of a “rich kid” environment.

It is also a story of hope and determination. It also shows us the strength of the human spirit and drive to persevere in the face of great oppression. These two factors made reading the book difficult for me, but on completion, I am very glad to have read it. Being aware of what is happening in our world today is an individual’s responsibility. Media reportage informs but is insufficient; the book gives more depth and reveals the issues at stake. The pope also recommended reading Iraqi Yazidi Nobel Prize winner Nadia Murad's book, The Last Girl, which he said he had read, commenting that "everything that the world thinks about women is concentrated there . . . However, the world cannot function without women," he insisted' La Croix International At the end of THE LAST GIRL, you write, “I know now that I was born in the heart of the crimes committed against me.” What do you mean by that? Our story focuses on new girl Rachel who’s started at an exclusive school where her mum teaches. She is not naturally sociable, and the trauma of killing a masked invader to her old home is something Rachel does not want to share with anyone. She is befriended by Saundra who is desperate to fill her in on the school gossip, but then Rachel finds herself part of a secret club.a b Subin, Anna Della (January 18, 2018). "When Rape Becomes a Weapon of War". The New York Times . Retrieved November 11, 2018. Nadia Murad describes in the first part of the book what it means to be Yazidi. She describes the social structure, normative rules, the deep faith and living in harmony with the land and each other. Although a very patriarchal system, the women are treated with respect and love although holding much less power than the men. Nadia loves make-up, hair, her mother, her brothers. She is simple and caring but also fiery and protective. She is intensely likable and you want to teach her how to jump rope and laugh at her silly jokes. A feel-good book with a positive message throughout, Last Girl In highlights the advantages of believing in yourself. Teaching notes