Stephanie Jane recenzis Boy with Two Hearts de Hamed Amiri
An uplifting memoir
4 steloj
The Amiri family's story is one of incredible bravery and dedication to each other. Even before Hamed's mother, Fariba, made her inspiring playground speech criticising Afghanistan's Taliban regime, the Amiris already knew they would one day need to seek specialised healthcare in the UK for the eldest son, Hussein, to rectify his life-threatening heart condition. However, immediately after Fariba's speech, the need to escape overtook everything else meaning that the family swiftly sold everything they possessed in order to raise the funds necessary for their illicit journey. I was reminded of Massocki Ma Massocki's comments in Pride Of An African Migrant about the unimaginable amount of money that vanishes into traffickers pockets, year after year, by refugees and migrants desperate to escape their native countries.
The Amiris harrowing journey took eighteen months all told and I was humbled by their determination to reach their safe haven, despite all the obstacles …
The Amiri family's story is one of incredible bravery and dedication to each other. Even before Hamed's mother, Fariba, made her inspiring playground speech criticising Afghanistan's Taliban regime, the Amiris already knew they would one day need to seek specialised healthcare in the UK for the eldest son, Hussein, to rectify his life-threatening heart condition. However, immediately after Fariba's speech, the need to escape overtook everything else meaning that the family swiftly sold everything they possessed in order to raise the funds necessary for their illicit journey. I was reminded of Massocki Ma Massocki's comments in Pride Of An African Migrant about the unimaginable amount of money that vanishes into traffickers pockets, year after year, by refugees and migrants desperate to escape their native countries.
The Amiris harrowing journey took eighteen months all told and I was humbled by their determination to reach their safe haven, despite all the obstacles put in their way. It must at times seemed to have been an unachievable dream, especially with the ticking clock of Hussein's heart growing weaker as each day passed. Hamed writes beautifully of his relationship with his elder brother so I could strongly empathise with their plight.
The Boy With Two Hearts portrays life in Wales and England as I wish it could be for all refugees who arrive here. The family meet with kindness and understanding as they resettle in Cardiff, with the specialist heart department in Southampton being keen to do all they can for Hussein once they learn of his condition. In return, the Amiri boys give back to their new communities by way of voluntary service within the NHS, Hussein even winning an award for his unstinting efforts. I appreciated this depiction of the ways in which sheltering refugees can enhance the communities that take them in. The misguided nationalist narrative that refugees only take is proven very wrong here.
The Boy With Two Hearts is an uplifting memoir of young refugees and family unity which, I admit, did have me welling up at times. I liked Hamed's engaging prose style and I hope his memoir goes on to enjoy a wide readership across the UK. As one of a number of such memoirs I have now read, I think this tale would appeal to readers who enjoyed Butterfly by Yusra Mardini and The Journey by Abdul Musa Adam.