A Promise to Nadia

"This is a harrowing story about a sister and mothers fight to free Nadia (sister/daughter) from a forced marriage in Yemen. It is the follow on story to SOLD (a compelling read) but I think it definately should be read AFTER Sold, otherwise the story will be less meaningfull. I am so sorry for what this family has been through, it just shouldn't have happened. It is a compelling read but distressing, I feel quite angry and helpless knowing that Nadia is still a prisoner...."
~ Written on 2008-06-20

""A Promise to Nadia" is the heartbreaking sequal to the international best-seller "Sold" in which Zana Muhsen told her tear-jerking story of how she and her younger sister Nadia were sold as Yemeni brides and slaves by their evil father, and although after 8 horroendous years of torture and toil Zana escaped her life of torment, her story does not end there.

A Promise to Nadia charts Zanas struggles as she desperatly tries to rebuild her life in England. Having been forced to leave behind her baby boy in the Yemen in order to return home, Zana's heartbreak over her lost son is tangible. Despite the fact she now has a loving partner and three adorable children, her story does not have the happy ending she so richly deserves. While the family were moved out of the desolate Mokbana Mountains at the end of Sold, since Zana's depature, Nadia and her three children have been taken back to the Mountains where her life of slavery continues.

Zana's book tells the story of her family's desperate pleas to governments who refused to listen, red tape and foriegn beaurocracy, and racial abuse from some of the worlds most prominant leaders. Con men have ripped them off, Governments have ignored them, and organisations have made false promises that came to nothing. Nadia now has 6 children, despite the fact that Doctors warned her after the birth of her second child Tina that one more could kill her. Any one of these births, under primitive conditions with no Medical intervention could have killed her. She weighs under six stones, walks with a servere limp and her skin is ravaged by the heat. Anyone who read sold should read this book. The haunting images on the front cover of "Sold" and "APTN" is of Nadia. That desperate look of despair, pain and fear crossed Nadia's veiled face when asked if she would like to go home to Britain. The image itself speaks a thousand words. This book is as heartbreaking as sold ever was, because neither of these girls despite their bravery and determination have got their happy ending. I wish Zana would write another book so we can see what Nadia's situation is and if her devoted big sister ever did forfill her solemn Promise to Nadia!"
~ Written on 2007-01-01

"It was good to read the continuation and learn the outcome of Nadia. However, i felt there was not much progress for poor Zana to get her sister back to the UK which was a shame.

This book was written more so for the update of what promotional activity and publicity is being used to generate awareness of Nadia and Zana's story and how the media and publicity effected Zana in being able to meet her sister and bring her home. Her sister (nadia) showed (maybe by force of her husband)that she didnt want the publicity and she was effected by the way her sister created a scene, which didnt make things easier for Zana.
Nadia and the media were not sure whether Zana wanted to sell more books and generate more income or bring her sister back home. It was lost somewhere in-between and even the media felt the book was misleading and edited to enhance Zana story more. "
~ Written on 2006-09-08

"when i read this books i can not believe that such of things happen in the midlle of this years and i was shocked how you can be forced to live with someone you even know to marry and start a family i do not have words for this but hope for Zana and her family. Good look."
~ Written on 2006-03-03

"I couldn't put this book down. What those poor girls have been through and of course Nadia is still living the nightmare is nothing short of barbaric. The treatment of this family by the British Authorities is shameful, i don't think I have ever felt so angry and passionate about anything in my life. I only hope the next book will be about Nadia's freedom!!"
~ Written on 2004-06-10