JULY 2019 - AudioFile
Author Isha Sesay narrates her experience of reporting on the return of the Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, the extremist group in Nigeria. Genuine passion infuses her delivery—she turns this audiobook into a feminist speech of sorts. She shares her personal experiences with relatives who grew up in Nigeria who encountered circumstances similar to those of the abductees. Sesay's tone is searingly personal as she contrasts her own upbringing as the child of immigrants in England with those of the girls she becomes obsessed with finding over a period of two years. This is a riveting volume that celebrates survival. M.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
It is no accident that the places in the world where we see the most instability are those in which the rights of women and girls are denied. Isha Sesay’s indispensable and gripping account of the brutal abduction of Nigerian schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists provides a stark reminder of the great unfinished business of the 21st century: equality for girls and women around the world.” — Hillary Rodham Clinton
“Isha Sesay has given us a gift in this account of the Stolen Chibok Girls of Nigeria. More than reportage, it is equal parts memoir, thriller, and inspirational call to arms for the defense of the rights of women and girls, and the civilization that honors them. I am proud to call her my friend, and I hope you give yourself the gift of her book.” — Meryl Streep
“A gorgeously-written story of sisterhood and survival, Beneath the Tamarind Tree is Isha Sesay’s masterpiece: a riveting and hope-filled account of a horrific event, filled with stories of bravery and verve, and fortified by Isha’s unparalleled access and instinctual humanism as a reporter. By lifting the distinct voices of these brave young women—and telling a largely untold story as only she could tell it—this book is essential reading, as inspiring as it is informative.” — Don Lemon
“Rich details and dedicated, courageous reporting create a powerful tale of faith, love, and loss.” — Kirkus (starred review)
“Great for readers who want to learn more about African gender politics, the history of Boko Haram, and women in the media.” — Library Journal
“The most intimate portrait yet of what happened to the Chibok girls between abduction and rescue. […] Sesay has done yeoman work in earning the trust of the girls, enabling her to recount their experiences with rare empathy.” — Boston Globe
“This book matters because it tells a gut-wrenching story, as relatable as a story about he deranged gunmen who come into our children’s schools in the United States again and again. […] At its core, it is a story about mothers and daughters, and its emotional spine is the story of Sesay’s relationship to her own mother.” — The New York Times Book Review
Don Lemon
A gorgeously-written story of sisterhood and survival, Beneath the Tamarind Tree is Isha Sesay’s masterpiece: a riveting and hope-filled account of a horrific event, filled with stories of bravery and verve, and fortified by Isha’s unparalleled access and instinctual humanism as a reporter. By lifting the distinct voices of these brave young women—and telling a largely untold story as only she could tell it—this book is essential reading, as inspiring as it is informative.
Meryl Streep
Isha Sesay has given us a gift in this account of the Stolen Chibok Girls of Nigeria. More than reportage, it is equal parts memoir, thriller, and inspirational call to arms for the defense of the rights of women and girls, and the civilization that honors them. I am proud to call her my friend, and I hope you give yourself the gift of her book.
Boston Globe
The most intimate portrait yet of what happened to the Chibok girls between abduction and rescue. […] Sesay has done yeoman work in earning the trust of the girls, enabling her to recount their experiences with rare empathy.
The New York Times Book Review
This book matters because it tells a gut-wrenching story, as relatable as a story about he deranged gunmen who come into our children’s schools in the United States again and again. […] At its core, it is a story about mothers and daughters, and its emotional spine is the story of Sesay’s relationship to her own mother.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
It is no accident that the places in the world where we see the most instability are those in which the rights of women and girls are denied. Isha Sesay’s indispensable and gripping account of the brutal abduction of Nigerian schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists provides a stark reminder of the great unfinished business of the 21st century: equality for girls and women around the world.
JULY 2019 - AudioFile
Author Isha Sesay narrates her experience of reporting on the return of the Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, the extremist group in Nigeria. Genuine passion infuses her delivery—she turns this audiobook into a feminist speech of sorts. She shares her personal experiences with relatives who grew up in Nigeria who encountered circumstances similar to those of the abductees. Sesay's tone is searingly personal as she contrasts her own upbringing as the child of immigrants in England with those of the girls she becomes obsessed with finding over a period of two years. This is a riveting volume that celebrates survival. M.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2019-04-28
A longtime CNN Africa reporter delivers a close-up report on the Chibok girls, attempting to bring their story "full circle" and "resurrect public interest in this mass abduction."
On April 14, 2014, the extremist group Boko Haram stormed into a predominately Christian school in Chibok, Nigeria, and kidnapped 276 schoolgirls. This event triggered worldwide press coverage, but as the months wore on and the girls didn't return home, the world's attention turned elsewhere. Fortunately, award-winning journalist Sesay—the former host of CNN Newsroom Live From Los Angeles who spent more than a decade reporting on Africa for the network—didn't forget this story, and she offers a compelling, empathetic tale that focuses on the lives of four of the Chibok girls and their immediate family members. The author, who grew up in Sierra Leone and Britain, intertwines her thoughts and feelings regarding the kidnapping with the history of the region, the political, social, and economic events that gave rise to Boko Haram, and the personal accounts of Priscilla, Dorcas, Mary, and Saa. Sesay's attention to detail places readers with the girls under a giant tamarind tree, one of their many naturally made prisons deep in the Sambisa forest, where they scrounged for food and water and fought off the constant demands of their captors to convert to Islam. Although many of the girls did convert and have not been heard from since, a greater portion remained steadfast in their Christian beliefs. The author also explains what the Nigerian government has done to find the missing girls. She notes that, in the beginning, many Nigerians believed the abduction was "no more than an elaborate hoax with political objectives." The joyous homecoming of 21 of the Chibok girls in 2016 prompted Sesay to compile her notes on this fascinating and emotionally charged telling of the girls' story, which will hopefully put those still missing back into the limelight.
Rich details and dedicated, courageous reporting create a powerful tale of faith, love, and loss.
