The Girl Who Beat Isis cover art

The Girl Who Beat Isis

Farida's Story

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Girl Who Beat Isis

By: Farida Khalaf
Narrated by: Lara Sawalha
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

About this listen

In August 2014, Farida Abbas was just a normal Yazidi girl living in a village high in the mountains of Northern Iraq. Then her village was attacked and swiftly taken by ISIS fighters, and her whole world changed. The jihadists murdered the men and the boys of her village, including her father and brothers, before taking Farida prisoner along with the rest of the women.

This is the story of what happened to Farida after she was captured: the beatings, the rapes, the markets where ISIS sold their female prisoners like cattle, and Farida's realisation that the more difficult and resistant she became, the harder it was for her captors to continue their atrocities against her. So she struggled, she bit, she kicked, she accused her captors of going against their religion, and then one day the door to her room was left unlocked. She took her chance along with five other women and set out across the Syrian desert....

This is a story of incredible courage in the face of unthinkable atrocity. As the battle against ISIS continues to ravage the Middle East, The Girl Who Beat Isis provides an astonishing perspective on this very terrifying global threat.

©2016 Farida Khalaf (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks Freedom & Security Gender Studies Islam Politics & Government Social Sciences War & Crisis Women Middle East Iran War Village
All stars
Most relevant  
loved it and the narrator did a fantastic job in painting the picture in my head.

A compelling and brave story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A poignant, first hand account of the terror campaign fuelled by religious arrogance and misinterpretation. Demons disguised as humans committing atrocities on innocent men women and children. This is the story of one amazing heroine and her escape from slavery, written and narrated in the gentlest possible way.

Extreme Brutality of ISIS

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really well written. You really get an idea of the mind boggling random cruelty of war and the war on women specifically. Does a great job at showing Isis to be the terrorist group it is. It also shows the use of religion and stigmatising of other ethnicities/religions to brain wash people into commuting atrocities.
I love and think it's important that the story starts with life before the take over by Isis, I can almost smell the flowers of their luscious and idyllic family garden. It allows you to understand the complete shock and confusion when you understand that the life she led before was just a normal teenage life.

Indescribably strong woman

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a story which needs to be heard, particularly in the current world climate. Thank you Farida for sharing your story

Truly, a must listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What an incredibly brave girl. I love that despite all she has been through she is still driven by her dream. I hope being a maths teacher has become your reality.

Fantastic read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
this was one ofnthe most unbelievable of stories reminds us to respect whatever we have instead for running for more.

tipping my virtual hat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If there was a higher mark than 5 to give, I would give it. Her story is truly inspiring, and makes everyday struggles seem like a walk in the park, without making you feel guilty for having a good life.

Amazing book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A valuable insight into current events. I am thankful this story has been shared with us

A must read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
the county I live in is safe and free hearing about her story opens my eyes to the struggles from different cultures and religion and I feel grateful yet sad that I have what I have a people struggle wrose than others.. it's a beautiful yet haunting relisation that your perfect world can come crumbling down at any moment...
you Wil love this book as I have and will have no regret about reating it .. I read it in one siting it was that enticing amd wanted more. enjoy as I have

eye opening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.