ISIS Brides

Starred review from March 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* ISIS has taken the world's attention hostage with its frequent acts of terrorism and violence. The Crimes of ISIS series (4 titles) sheds light on how the group came to power, who is among its ranks, and what life is like under the organization's control. All these elements appear to some degree in this frank examination of the women and girls who have joined ISIS, some by choice, most by force. The group's basic history is given, and a clear delineation is provided between conservative, nonviolent sects of the Muslim faith and ISIS' extreme but twisted interpretation of the religion. Heing discusses the group's oppression of women, whose worth and purpose is restricted to being wives and mothers to soldiers. Stories of kidnapping, forced marriage, and abuse are candidly described, as are manipulative strategies of recruitment of women by women already in the group. The writing is never lurid, and it avoids blanket statements?something particularly evident as it covers women's escapes from ISIS. This resource goes beyond the headlines to broaden students' understanding of a complex but inescapable topic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)