Abrilliant,deeplyreportednarrativeaboutreligiousextremism,radicalization,andthebondsoffamily:thestoryofanAmericanwomanwhotraveledtoISIS-controlledSyriawithhertwochildrenandextremisthusbandandthesisterbackhomewhoworkedtirelesslytohelpherescape.RaisedinarestrictiveJehovah’sWitnesscommunityinArkansas,sistersLoriandSamSallyspenttheirteensandtwentiesmovingaroundtheSouthandMidwest,workinglow-wagejobsandfallinginandoutofrelationships.Caughtinaneternalsiblingrivalry--whereyounger,quieterLoriprotectedoutgoing,recklessSam--thetwowomeneventuallymarriedapairofbrothersandsettleddowninElkhart,Indiana,justaroundthecornerfromeachother.Anditwastherethattheirlivestotallydiverged.WhileLoriwasultimatelyabletoleaveherviolentmarriage,Samwasdrawndeeperintohers--anddeeperintothecontrolofahusbandwhoslowlyradicalized,viatheinternet,intoajihadist.WiththeirdaughterandSam’schildfromapreviousrelationship,thecouplemovedtoRaqqa,Syria,whereMoussafoughtforISISandSam,whoneverevenconvertedtoIslam,attemptedtosurviveandprotectherchildrenfromairstrikes,extremistindoctrination,andthebrutalityoftheISISsystem.InRaqqa,Sam’soldestsonappearedinseveralIslamicStatepropagandavideos,andsheparticipatedinISIS’spracticeofenslavingYezidiwomenandchildren.Samsaysherhusbandcoercedhertomove,butLori--whoquitherjobandworkedtirelesslytotrygetSamoutofSyria--isn’tsosure.AmericanGirlscombinesanin-depthexaminationofSamandLori’sliveswithon-the-groundreportingfromIraq,providingreaderswitharareglimpseintotheworldofAmericanwomenwhojoinISIS.Interweavingdeeplyreportednarrativedramawithexpertanalysis,thebookexploreshowthesubjugationandabuseexperiencedbywomenintheUnitedStates,womenlikeSamandLori,arethesamethemesthatenabletheriseofpatriarchal,extremistideologiesliketheoneespousedbyISIS.Fascinating,resonant,andmoving,AmericanGirlsisanunforgettablejourney--fromsmall-townArkansastoRaqqa,fromdomesticabusetoamilitantterroristorganization--alltoldthroughtheextraordinarystoryoftwoclose,complicatedsisters.
