Brave Face: Two Cultures, Two Families, and the Iraqi Girl Who Bound Them Together

This affecting memoir details the journey of an Iraqi girl coming to America after being injured during the Iraq War. In 2003, Teeba Furat, not quite two years old, suffered third-degree burns on her face, head, and hands from an IED explosion. Seeing her photo in the newspaper, Barbara Marlowe reached out to offer help finding her a wig. Soon, she was offering her home to Teeba, who came to live in Ohio, where she underwent surgeries to regenerate her skin. Marlowe and her husband marshalled a tremendous amount of their own financial resources to get Teeba medical care, schooling, and naturalized immigration status. Over 12 years, Teeba’s family in Iraq and the Marlowe family establish a bond. Their respective faiths—Muslim and Christian—reinforce that bond and serve as a point of similarity, not difference, and comes to strengthen their relationship. Interspersed throughout are Teeba’s reflections on her life: “Most American kids play hide-and-seek as a pastime, but when I was little, I played it as an escape from life-threatening situations.” Teeba’s suffering becomes a blessing for her parents: “All your memories with me, Teeba, were a lot of problems. But your memories with Mama Barbara are full of fun and good things,” her biological mother, Dunia, writes. While Teeba’s story has tragic beginnings, it is a potent example how of faith can bring healing and peace in the aftermath of devastation. (Mar.)