An eye-opening memoir from Abdi Iftin that truly highlights the struggles of a young Somali trying to survive a life under Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group thriving on disorder and chaos in Africa, while also tryibg to find a new life in America. Abdi does an amazing job bringing these events to light leading me to do my own research about life in his home-country, as I am sadly and completely ignorant to the foreign affairs of Somalia or Kenya. The extreme difficulty of trying to get to America is brought forth well and addressed in detail which entices the American reader to ponder our immigration policies and speculate that it may lead to those unlucky foreigners (because lets face it, Abdi persevered for sure, but he was extremely lucky) to seek an illegal route into our country. The author brings home the fact that America is not what is seems from the outside, although American struggles may be different then those from other lands, it's problems are deep and just as real. A good read that taught me some new things

5 out of 5 🌟 Life as we don't know it

'Call Me American' made me astounded since page one. It a memoir of Abdi Nor Iftin, a Somalian man who immigrated from his home country to the USA. The story starts with Abdi's parents who were nomads living in Somalian wilderness herding camels, hunting and, occasionally, fighting with lions and hyenas. His family has settled in the city of Mogadishu where their hard-enough life was brutally interrupted by the war in 1993 and - long story short - anarchy that comes after. Abdi has been always fascinated with American culture and taught himself English watching Hollywood movies. His lifelong dream was to move to the United States and this memoir tells the story of his long and dangerous journey through war and bureaucracy.

This book left me speechless and while I'm gathering my words to write this review, I know I won't be able to do it right. 'Call Me American' tells about a life that's an exact opposite of anything I understand. It gathers all the stories I've ever encountered about the horrible events happening in Africa and puts them together as a background to real people's life.
I remember watching the movie 'Black Hawk Down' with my girlfriends because Orlando Bloom was playing there and everyone I knew had a crush on him... And here's the testimony of that very accident saw from an opposite perspective of someone my age... I can't even... 🤯*mind blown*

All I can write is that memoir is beautifully written, it's fascinating and I read it in just one day. Non-stop. Not to mention my giant book hangover after. The title is packed with cruel images and violence but without detailed description (hence YA adaptation), just enough to show the historical reality without inducing nightmares.

<i>Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.</i>

This was an engaging story about a young man's determined efforts to escape the horrors of his life to reach America. I love that he never gave up on his dream of becoming an American Citizen. The odds were not in his favor, yet with the help of many kind persons, he overcame them all.

It did not take me long at all to finish this book. Call Me American is a book to read for anyone who has a dream. This book captivated me from start to finish. Abdi has a natural talent for telling stories and making the reader connect with them. A gift that he most certainly inherited from his mother. As soon as I started to read, the descriptions were so powerful that it made me feel like I was right there living with Abdi through all the good and bad times that his family experienced. It was very interesting learning about the Somali Culture. Before reading this book, I had not known anything about the Somali Culture. It was fascinating reading about nomad life and life in the city.of Mogandishu. The way that he described the food mad my mouth water and want to try everything. It was amazing how his dream of coming to America is what held him together during the war torn years of his life. Abdi Nor Iftin is the true essence of the American Dream. I would recommend anyone to read this book! It was such an incredible story! I give this book a five out of five stars.

CW: war-related violence, many mentions of rape, PTSD

Add this to your TBR as soon as possible. This version of the book is adapted for young adults, but make no mistake - the story is so raw and personal. The violence and the realities of Somalia are laid out very clearly; this is not an attempt to make Abdi's story "easier" to read. At times, it is incredibly heartbreaking to read as you journey through life with Abdi and his family who encounter one tribulation after the next. Each time something works out in their favor, I could not help but be filled with joy for them. I will definitely be seeking out similar stories to further my education on the events described throughout this book.

This is such an inspirational journey. I learned so much from this book. His story is pretty incredible and shows us how out humanity connects us all. A powerful read.

This book was a timely read given everything that is ongoing in our society. I was too young to remember much of the Somali crises, but this read was informative and necessary. It brought a first-hand experience to the forefront of an overlooked war. Many students have never and will never know anything like this (or even about this!), and that's why I feel that this book is a necessary read. It approaches incredibly difficult topics with honesty, treating even young readers as capable and intelligent enough to hear the truth. While I'm sure there are situations he left out, experiences that may be "too much" for young adults, I appreciate that he values young adults enough to share his difficult journey with them in a way that can help them change their view of the world around them. It was beautifully written and a true testament to what the human spirit can endure, especially with hard work, faith, and optimism even in the worst of circumstances.