Butterflyistheinspiringstoryofhowonewomansavedfellowrefugeesfromdrowning--andhowshewentontobecomeanOlympicswimmer.WhenyoungSyrianrefugeeYusraMardinirealizedherboat’sengineshutdownasshewastravelingfromSyriatoGreecewithotherrefugees,therewasnohesitation:shedoveintothewater.Surfacing,shehearddesperateprayersandsobbingfromthepassengersinthesinkingboataboveher.Betweenthewaves,hereldersisterSarahscreamedathertogetbackontheboat.ButMardiniwasdetermined.ShewasnotgoingtoletSarahdothisalone.Grabbingtheropewithonehand,shebegankickinguptheblackwater,inchingtheboattowardsthedistantshore.ThisboldactofbraverysavedthelivesofaboatloadofrefugeesheadingtoTurkeyfromSyria.AfterherarrivalinGreece,Mardini,focusedandundeterred,workedtowardalifelonggoal:tocompeteintheOlympics.Shesucceeded,andcompetedin2016ontheRefugeeOlympicTeaminRiodeJaneiro.Butterflytellsherstory,fromSyriatotheOlympicstohercurrentworkwiththeUNasaGoodwillAmbassador.Mardiniiseagertotellherstoryinthehopesthatreaderswillrememberthatrefugeesareordinarypeopleinextraordinarycircumstances,chasedfromtheirhomesbyadevastatingwar.Intoday’spoliticalclimate,thisstoryisguaranteedtoinspireandeducatereadersfromeverybackground.
