Belonging - Sameem Ali

Abandoned by her parents, Sameem Ali spent six and a half years growing up in a children's home. When she was told that her family wanted to take her back she couldn't wait to start her new life with them. Instead, she returned to a dirty house where she was subjected to endless chores. Her mother began to beat her and her unhappiness drove her to self-harm. So Sameem was excited when she boarded a plane with her mother to visit Pakistan for the first time. It was only after they arrived in her family's village that she realised she wasn't there on holiday. Aged just thirteen, Sameem was forced to marry a complete stranger. When pregnant, two months later, she was made to return to Glasgow where she suffered further abuse from her family. After finding true love, Sameem fled the violence at home and escaped to Manchester with her young son. She believed she had put her horrific experiences behind her, but was unprepared for the consequences of violating her family's honour ...Belonging is the shocking true story of Sameem's struggle to break free from her past and fight back against her upbringing.

Zuitoun - Dave Eggers

In August 2005 Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of New Orleans city. Most residents had abounded the city before she struck, but Zuitoun stayed behind to look after the properties he had so carefully built and managed.  Whilst in the city he began to rescue some of his fellow neighbours and look after their dogs, however things were about to take an ugly turn. His wife who had fled to keep the family safe could only learn through brief phone calls and radio and TV broadcasts the horrors that were truly unfolding in the city.