The road from Morocco

the long version

The true story of Saadia, a thirteen-year-old Arab girl wed against her will in a Morocco divided between French and Arab traditional cultures. Her struggle to win a divorce and pursue her independence paves the way for her children to leave for America. Wafa, her oldest daughter, thrives in male-dominated Wall Street until she discovers the land of freedom and opportunity does not shield them from a tragic destiny. A string of events, including a violent marriage, mental illness, the 9/11 terrorist attack, and the Iraq war, conspire to bring about Wafa's emotional breakdown followed by the end of her career. At last, the redemptive power of a newfound spirituality transforms Wafa's life as seen in this literary memoir that reads like a compelling novel.