Translated from Italian by Anne Milano Appel, Giuseppe Catozzella's Don't Tell Me You're Afraid is based on the true story of Samia, a Somali girl whose passion is running. Set primarily in Mogadishu during the civil war, the eight-year-old begins to train with the help of her neighbor and best friend, Ali, who is also eight. Over the course of several years, they run through the streets of Mogadishu, or in the bullet-ridden stadium, always wary of the militant soldiers who lurk everywhere, always mindful that what they are doing is frowned upon by the militant Al-Shabaab. But nothing will stop Samia's determination to represent her country in the Olympics. Despite the lack of proper equipment, food and training, but with the support of her parents, Samia's dedication to becoming a world-class runner is rewarded when she runs the 200-meter race at the 2008 Beijing games. What transpires after her race only enhances her resolve to succeed regardless of the costs.
Catozella has carefully blended Samia's thoughts and actions with descriptions of her family members as they struggle to live a normal life in a war-torn country, sharing the plight of the thousands of refugees who have fled Somalia because of the conflict. He has taken a little-known story and turned it into a powerful message that portrays life, for women in particular, under the strict rules of an extreme Islamist regime, and also what ordeals people will go through in order to fulfill their dreams. --Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer