Good Morning, Hope

A True Story of Refugee Twin Sisters and Their Triumph Over War, Poverty, and Heartbreak

Non-Fiction - Memoir
252 Pages
Reviewed on 05/24/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Christine Nguyen for Readers' Favorite

Good Morning, Hope: A True Story of Refugee Twin Sisters and Their Triumph Over War, Poverty, and Heartbreak by Argita and Detina Zalli is a riveting story about hope and faith. Identical twins, Gita and Deti are young schoolgirls when their country, Albania, is plunged into violence and anarchy. Their lives are forever changed while their parents attempt to escape Albania for a better future. They flee to England in a harrowing plan traversing many European countries. Gita and Deti’s journey only gets more challenging as they face extreme bullying from classmates in school while working after hours to help pay off their family’s debt. Nevertheless, the twin girls continue striving to reach their dream of becoming physicians throughout the extreme hardships.

Gita and Deti write their memoir with such suspense that we feel how uncertain their lives are and the fear accompanying them every step of the way. Yet, despite the fear, they keep going and continue thriving. Seeing their resiliency in the face of so many obstacles at such a young age is moving. Good Morning, Hope delivers the feeling that as long as you have hope and faith, everything can and will be better. Argita and Detina Zalli paint their love for their family with vivid examples throughout of where they sacrificed for each other. This is an incredibly gripping and inspirational read that left me feeling uplifted and ready to face any challenge that came my way! So get ready for a pulse-pounding action-filled journey filled with love.

Bernadette Longu

In Good Morning Hope by Argita and Detina Zalli, the authors display a most heart-breaking, hopeful, tenacious strength not to give up, no matter what the circumstances are and what the costs emotionally and mentally as well as physically might be. Good Morning Hope takes the reader into a world where things have stood still due to the religious beliefs of the country and the refusal to change with the times. Leaving a country in a time warp but loving their country, they are thirsty to learn more and be more and return home to bring what they have learned to help their people. The story will catch the reader's attention from the first page to the last and they will find this is a book to be read again and again for inspiration in this world where greed is the norm of the day.

Argita and Detina Zalli take the reader by the hand and introduce them to the most important people in their lives. They show the reader how difficult it is for refugees to get help when fleeing their home country, which has gone haywire and bloodthirsty and is not safe for anyone to live there and earn a decent living. The authors have not shied away from revealing the true nature of some people, showing the bias and racism that a refugee encounters on their journey, even if they can speak the language of the country in which they are seeking safety. There will be tears and outrage and anger at how people take advantage of others when they are at their most vulnerable and the greed that knows no bounds. Yet amongst these people, there are those that help without even being asked, taking these refugees into their hearts and helping them. Argita and Detina Zalli also show that some refugees are just not ready to face and try to survive in a new country and a new world. I appreciate this glimpse into their journey from Albania to England and how their family blossomed and overcame all the obstacles that they encountered. It was a privilege that I will hold dear in my heart.

Maria Victoria Beltran

Good Morning, Hope: A True Story of Refugee Twin Sisters and Their Triumph Over War, Poverty, and Heartbreak is a memoir by Argita and Detina Zalli that sheds light on the refugee crisis, which has become the largest humanitarian and development crisis in the world today. The book consists of two parts, the first set in Albania and the second in England. The narrative unravels in March 1977, when the Albanian government collapsed, and the country was plunged into anarchy and civil war. The Zalli family, like many Albanians, decided to leave the country, but it took them two years to escape from the chaos. Determined to give their daughters a better future, they made several dangerous attempts and finally reached England. However, in their adopted country, the twins faced bullying in school and a constant fear of being sent back to Albania. This is their story.

Argita and Detina Zalli's Good Morning, Hope brings us into the family’s struggle and challenges as they leave their home country for an uncertain future. It is a powerful reminder of the value of democracy, which we sometimes take for granted, and the strength of the human spirit. This memoir is a testimony to the will and perseverance of refugees seeking a better life for themselves and their families. It highlights the strength of the family bond, which sustained them through their dangerous journey. Both compelling and inspiring, the story showcases the plight of refugees and their determination to survive against all odds. It is a poignant reminder that refugees are not just numbers but real people with stories of heartbreak, hope, and triumph. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the refugee crisis and the experiences of those forced to flee their homes. The Zalli sisters' story is one of hope, courage, and resilience that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.