Customer Reviews

Saved by Her Enemy: An Iraqi woman's journey from the heart of war to the heartland of America

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I was fortunate enough to read a pre-released copy of this book. Authors Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak write a compelling and moving story that transcends all cultural and political boundaries. This book is important and timely to the world in which we are now living. The book made me cry and also laugh out loud as I was reminded that no matter who we are or where we are, we are called to love.


Janee Tomlinson

If you have been a viewer of network news over the past decade, you are more than likely familiar with the reporting of Don Teague ([...]). He is currently a correspondent for CBS News, and appears regularly on the `CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,' `The Early Show,' and `Sunday Morning'; prior to that network, he was employed by NBC, and appeared regularly on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams (and Mr. Williams' predecessor, Tom Brokaw), the Today Show, and NBC's cable news network, MSNBC.

Don Teague is the coauthor, with Rafraf Barrak, of the new release, `Saved by Her Enemy: An Iraqi's Woman's Journey From the Heart of War to the Heartland of America.' This interesting book tells the amazing story of Ms. Barrak, who was born in Baghdad, Iraq. She was the fifth child in a family that would grow to ten children. Rafraf's interesting first name was bestowed upon her by her father. He found the word in the Koran; she would be named after one of Allah's promises - the paradise to come. She was a student at Baghdad University until the time that the university had to be shut down (due to the war), then was employed by NBC as a translator. Mr. Teague worked with her when he was assigned as a war correspondent there in 2004. Ms. Barrak was raised as a Muslim, although she did have a rebellious streak (don't we all?!).

Rafraf and Don developed a strong bond after they survived a bomb attack at a school in Baghdad on February 16, 2004. One of the bombs detonated; the one nearest them had a faulty detonator - sparing their lives.

Mr. Teague interprets the events of that day this way:

"I supposed it could have been luck, but to me the incident at the school had God's fingerprints all over it. I believe he can and does intervene in human events. I don't pretend to understand his timing or his ways, but I believe God allows some things for a purpose.
But what purpose? I thought to myself." (p. 174)

As time went on, and Mr. Teague returned to the United States, the Iraqis who worked in concert with Americans were in danger on a more and more regular basis; it was a matter of vengeance to the insurgents. Don promised Rafraf that he would do what he could do to help Rafraf gain entry into the United States. She ultimately did arrive in the United States, and was welcomed into the Teague home as a member of their family by Don and his wife Kiki and their daughters, Rachael and Madison. They truly exemplified the love of Christ to this young Muslim woman who had been indoctrinated by the Iraqi culture to think of Americans as being evil and vengeful toward her people.

I found this book to be very well-written; it had a conversation tone to it. The parts which were written by Mr. Teague were in the first person; the sections written about Ms. Barrak were written in the third person. I came away from this book admiring both of these people. Don and his family lived out their faith, and Rafraf displayed an intelligence and confidence that were beyond expectation when you consider her background.

One paragraph that is particular poignant to me is this:

"We [Don and his wife, Kiki] both believe what we do on earth matters, but what's most important is what happens next. Where does your soul go? For us the answer is accepting Jesus. He is the way to God and he paid a price we could never afford. He loved us so much that he came down to walk with us, show us love and mercy and demonstrated through the cross that he had victory over death and that he wanted us to be with him forever in heaven. All we had to do was believe and accept the gift." (p.
279)

I was amazed and intrigued by this book for several reasons. For one thing, I was so happy to see that Don Teague, with his high profile, is so open about his faith in Jesus Christ. It is heartwarming to me that, in this postmodern age, he is willing to share his faith in such a public forum as this book. And I am grateful that Rafraf discovered the ultimate truth and love and salvation of Jesus Christ; His Holy Spirit met her right where she was! If we never have the opportunity to meet on this earth, I look forward to rejoicing with them in heaven! And I will continue to pray that they will be blessed in their endeavors to share their story.

This book was provided to me by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., for review purposes.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]

This was an incredible book with unexpected turns on every page. I couldn't put it down. If it weren't for a busy week last week I would have finished it in a day! I highly recommend this (sometimes too) real picture of an iraqi's perspective on America and the things that we as Americans could never understand!

I'm thankful and enlightened after reading this story. It left me wanting more!

I HIGHLY recommend this book!

I am fortunate to know Don and Kiki Teague through our shared church in Dallas. I knew some of Don and Rafraf's story and have been eagerly anticipating this book...but as Ann Curry says in the foreword, I suspect I did not know the depths of Don Teague! This is quite an unforgettable tale.

Mr. Teague's writing style is enjoyable to read...personal, humorous at times, always straightforward and on-target with the emotion of the moment. He is a natural and compelling storyteller and I finished this book as fast as my one year old would let me! I appreciated that although the story occurred in the midst of the Iraq war, he managed to keep his politics hidden and tell a human story (which ironically, is what he hoped to cover in Iraq in the first place...human stories of goodness in the midst of turmoil).

I enjoyed the alternating points of view between Don and Rafraf. It transported me inside the Iraq war to a place I would never have the privilege to see otherwise. They were in danger every day and it gave me a new appreciation for journalists who risk their lives to report stories. There are many roadblocks along the way that seem insurmountable...will she even survive? How will they ever get her to the States? It was wonderful to see God's goodness as Don and his family simply walked in faith that said "we are supposed to help this girl, you've put her on our heart God, so you will work it out". He and his NBC colleagues did some pretty heroic things for this young woman. Where many of us would have stood by and watched, Don took action. It is very touching to witness.

I especially enjoyed seeing the war from the view of an Iraqi woman. To see her sadness as she encounters the internet and learns how Iraq is viewed by the rest of the world. To see her shock that other countries' presidents don't kill people who disagree with them. To see prejudices fall away as she forms friendships with American journalists and fellow students. And just to see her "feistiness"...she is an ordinary twenty-something woman we can relate to, who chases boys and has insecurities. She is clever and thoughtful and I immediately warmed to her.

Although faith is certainly a component of this story, it is so much more than a "Christian" book and I think that people from all walks of life would be amazed by Don and Rafraf's story. Great book!

If I did not have children I would have read this book in one sitting! This book is a serious page turner that you will not want to put down. The reader gets a first person narrative of life as a reporter embedded in the Iraq war, a behind the scenes look at the NBC Bureau in Iraq, life in Iraq while US bombs are raining overhead, and an incredible journey of a young woman leaving everything she's known to seek refuge with an American family in the US. From the first sentence you are pulled into the story and you do not want to put it down. Anyone looking for a captivating, emotional, and fast paced read will find it in this book. Highly recommend!!

Saved By Her Enemy completely had me hooked from the beginning. It was captivating, funny, uplifting, and really made me feel like I was there experiencing the story along with Don and RafRaf. I was engrossed from start to finish and finished the book with a new perspective and understanding of life in Iraq and what it really means to be free.

Saved By Her Enemy begins with Don and RafRaf together in a car as they flee a school bombing in Iraq. The book then jumps back to tell the backstories of both Don as an NBC News Correspondent and RafRaf as a young woman growing up in Iraq. Later in the book the two meet when RafRaf is hired by NBC as a translator. Even though I knew the ending before I read the book, I was completely on the edge of my seat as Don and RafRaf were doing everything they could to get her out of Iraq and out of the imminent danger she was in.

It's not every day that you get to see what life is like in either of these areas (as a journalist or as an Iraqi) and the perspective that Saved By Her Enemy offered was just incredible.

Saved By Her Enemy is definitely a must-read book that I would highly recommend to anyone.

Wow! I finished the book this morning and the truth is right now, I find it hard to put my thoughts and feelings into words. Nothing seems adequate. The war and Don and Rafraf's experiences with the danger and bombings and the constant fear - Don took me right there. And the way Don and Rafraf's friendship grew - so heartwarming. But the most moving to me was Don's faith journey - how he believed God was calling him to something, his willingness to do whatever it was. His faith to believe for the impossible. His humility in telling this extraordinary journey. Rafraf's courage to leave ALL she had ever known behind and go to the land of what she was taught all her life was her enemy. And of course Kiki and their daughters. I was afraid, I laughed, I cried. Ultimately, my heart is happy with the outcome and I am so thankful for a book like this that shares our true Christian faith.

Don Teague, a war correspondent, worked for a time in the dangerous streets of Iraq during the Iraq war. At the NBC offices in Baghdad, he met the young Iraqi Muslim woman, Rafraf Barrak, who was fluent in English and employed as a translator to the Americans at NBC. Rafraf accompanied Don on numerous assignments which were life-threatening due to unexpected bombings and ambushes, as well as high-speed driving on roads without working traffic lights.

In readable and often suspenseful prose, Don Teague alternately tells his own story and recounts Rafraf's experience, as well as their growing friendship. We learn about life in her family of ten children, where none have beds, and sleep on roofs in 120 degree weather - a bit risky during bombings. We learn how females are treated as second class citizens, hiding their hair under scarves, and restricted in their interactions with men. We watch Rafraf bond with Don playing "Text-Twist," and slowly alter her perceptions of Americans, whom she had learned were all versions of "Mr. John" - the terrifying American bogeyman determined to kill all Iraqis.

We also experience her confusion as she begins to view her own country and conditioning through new eyes: "Saddam Hussein was second only to Allah. He was the most powerful man in the world.... Somewhere Saddam was massing the greatest army in history. He would soon sweep back into Baghdad, retaking the city and the country in days... Rafraf believed it until the day she discovered Google.... Her country was not, she determined, the center of the universe."

As insurgents targeted Iraqis working for Americans, and Rafraf refused to obey her father's demand that she quit working at NBC, her situation became increasingly dangerous. So Don arranged to get her out of Iraq. Not only did he bring her to his own family in Atlanta (later Texas), he also helped her get a fellowship. In the last quarter of the book, we follow her to America, where she experiences culture shock - big trees, skyscrapers, escalators, pet dogs. She learns to ride a bicycle, discovers that Jews are human beings not monsters, and finds that God is present in American churches as well as mosques.

Don Teague is a talented storyteller, convincingly portraying war-torn Iraq and honestly sharing his personal experience, including his faith, his "calling" in regard to helping Rafraf, and his struggles with her "high maintenance" boy-crazy behavior once she arrives in America. But we are left primarily with the impression of Don's kind, altruistic nature, and of Rafraf's admirable courage and determination.

Saved by Her Enemy is a fascinating read. Its Christian subtext might be off-putting to non-Christians, but Don Teague's attitude of loving humanitarianism permeates the book at least as much as his faith. I found myself thinking that he was quite naive for a news correspondent, convinced as he was that the U.S. was in Iraq only to restore democracy. I also had difficulty understanding how Rafraf could be so chummy with the male NBC reporters, given her upbringing, and wished that we had heard more of her viewpoint. But these are minor quibbles, and do not detract from my enthusiastic recommendation of this moving, well-written narrative.

I loved this book for so many reasons... hard to know where to start. First of all if you've ever watched the network correspondents in war zones and wondered how they did it? Here's your answer. Secondly... it gives such insight into what Iraqis were thinking as we touched down in their country. It's a story that tests cultures, faith, and then shows how they come together. I had to order two... one to pass around to friends and one to keep at home!

It's embarrassing to review of a book I haven't finished but I simply could not get through this book and after three or four tries I gave up - life's too short. It's an intriguing story to be sure and I was looking forward to reading it but the author's writing style is just not riveting, or even (for me), readable. As another reviewer points out it's all told from his point of view - and it's "Rafraf said this" or "Rafraf did that" - very stiff and repetitive with neither variety nor fluidity in the sentences. I never felt I got to know either character except superficially. It's obviously an exciting story but not an exciting telling.