A House in the Sky

The dramatic and uplifting memoir of a woman whose curiosity took her to some of the most breathtaking locations on earth, to some of the most dangerous and endangered nations on earth, and then into fifteen months of terrifying captivity—a masterfully written tale of bravery, resiliency, and grace.

When Amanda Lindhout was younger, she used to flip through National Geographic magazines and picture herself in the magazine's far-off places as a way to escape her abusive home. When she was nineteen years old, she started putting money aside from her earnings as a cocktail server in Calgary, Alberta, with the goal of seeing the world. Her goal was to get a global perspective and have a meaningful life. She traveled extensively, backpacking across Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India. Inspired by her experiences, she continued her journey to Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan. As a television reporter, she honed her craft in war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq. She then made her way to Somalia, dubbed "the most dangerous place on earth," in August 2008. She was kidnapped on her fourth day along a sandy road by a gang of guys wearing masks.

After being held captive for 460 days, Amanda decides to become an Islamist in order to survive, gets "wife lessons" from one of her captors, and takes a chance on a risky escape. She is forced to go between a number of deserted homes and only lives by relying on her memory—every rich aspect of the world she knew before being taken prisoner—as well as on bravery, strategy, and hope. When she is at her most helpless, she goes to a home in the sky, located above the lady who is being tormented while wearing chains in the dark.

A House in the Sky is the searingly personal narrative of an adventurous young lady and her quest for compassion in the face of unfathomable suffering. It is vivid and thrilling, as masterfully written as the best fiction.