Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

The Daughters of Kobani is an unforgettable and nearly mythic tale of women’s power and courage. The young women profiled in this book fought a fearsome war against brutal men in impossible circumstances—and proved in the process what girls and women can accomplish when given the chance to lead. Brilliantly researched and respectfully reported, this book is a lesson in heroism, sacrifice, and the real meaning of sisterhood. I am so grateful that this story has been told.

Absolutely fascinating and brilliantly written, The Daughters of Kobani is a must read for anyone who wants to understand both the nobility and the brutality of war.  This is one of the most compelling stories in modern warfare.  

One of America’s premier storytellers has risked her life to research perhaps the most important subject of our times: the empowerment of women and the establishment of a truly egalitarian society. Documenting the extraordinary struggles of a small group of women battling ISIS, Lemmon has shown us unequivocally what female leadership can do for a society. It is breathtaking to behold.

The extraordinary and humbling story of the women leading the fight against ISIS

The Daughters of Kobani is real-time history told with rigor and heart.  Marrying two important narratives—the United States’s entry into the Syrian conflict from the air and the lived experience of Syrians fighting ISIS on the ground, it is a remarkable contribution.”

Moving and inspiring, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon vividly recounts the astonishing story of the all-women’s army that fought and died to stop ISIS. Fiercely brave women whose courage is unforgettable.”

The Daughters of Kobani is proof of the power of women to shape their future and the power of girls to create the world in which they want to live. The brave example these women have set against the longest odds should inspire us all.

This passionate and incisive book takes us into the radically brave hearts of the women who fought ISIS. The Daughters of Kobani is a gift to the women of the Middle East and to us, inscribing their sacrifice onto the history of a war no one will soon forget.

The Women’s Protection Units (the YPJ) proved their heroism time and again throughout the campaign against the Islamic State. I was always concerned that our Syrian Kurdish partners would never get their full due; this excellent book by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon documents their contributions perfectly. I strongly recommend it.