Author Description

Born in poverty-stricken Albania, twin sisters Argita and Detina Zalli always dreamed of becoming doctors. Their parents scrimped and sacrificed, committed to giving them a better life. But then the unthinkable happened. In 1997, the government collapsed, plunging the country into anarchy and civil war. The twins' dream unraveled along with their homeland. Their parents had to find a way to leave and save their daughters' futures—not to mention their very lives. It took over two years for the Zalli family to escape. After several dangerous attempts, they finally made it to England, where the thirteen-year-old twins believed everything would be much better. They soon found out otherwise. Now refugees, with little more than the clothes on their backs, the girls were mercilessly bullied and constantly afraid they would be sent back to Albania, and their parents would be sent to jail. Still, the twins persevered and learned how to navigate their harsh new reality. When tragedy struck yet again, the girls had to come to terms with the high price they had all paid to survive. In Good Morning, Hope, Argita and Detina share their harrowing story of courage and resilience. It was the strength of their family, particularly the sisters' unique, unbreakable bond as twins, that nurtured and sustained them throughout their perilous ordeal.