Defiant Dreams

The memoir chronicles the inspiring journey of Sola Mahfouz, an Afghan girl who defied the oppressive Taliban regime to pursue education. Born in 1996, she faced severe restrictions on women’s rights, including forced confinement and threats against her schooling. Determined to change her fate, Sola secretly taught herself math and English, eventually studying advanced subjects. Her resilience led her to escape to the U.S. in 2016, where she now thrives as a quantum computing researcher, embodying the aspirations of countless women seeking freedom and opportunity.