Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Kidnapped: A Diary of My 373 Days In Captivity

Author: Leszli Kalli

Publisher: Atria Books (a trademark of Simon & Schuster)

ISBN: 978-0-7432-9131-6

Leszli Kalli, who was born and grew up in Colombia, has since left her native country and is studying towards a degree in English and graphic design.

Boarding a plane to travel to Israel where work beckoned, Leszli had no idea of the horrors that awaited her. Just a simple plane journey should not have ended how it did.

Sitting three rows apart from her father, Laszlo, who was accompanying her to Israel, Leszli watched as the clouds pasted by, thinking of her forthcoming life.

Suddenly out of nowhere and without much warning, three men spring up from their seats and place black scarves upon their heads while a man points a pistol at one of the flight attendants.

Paralyzed with immense fear, confusion and worry, Leszli cannot understand what these men are doing. Is this a hijack? What the hell is going on…

Within a matter of hours, the true impact of Leszli and her father’s fate has left the eighteen-year-old numb and ultimately devastated. To think that such people are capable of such acts! However for Leszli’s father, he is not as surprised. He warns his daughter that this is indeed a kidnapping and she’d be wise to just do what these kidnappers, a guerrilla group say. These hijackers land the plane and frightened but trusting her father, Leszli has no choice but to obey the men’s commands as they are pushed further and further into a dense, hot and alien world.

As they embark on their new habitat, namely a Colombian jungle, Leszli and her father’s relationship slowly grows stronger. Never being very close in the beginning doesn’t exactly help but with time, they must learn to overcome this great obstacle by sticking together.

Leszli, naïve at first, expects a helicopter to fly over and pick them up or at the very least, these men would eventually take the passengers to where they are meant to be going. Then the hijackers said the kidnapped crew would arrive safely at their destination although perhaps a little late.

But as hours become days and days spiral into months, their hopes of getting out of the jungle or at the very least a rescue, becomes scarce. Leszli must learn to tackle the boredom and the sheer devastation of what has happened knowing she might never see the rest of her family again.

This is an absolutely amazing, compelling and tear-jerking book. To read someone’s misfortune like what happened to Leszli made me feel very humble and appreciate things more than I could ever have imagined. To grow up for just over a year being held as captive and in a place as she did, Leszli went into the jungle as a girl and emerged as a clever, intelligent young woman was incredible.  I saw so many parts of me in Leszli so much so I felt we had been separated a long time ago as close sisters. Her views and takes on life and especially on animals are just the same as mine.

Refusing to eat meat even when hungry and helping a poor bird when its wing gets broken, Leszli is a person of pure and unadulterated love. If only the rest of us could be like her, I think the world would be a better, happier and safer place.

To sum this book up, it is the spiritual journey of a woman’s providence who stares devastation in the face and changes it to a positive and at times, beautiful experience.

Refreshing, up-lifting and totally addictive, this is one book that touches your soul and reminds us that there is hope for a brighter future. Truly sensational.

The above review was contributed by:  Jessica Roberts: Jessica has been a book reviewer for a newspaper and a national women's magazine and is working on a novel. To read more of Jessica's reviews CLICK HERE