“Not without my daughter.” That was the promise Betty Mahmoody made 20 years ago when she smuggled herself and her child out of Iranian captivity. Her astonishing story was detailed in an excellent book and movie that fascinated millions.

I, too, was swept up, and over the years I have wondered what happened to them. Betty’s daughter, now a grown woman in her 30’s, has finally broken her silence in a new memoir, My Name is Mahtob.

Mahtob Mahmoody’s life story is truly one of a kind. From experiencing terrible abuse at the hands of her Iranian father and his family, to being part of a daring escape, to becoming an international celebrity at age 6—it seems more like a novel’s plot than a real person.

But this brave lady is real and she has overcome terrible hardships: constant panic attacks, Lupus, an insatiable public’s curiosity, and a pervasive fear that her estranged father would return to America and kidnap her.

While dealing with all of these challenges, Mahtob wanted nothing more than to have a normal life. She writes a great deal about settling in Michigan, her loving relationships with her grandparents and extended family, and wanting to excel in school.

Because Mahtob and I are close in age, I could easily identify with many of her childhood loves (Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite, Care Bears, etc). Like any other America girl, she wanted to be free and have fun—something that’s impossible in the Persian dictatorship.

Away from Iran, she was technically free, but fear of her father kept her looking over her shoulder. She and Betty had to move often and during their frequent travels to promote the book/movie, they were threatened. (My heart really went out to them. Nobody should have to live like that!)

No matter how much time passed, a terrible shadow remained. Periodically, Mahtob’s father would attempt to make contact with her through relatives and a film crew. His intentions were always selfish and he never once took responsibility for what he did to her. Because of that, she refused to even consider a reconciliation. When he died in 2009, some of the fear vanished but the pain remains the same.

While fans of the Mahmoody saga will undoubtedly enjoy this book, anyone who is struggling with child abuse and/or dysfunctional families would benefit from reading it, too. My Name is Mahtob provides the hope and inspiration we all need to move forward.