Memoir

It may not have been THE shot heard ‘round the world, but it certainly was a shot that invoked outrage around the globe when, on October 9, 2012, fifteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai was deliberately shot in the face by the Taliban, who hoped to silence her for good but only amplified her voice.

Yousafzai was already known for outspoken views on education for girls when a young man boarded the van taking her and other schoolmates home, asked, “Who is Malala?” and though no one answered, a few looked her way, so he fired three bullets at her. One hit her in the eye socket; two other girls were also injured. Even while in a medically-induced coma in a Pakistani hospital, Malala became the face of Pakistani girls fighting for an education as the Taliban destroyed their schools, demanding purdah, killing and maiming.

Yousafzai describes the beautiful Swat Valley in which she grew up and how, when she was ten, the Taliban began eradicating the Pashtun way of life, destroying art, architecture, music, customs, culture. Her father, Ziauddin, was a teacher and a peace activist, and he adored Malala. He spoke out against Taliban leaders and for the right of all children, including girls, to an education. Malala was even more outspoken, and in her early teens, began writing a column for BBC Urdu and blogging about life under the Taliban, including how the intimidation tactics by the Taliban were forcing girls to drop out of school, even before the Taliban announced an outright ban. She made known her dream that every girl in Swat should be allowed to go to school. She gave interviews, speaking out more brazenly against the Taliban, and prizes and awards followed, as did threats against her and her family.

Part memoir and part manifesto, I Am Malala, is a well-written narrative of her experiences, woven in with a history of Pakistani politics, the rise of religious extremism in the Swat Valley region, and the ever-changing sociopolitical climate in Pakistan.
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I highly recommend this book. Malala tells her story clearly and honestly. She provides background of her country, her religion, her family and where she grew up. She shares her dreams and challenges and is positive and hopeful. She does not hate the man that shot her nor does she want revenge. She is passionate and determined to help others and to bring education to boys and girls in her country and in the world. She is an inspiration to all girls, women and all people. ( )

An incredible story beautifully written, including much more history and backstories than I was anticipating. I borrowed this book from the library and will be purchasing it to read over and over. My daughter listened to the audio book at age (nearly) 7 and will read it again when she is older. I hope this becomes (or already is) a standard middle or high school read for students everywhere. Absolutely moving ( )

I have nothing but respect for this young lady. She is certainly brave and dedicated in her beliefs. My hat is also off to her father and mother who obviously love her very much. The book, however, for me was a little hard to get through because of all of the names and events that seemed to swirl together. I do see how that background was important to establish. I found myself feeling very blessed that I do not and (God willing) will never live in an environment such as what the people of Pakistan and other middle eastern countries endure. I hope Malala gets her wish to one day return to her homeland. It is obvious she is grieving the loss of it. However, that whole region will have to change a lot before that ever happens. Overall, the book gave me the creeps just picturing the injustice of that whole mess of a country. Those of us born into freedom are blessed indeed. ( )