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Malala Yousafzai: Warrior With Words

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The inspiring, true story of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani girl who stands up and speaks out for every child’s right to education. Though she and two of her schoolmates were targeted by a Taliban gunman, a life-threatening injury only strengthened her resolve. Malala spoke at the U.N. on her 16th birthday in 2013, nine months after she was shot. Author and journalist Karen Leggett Abouraya, author of Hands Around the Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books, brings Malala’s story to life for young readers. Malala’s story is more than a biography of a brave and outspoken teenager. It is a testament to the power of education to change the world for boys and girls everywhere. "Winner of the California Reading Association's 2015 EUREKA! Honor Award"

36 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2014

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373 people want to read

About the author

Karen Leggett Abouraya

6 books4 followers
Karen Leggett Abouraya is a veteran print and broadcast journalist (WMAL Radio in Washington, D.C.) who has reviewed children’s books for The New York Times, Children’s Literature, Washington Parent, and more. She is a past president and active member of the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C. Karen, her Egyptian husband and their two children have traveled frequently to Egypt, so it is not surprising that Egypt is the focus of her first children’s book, Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books. Illustrated with the exuberant cut-paper collages of Susan L. Roth, Hands Around the Library tells the story of Egyptian protesters who held hands around the great library of Alexandria to protect it from vandals during the 2011 revolution.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley Reid.
152 reviews120 followers
March 24, 2016
Read with kids

The kids wanted to read this after they had learned a little about Malala from their classes. This was a great boom for young readers and had all the basic information that any kid should know about Malala.
30 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2017
The illustrations in this book are unique and beautiful, each handmade using paper cut outs. Malala is such an inspirational person, and I thought that the story could have been written with a little more character development. Amazon suggests this book for preschool-2nd grade, and I feel that the illustrations are perfect for that age range. I feel that the story itself was written in a language comprehended by this age range with some adult explanations about names and details. Overall I liked this book and wish there was a little more depth to this very impressive little girl.
Biography
Profile Image for Mary Ann.
1,485 reviews315 followers
February 18, 2019
Love how Malala’s story is made accessible and inspiring for younger students. Simultaneously published in Spanish.
Profile Image for Karenina (Nina Ruthström).
1,789 reviews849 followers
March 30, 2024
Malala är givetvis värd alla himlens stjärnor men den här boken hade gärna fått fördjupa sig varför ord och utbildning är viktiga saker.
Profile Image for Ali.
24 reviews
March 9, 2018
Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words is about the life experiences of Malala Yousafzai. The story starts off talking about where Malala lived and what a wonderful place it was. Things all changed when the Taliban came to power in her town. They did not think girls should go to school and be educated. Malala wrote about her experiences and shared, with the world, what was going on. Through her words and her beliefs, she was given different awards. In 2012, she and her friends were shot by the Taliban. Malala was rushed to a hospital in England that specializes in treating wounded soldiers. Malala surprisingly lived and continued to share her hopes and dreams of having every student attend school for free. She also created a foundation to help girls go to school.

The illustrations in this book are very unique. The illustrator uses cut paper and photographs to help explain the story of Yousafzai. Parts of the pictures used cumbled papers to add texture and a raised looked to the pictures. Some pages were full of bright colors and other pages were more dark, gloomy, and grey. This would help readers be able to distinguish between good and bad experiences. I read this as an ebook on OverDrive. I enjoyed reading it as an ebook and it would be beneficial to use in the classroom because then every student would be able to see the interesting pictures. This book is great because it really justifies a biographies inclusion in literature because it helps children learn from the lives of others. Children will be able to see the choice Malala made early in her life to make a difference in the world. There are a lot of different books on Malala, as many of these books have won awards or runner up because she is a Nobel Peace Prize Winner. I located this at my library and learned that it is the "Winner of the California Reading Association's 2015 EUREKA! Honor Award".

I would recommend this book for students K-6. The pictures would appeal to any age range. The writing is written very rudimentary which would make it “easy” for students in the younger ages to follow along. If a teacher just wanted to read a non-fiction book to her students and have a basic discussion, this could be used in the primary grades. However, if a teacher is going to go into the true meaning of this book, I could see them using it with intermediate students. The content of this book is a little more challenging for students to understand, which is why I would also recommend it for the older grades. If a teacher is going to use it with older kids, there needs to be a lot of pre-teaching because this book doesn’t explain the ‘why’ of what is happening.
Profile Image for Diana Parker.
584 reviews6 followers
January 25, 2019
This was a wonderful introduction to Malala Yousafzai's life and her work. If you knew nothing about her before reading this book, it would give you all the necessary facts about her in an innovative way using incredible mediums for the illustrations and an easy-to-read text throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this to my students to read or I would do it as a read aloud for them.

"Multicultural Children's Book Day" information:
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Profile Image for Julie.
15 reviews
October 5, 2015
“Malala is a miracle in pink. Malala is a warrior with words.” Biography of the 2014 Nobel Prize Winner, Malala Yousafzai’s inspirational battle to protect the right to go to school for every child in every country. A real-life heroin, 15-year old Malala stood-up with her words when the Taliban took control of her region in Pakistan and closed all schools for girls. At age 16, she spoke those words in front of the United Nations. The author skillfully adapts a story of courage in the face of oppression to an audience of young readers, communicating the seriousness of the issues with a tone that encourages hope instead of fear. Word of caution: the story does include a shooting, which is simply stated in a factual manner with care. Youthful collage illustrations support context. A visual connection to Malala’s culture and her message is built through artwork and clever details such as a backdrop of lined notebook paper for selected text. An enlightening read-aloud for teachers and students that can spark discussions, research, and writings about heroism, bravery, human rights, cultural comparisons, world history, politics, current events, social activism, and the importance of education. Kirkus Reviews Indie Book of the Month. Grades 3-5.
8 reviews
February 17, 2017
Warrior with Words is an inspiring biography of Malala Yousafzai and her experiences that led to her speaking at the United Nations and starting a conversation world wide.

This book provides an insight to Malala's life and her accomplishments on a level that students can understand. It sends a message of dreaming, working hard, and doing what others may not believe you can. It truly is inspiring, and great for all students.

The illustrations in this book by L.C. Wheatley are also interesting and beautiful. The bright, vibrant, and creative pictures add even more character to the story. In the back of the book, it even gives a brief history of important dates of events in Pakistan and provide you with the opportunity to help out through Malala's fund.
Profile Image for Krista the Krazy Kataloguer.
3,873 reviews330 followers
July 8, 2016
This book about Malala goes more in depth about her than Jeanette Winter's book, and would be a good choice for those who want to read more. I particularly like the information at the end of the book on the different organizations that you can contact or join to help children, both girls and boys, around the world, get an education. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Alice.
5,444 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2015
Brief story of Malala Yousafzai with collage illustrations that doesn't quite make her real enough for me. The information at the end was helpful in putting things in context.
Profile Image for V.
988 reviews22 followers
May 2, 2019
Why we chose this book:
Some time ago, I read I Am Malala. When I came across this picture book, I was eager for T to learn about someone whom I admire. Lee and Low Books provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mom's Review (V)
Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words is a brief biography of Malala. Children will learn about her origins, what happened when the Taliban took control of her hometown, her childhood fight for education, and her move to England. Readers will also learn about her humanitarian efforts as an adult, from addressing the UN to receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Back matter details further information about Pakistan, the Taliban, the Malala Fund, and actions one can take to promote educational equality.

This book about Malala was an excellent option for T. He loved the pictures and told me all about how he thought the artist created the illustrations. While the violence of the Taliban is mentioned (how could it be avoided?), the focus is on Malala's desire for education, perseverance in the face of adversity, and efforts to promote education for boys and girls alike. As we read, I minimally edited the content for T; I glossed over her shooting. T seemed particularly engaged as we read, asking immediately if this is a true story, later commenting about shared traits with Malala (a love of reading), and emphatically declaring his dislike of war. He even likened Malala's focus on using words to solve problems to how we solve problems at home and how he and his classmates behave at farm school. This picture book had a real impact on him; he wanted to follow in Malala's footsteps and use words to change laws. Immediately after reading, he said that he wanted to write a letter to President Trump about the book, letting him know that war and guns are bad and that our laws should prohibit them. He raced upstairs to my office, telling me, "We're gonna write a letter. I'll say it and you write down the words!"

Beautiful, informative, age-appropriate, and incredibly inspirational, Malala Yousafzai is one picture book you won't want to miss.

Son's Review (T)
(Age: 4)
Mom: What do you like about Malala?

Son: I like that she wanted no war.

Mom: What would you say if you met her?

Son: I would say, "I also hate war." I would tell her that most warriors use swords, and that I also like words.

Mom: What good does she teach us?

Son: She teaches us to be good by using convincing words.

Mom: What if someone told you that you weren't allowed to learn?

Son: I would just learn and not listen to them.

Mom: What can readers learn if they read this book?

Son: That they should use their words. What if they already use their words like we use our words?

Mom: It's a good thing if they already use their words to solve problems. Who should read this book? When?

Son: Anyone who doesn't like war...when they don't like fighting.

Mom: And what is the most important thing to know about the Malala book?

Son: That it is a good book. I liked when she goed to school when some of the leaders didn't want her to.
13 reviews
October 17, 2016
Malala Yousafzai is a famous female activist in Pakistan. She was very young when Taliban occupied SWAT (hometown) and they banned girls from going to school. Malala was a very eager learner and she started blogging about it. Unfortunately, she was attacked by a Taliban supporter while going to school. She survived and now goes to school in England. She’s very active in her support for education for females.
I think some background is needed to properly understand the significance of her work. In Pakistan, there are families that don’t feel like it’s necessary for females to be educated. Some groups use religion as an excuse to justify this belief. Taliban is one of those groups. Due to this widespread belief, low income families if they can afford education, they will choose their male kids to be educated. Hence, Malala Yousafzai’s bravery really showed the world that access to education isn’t guaranteed.
I have always enjoyed reading Malala’s story because I think it’s inspirational for me. I have wanted to make a change, particularly in education and I think I would see my life complete if I could make a difference in someone’s life. Malala’s story impacted so many people around the world. She saw something that didn’t seem right and she tried to work towards changing it. I think that there not many of us who have the urge to change the wrong and I really admire her for her determination.
There are some phrases that stuck out to me in this book.
“Our words can change the world”
Whether it’s just talking to our peers or using our voice to be an activist, it’s definitely true that our words hold a lot of power. I think that we are even more privileged because we live in a country that gives us opportunities to voice our thoughts. Malala had to write her views in secret because she was scared and she was living in an oppressed environment. This quote also reminds me to be careful with my words. I think it shows that I should think before I speak.
“Education is our basic right”
Education should be our basic right but that’s not the case for everyone. Malala and thousands of girls like her don’t have access to education because they live in war-torn areas and/or oppressed regimes. We need to be aware of our surroundings because I think sometimes we take our education lightly and we don’t know how blessed we are to have this opportunity.
“One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world”
Lastly this quote showed me what teachers can do support their students. As a teacher, I want my students to realize that they need to value their education. I also want them to be aware of the different ways they can use their voice. I think this book is a great example for students of different ways that they can voice their concerns. Teachers can also use this as a way to introduce different projects on being an active citizen in the society.
I think Malala Yousufzai: Warrior with words by Karen Leggett Abouraya is useful for all ages. Definitely a must read!


Profile Image for Baby Bookworm.
1,642 reviews108 followers
November 12, 2017
https://thebabybookwormblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/16/malala-yousafzai-warrior-with-words-karen-leggett-abouraya/

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Today’s book is Malala Yousafzai: Warrior With Words, written by Karen Leggett Abouraya and illustrated by L. C. Wheatley, a biography of the Nobel Prize-winning activist.

On her sixteenth birthday, dressed in her favorite color (pink), Malala Yousafzai stood in front of an assembly of children, journalists, and members of the United Nations and gave a speech about every child’s basic right to education. Malala had survived much to be there. She had grown up in a loving family in Pakistan who had encouraged her love of learning. When the Taliban took over her town and decreed that girls could no longer go to school, she would not agree. She continued to attend school in secret, even writing for the BBC about her experiences under Taliban rule. She gave speeches and wrote articles about every child’s right to education, girl or boy. Her words of equality and peace threatened the terrorists so much that they tried to assassinate her, but Malala survived, and vowed that the experience only made her conviction to fight for the rights of children and women stronger. She continues her fight to this day, using her words as weapons against hate and discrimination.

If you are a regular follower of ours, you know we love stories about brave girls, especially if they’re true! And Malala is a personal hero, so it’s going to be hard to not like any book that introduces her incredible journey to little ones. And while I’m a bit more partial to For The Right To Learn by Rebecca Langston-George due to its breathtaking art, Warrior With Words also does a fantastic job of this. The cut-paper art is surprisingly detailed, abstract yet filled with emotion and depth. The length is actually better for younger bookworms, and the incident of Malala’s attempted assassination is dealt with in slightly less detail, but no less impact. Overall, this is a very well-done biography that would be great for inspiring smaller bookworms with a true story of a remarkable girl. Baby Bookworm approved!

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
39 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2017
grades: 3rd grade to 7th grade (all ages)

summary: The author and illustrator writes about Malala Yousafzai the brave young girl who almost died for what she believed in and how she became an advocate for girls education in Pakistan. It tells the story of Malala before the Taliban prohibited girls from seeking education to the day her bus was stopped by the Taliban. How the incident gave Malala more power and she continues to talk about educational rights.

Review: Students need to be older to learn and understand about Malala Yousafzai and the events that still continue in Pakistan. An informative book about Malala and her life, as well as the lives of many other girls, before and during the reign of the Taliban. It even gives information on websites and organizations that help boys and girls receive education throughout the world. A book for young activist.

uses: introduction to biographies, study around current events around the world, education (the importance and supports), communities and activists (all about me and what they can do to help other)
23 reviews
July 27, 2016
"Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words" tells the true story of Malala, a women's right activist from Pakistan who specifically stands up for every child's right to an education. In this life story, Malala is targeted specifically by the Taliban, who do not agree with women or children speaking out and deny them their right to go to school. Malala's constant struggles and her ability to overcome the tragedy that occurred to her are all portrayed very realistically. Students learning about the middle east would benefit greatly from this book because it allows them to feel what she was feeling. It opens their eyes to the battles many middle eastern women have to face on a daily basis. The social justice issue taking place in this book is not only about women's rights, but the right for an education and diversity. Pairing this book with "The Breadwinner" would be an excellent way to start off that novel.

18 reviews
May 27, 2018
The inspirational story of Malala Yousafzai in this book is shared and illustrated in a scrapbook and collage form. The book was extremely informative and showed the life of Malala, the good and bad. How the obstacles didn’t stop her from accomplishing a dream of finishing school. As well as, how through funds continues to help girls to get educated. This book could be used in any grades starting the kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade level and up. Teachers can use this book to deliver a clear and concise story of Malala. I think that there should be a discussion with open ended questions about how they would feel if the girls of the class couldn’t go to school. The conversation could follow with the book and end small history lesson about the times Malala grew up in. Overall, the book was a great read and extremely enjoyable to read.
Profile Image for Mathew.
1,560 reviews222 followers
March 20, 2016
I held back from reviewing this until I had read Malala's autobiography which is far superior. The words were fine in this book, sort of but the illustrations really irked me. Of course I fully support the message of free education for everyone but I just did not like the style or the use of images to get the point across. I think my problem lies with the fact that I don't know who the audience is here and some of the writing was poor with no strong links between ideas and sentences on pages at times. I want to see more of Malala's story out there for all children but for UKS2 I'd share her autobiography and before that, I'd want something a little better written with illustrations that are engaging and emotional.
Profile Image for Barbara.
15.4k reviews315 followers
May 4, 2019
Add this picture book to a collection devoted to women's rights, education, and individuals daring to make a difference. The text is accessible and interesting, tracing the path to activism taken by Malala Yousafzai, the Pastun girl from Pakistan who used her words to defy the Taliban's restrictions against education for girls. Not only did she attend school, but she wrote and spoke out against these practices, eventually forming an organization to support education for girls. Her efforts garnered her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. The hand-created paper and fabric collages are quite impressive and pleasing to the eye, capturing the essence of this girl and her determination as well as the beauty of her homeland.
Profile Image for Earl.
4,118 reviews42 followers
October 21, 2014
I've been wanting to read more about Malala ever since I've heard about her situation but didn't really have the time to read her book- not even the Young Readers Edition. I didn't even realize there was a picture book out until a parent came to the store asking about it since her four-year-old daughter wanted to be Malala for Halloween!

Luckily, I found this book in the library and was completely inspired by Malala, her words, and her actions, as I'm sure everyone else will be when they hear her story. They'd want to stand with her in her fight to ensure every child has access to education!
40 reviews
November 14, 2017
The inspiring, award winning true story of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani girl who stands up and speaks out for every child's right to education is a great book for young children. This book shows how Malala fought for "every child to go to school for free". She was shot by the Taliban fighting for the education of young children. "One pen and one book can change the world". The class can write a letter to Malala thanking her for fighting for the right to education for young children throughout the world. The students can even design their own "pink warriors" and/ or a "warrior of words".
Profile Image for Lara Lamb.
118 reviews
December 6, 2017
The story of Malala Yousafazai is a story that most adults are very familiar with and that we have heard countless times over the years especially as we talk about the fight for women's equality. I have always found her story of relentless devotion to the right of women to have access to equal education to be inspiring because she never gave up even when faced with adversity. Her story was told creatively and the illustrations being paper cutout pictures was a nice touch. This book would be more appropriate for older children but could be used to talk about the privileges we have in our country.
Profile Image for Anna Wallman.
1,074 reviews8 followers
January 21, 2016
I read this to my eight-year-old daughter because I wanted to know more about Malala and I wanted my daughter to know about the fight for education too. With the large font and playful papper-cut-photos I thought it was meant for a younger audience (like maybe five years old?) as a book for parents to read to their children, but the language was a bit hard for my daughter- it needed quite some explaining from my side. So make sure you read it with your child to explain it.
An important story!
Profile Image for Amanda Herman.
48 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2016
This picture book biography is the true, inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for speaking out for every child's right to education. Malala spoke before the United Nations on her 16th birthday in 2012, nine months later, she was shot. This is a story that will inspire children to know that they can make a difference in the world no matter what obstacles they must overcome.
Profile Image for Natalie.
2,128 reviews
January 10, 2015
3.5 stars

Read this for the 2015 Dewey Project. Very condensed version of Malala's story. I thought the illustrations were interesting, but I don't know who I would give this too. It might be too basic for older kids.
Profile Image for Shaundell Smith.
304 reviews10 followers
January 10, 2017
A fantastic book about Malala, the girl who was shot by the Taliban on her way to school. The focus is on her using her words to make a great contribution to her country and to the world. Tuesday Read-Aloud.
Profile Image for Jessi.
692 reviews14 followers
May 21, 2019
I found the illustrations to be incredibly distracting.
Profile Image for Leslie Marley.
140 reviews27 followers
October 2, 2019
Good book on the subject for younger children. It unfortunately will not answer the big question of why the Taliban wishes to prevent female freedoms. It just cites strict religion which is not a clear explanation and a little overly simplified.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews