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Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia
What does it take to be an investigative journalist and discover the truth against all the odds?
Daphne Caruana Galizia had a happy childhood with her family on the small island of Malta, loving books, stories and writing.
When she succeeded in her ambition to become a journalist, she discovered that there was much to write about in her home country. She found that greedy and corrupt politicians were making themselves rich rather than working for the good of their people.
Fearlessly, Daphne exposed criminal and dishonest activities. Her enemies responded with threats and insults to discourage her from revealing more. But nothing could dissuade Daphne from fighting for what she believed in.
Daphne Caruana Galizia had a happy childhood with her family on the small island of Malta, loving books, stories and writing.
When she succeeded in her ambition to become a journalist, she discovered that there was much to write about in her home country. She found that greedy and corrupt politicians were making themselves rich rather than working for the good of their people.
Fearlessly, Daphne exposed criminal and dishonest activities. Her enemies responded with threats and insults to discourage her from revealing more. But nothing could dissuade Daphne from fighting for what she believed in.
- GenresPicture BooksBiography
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2020
34 people want to read
About the author
Gattaldo
2 books3 followersAward-winning Creative Director and illustrator Gattaldo studied art in Florence and now lives and works in London. His first children’s book about a courageous journalist is based on the life story of a close friend.
Author’s website - www.gattaldo.com
Book website - www.fearlessdaphne.com
Author’s website - www.gattaldo.com
Book website - www.fearlessdaphne.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 19, 2022
Extremely short since it was a picture book. Good message though but mainly just read it for learning purposes since I had never heard of her and wanted to know her story for knowledge. Nice message in the end and would recommend reading for anyone whether you're an infant or elderly. Overall not bad and the pictures added a lot to it especially since I'm not used to reading books with pictures.
March 10, 2022
In a note at the end of this book, the author explains that he wanted to share the story of his friend Daphne, a journalist dedicated to rooting out malfeasance who was murdered in 2017. He observes:
“Daphne Caruana Galizia’s story is important for us all. At a time when even governments put out fake news, she stands out as someone who refused to be silenced, uncovering organized crime, money laundering, and political corruption.”
Daphne was born in 1964 in Malta, the island country in the European Union which is the world’s tenth smallest country in area but the fourth most densely populated sovereign country. She became a journalist dedicated to uncovering wrongdoing in her country. For this she was intimidated, threatened, hassled on the streets, and her pet dog was even killed. She did not back down: “The more they tried, the stronger she felt.” [Who “they” are is left ambiguous.]
After recounting a series of somewhat vague vignettes in which Daphne is shown with a love for learning, and in which she is attacked but keeps reporting, the author ends by observing that “Daphne’s writing traveled the world and inspired more and more people to speak out. Daphne had persuaded others to continue her work and make our world a better place.”
An Afterword gives more background on Daphne’s life, but doesn’t really go into the subjects of her journalism that aroused such ire. It does say in the back matter but not in the text that on October 16, 2017, Daphne was killed by a bomb placed under her car. The author suggests that this martyrdom only made Daphne’s work better known.
The Global Organized Crime Index notes that Malta’s location between Africa, Asia and Europe makes it attractive to foreign organized crime networks, and foreign groups are embedded in most Maltese criminal markets.
An article in Wikipedia sheds more light on Galizia’s journalism. There we learn Daphne focused on, inter alia, links between Malta's online gambling industry and organized crime, and Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme involving payments from the government of Azerbaijan. In 2016 and 2017, she exposed sensitive information relating to a number of Maltese politicians and the Panama Papers scandal. [The Panama Papers revealed damaging personal financial information about wealthy individuals and public officials that had previously been secret. Many of those named had links to Russian intelligence, and/or were implicated in the use of shell corporations for illegal purposes, including fraud, tax evasion, and evading international sanctions.]
We also learn from Wikipedia (but not from the book) that in April 2018, an international consortium of 45 journalists published The Daphne Project, a collaboration to complete her investigative work. The GUE/NGL Award for Journalists, Whistleblowers & Defenders of the Right to Information was established in 2018 in honor of Galizia.
Gattaldo, the illustrator as well as the author, uses watercolors to portrays Daphne in color while most others are in black and white, effectively emphasizing her uniqueness and impact on the world around her. Actual pictures of Daphne and her family are in the back matter.
Evaluation: The recommended age group of 7 and over will no doubt have many questions about what exactly Daphne did, since it is never explicitly delineated. They will also not even realize when she lived or how she died without reading the back notes. The author wants to pay tribute to his friend and her bravery, as well as to the perils and possibilities of journalism. The text is so devoid of specifics, however, that unless adults use this as a basis for encouraging children to do further research, it would seem not to do justice to either. However, this book makes a good starting point to get kids interested in the possibilities of journalism in general and the life of Galizia in particular. In a "meta" way, the lack of details can offer a useful lesson on how to use available resources to dig deeper to uncover a story. Moreover, the book may serve as an introduction to the country of Malta, and the subject of how geography can have political repercussions.
In fact, many of the subjects raised in this book are analogous to the current situation in Ukraine, and may enhance discussions about finding out the truth in dangerous situations, and living in a country so affected by its neighbors.
Rating: 3.5/5
“Daphne Caruana Galizia’s story is important for us all. At a time when even governments put out fake news, she stands out as someone who refused to be silenced, uncovering organized crime, money laundering, and political corruption.”
Daphne was born in 1964 in Malta, the island country in the European Union which is the world’s tenth smallest country in area but the fourth most densely populated sovereign country. She became a journalist dedicated to uncovering wrongdoing in her country. For this she was intimidated, threatened, hassled on the streets, and her pet dog was even killed. She did not back down: “The more they tried, the stronger she felt.” [Who “they” are is left ambiguous.]
After recounting a series of somewhat vague vignettes in which Daphne is shown with a love for learning, and in which she is attacked but keeps reporting, the author ends by observing that “Daphne’s writing traveled the world and inspired more and more people to speak out. Daphne had persuaded others to continue her work and make our world a better place.”
An Afterword gives more background on Daphne’s life, but doesn’t really go into the subjects of her journalism that aroused such ire. It does say in the back matter but not in the text that on October 16, 2017, Daphne was killed by a bomb placed under her car. The author suggests that this martyrdom only made Daphne’s work better known.
The Global Organized Crime Index notes that Malta’s location between Africa, Asia and Europe makes it attractive to foreign organized crime networks, and foreign groups are embedded in most Maltese criminal markets.
An article in Wikipedia sheds more light on Galizia’s journalism. There we learn Daphne focused on, inter alia, links between Malta's online gambling industry and organized crime, and Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme involving payments from the government of Azerbaijan. In 2016 and 2017, she exposed sensitive information relating to a number of Maltese politicians and the Panama Papers scandal. [The Panama Papers revealed damaging personal financial information about wealthy individuals and public officials that had previously been secret. Many of those named had links to Russian intelligence, and/or were implicated in the use of shell corporations for illegal purposes, including fraud, tax evasion, and evading international sanctions.]
We also learn from Wikipedia (but not from the book) that in April 2018, an international consortium of 45 journalists published The Daphne Project, a collaboration to complete her investigative work. The GUE/NGL Award for Journalists, Whistleblowers & Defenders of the Right to Information was established in 2018 in honor of Galizia.
Gattaldo, the illustrator as well as the author, uses watercolors to portrays Daphne in color while most others are in black and white, effectively emphasizing her uniqueness and impact on the world around her. Actual pictures of Daphne and her family are in the back matter.
Evaluation: The recommended age group of 7 and over will no doubt have many questions about what exactly Daphne did, since it is never explicitly delineated. They will also not even realize when she lived or how she died without reading the back notes. The author wants to pay tribute to his friend and her bravery, as well as to the perils and possibilities of journalism. The text is so devoid of specifics, however, that unless adults use this as a basis for encouraging children to do further research, it would seem not to do justice to either. However, this book makes a good starting point to get kids interested in the possibilities of journalism in general and the life of Galizia in particular. In a "meta" way, the lack of details can offer a useful lesson on how to use available resources to dig deeper to uncover a story. Moreover, the book may serve as an introduction to the country of Malta, and the subject of how geography can have political repercussions.
In fact, many of the subjects raised in this book are analogous to the current situation in Ukraine, and may enhance discussions about finding out the truth in dangerous situations, and living in a country so affected by its neighbors.
Rating: 3.5/5
March 28, 2022
Daphne Caruana Galizia grew up on the Island of Malta. From an early age she dreamed of being a writer so she could share stories about her country. She loved reading and through books she learned to be a free thinker. Daphne lived her dream; she grew up, spoke up and became a powerful, courageous journalist. Daphne and her friends saw bad things happening in her country, she believed peaceful protest was important and was even arrested for it. She married, had three children and encouraged her children to fight for justice as well. She started writing for a newspaper and was not afraid to publish the truth. She was threatened, her dog was killed to send a message but, that just empowered her to spread the truth all the more.
Daphne Caruana Galizia (1964-2017) was killed in 2017 when a bomb placed under her car exploded. She inspired and encouraged others to stand up for free speech by keeping others informed about the truth. This book was written and illustrated by her good friend.
What a powerful book, another story I was not aware of, the message is powerful and the images are so well done as well. I love how Candlewick Press through the books that they have decided to publish are spreading powerful messages to young children about the importance of standing up for one's beliefs. This book is targeted at grades 2-4 (ages 7-9). Beautifully done.
Daphne Caruana Galizia (1964-2017) was killed in 2017 when a bomb placed under her car exploded. She inspired and encouraged others to stand up for free speech by keeping others informed about the truth. This book was written and illustrated by her good friend.
What a powerful book, another story I was not aware of, the message is powerful and the images are so well done as well. I love how Candlewick Press through the books that they have decided to publish are spreading powerful messages to young children about the importance of standing up for one's beliefs. This book is targeted at grades 2-4 (ages 7-9). Beautifully done.
September 21, 2021
I had never read the name Daphne Caruanna Galizia until I read this great story about her by her friend, Gattaldo who both wrote and illustrated it. She was born and grew up in Malta, inspired by a great-great-great-great grandfather who fought and kept Napoleon from occupying the country. She loved to read, and ask questions to find the truth. As an adult she began to write and share her findings, even early on was arrested for protesting. She eventually began to write for a national newspaper, uncovering wrongdoing. She married and had a family, but did not stop her passion for the truth. The joy and the sorrow shown in the illustrations empower the story. Galizia was "hassled in the streets, they called her a witch" and more. She did not stop until a bomb exploded under her car. She has left a legacy that inspired people all over the world to speak out, to "make our world a better place". A brief bio and an author's note adds to her story at the back. Here is one more story of a newsmaker who is an inspiration to know.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy, published in 2021! It was first published by Otter-Barry Bks - UK - 2020
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy, published in 2021! It was first published by Otter-Barry Bks - UK - 2020
January 19, 2022
Daphne grew up hearing stories about her 4th great grandfather who fought against Napoleon's army when they invaded Malta. She was a girl who knew her own mind, and like her grandfather, fought against injusstice. At 19yo she was arrested during a peaceful protest on false charges and spent 2 days in jail. As an adult, she wrote for a national newspaper and was not afraid to tell the truth.
The author, Gattaldo was a close friend of Galiza and wrote/illustrated this to honor her memory. I loved it. The illustrations are just a little abstract, which gives the book its poetic feel, even though the text is in prose. I will enjoy introducing my middle school students to this important journalist. Contains some elements that may be upsetting to a younger child.
Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
The author, Gattaldo was a close friend of Galiza and wrote/illustrated this to honor her memory. I loved it. The illustrations are just a little abstract, which gives the book its poetic feel, even though the text is in prose. I will enjoy introducing my middle school students to this important journalist. Contains some elements that may be upsetting to a younger child.
Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
April 5, 2022
Inspiring story of someone who wasn't afraid to speak up if she saw something wrong.
Does mention in the main text that people killed her dog. It's in the back matter that it happened to multiple dogs and that she died when someone bombed her car.
Does mention in the main text that people killed her dog. It's in the back matter that it happened to multiple dogs and that she died when someone bombed her car.
December 23, 2020
A heartfelt, beautifully illustrated account of Daphne Caruana Galizia's story. An inspiring read about press freedom, justice and being true to ourselves.
August 23, 2021
I’m unclear on what target age group this is aimed at.
December 26, 2023
Extremely sparse writing and vague allusions; minimal end notes; illustrations are a redeeming feature
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews