When she was merely 15 years old, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban on her way home from school. It was a story that immediately spread across the globe, and had a resounding impact upon countless individuals. But the full scope of Malala’s incredible bravery and determination is best seen in the words of the girl herself. In I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai details her childhood in Pakistan and her dream that one day all children will be given the right to education. Her intense aspirations and her willingness to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve a more peaceful world are detailed throughout the book, shedding new light on a story that is remarkable even at first glance. While overcoming the odds and surviving a Taliban bullet is a major part of Malala’s story, the well-known tragedy and her subsequent recovery make up only a small portion of the book. In fact, Malala’s story started much earlier than 2012. To her Pashtun family in the small village of Swat, Malala stood out at birth. While daughters are looked down upon in Pakistani villages, within her home, Malala was celebrated. In fact, one of the most intriguing aspects of the book is how Malala was shaped by her family, particularly her father. Although Malala’s story is inspirational in itself, it would not have been possible if her father, Ziauddin, was not a special person in his own right. He married for love and acknowledged his privilege in relation to his sisters. He encouraged his friends to engage in the same newborn traditions for Malala that were normally reserved only for sons, stating proudly at her birth that “Malala will be free as a bird.” It is in his school, created out of a pure love for learning and a hatred of ignorance, that Malala found her place. The Taliban arrived in Malala’s village when she was ten. Here, the book shifts to an entirely new set of hardships. While women had long since been oppressed in Pakistan, the Taliban bring over new and even graver dangers. Malala’s whole world is threatened, even her school and her right to learn. When all that she holds dear is threatened, Malala and her father fight back. They give interviews, and Malala writes for the BBC. But amongst the killings and destruction are laced stark reminders that Malala is, at the heart of it all, a teenage girl very much like American girls reading her book today. In sharp contrast to the danger that lurks just beyond her walls, Malala likes to spend time with her friends, and listen to Justin Bieber. She reads Twilight and admires Angelina Jolie. Part of what makes the book so effective for a young reader is that Malala demonstrates that ordinary people have the potential to do extraordinary things. When placed in horrible circumstances, Malala rises to the challenge, recognizing the evils that engulf her beloved land and speaking out for change. By following her example, other young people in all parts of the world can learn that their voices too have power. By speaking out, we too can harvest a better world. When attacked by a Taliban bullet, Malala Yousafzai very nearly paid the ultimate price for her beliefs. Her survival, and her story, now serves as inspiration for us all. By reading I Am Malala, greater awareness and understanding can be shed on the situation in Pakistan. For young readers in particular, often so caught up their individual problems that the rest of the world becomes a blur, the book is invaluable. Malala’s story allows teenagers to see into a world drastically different from their own. Her message instills in those who may not have thought much about it the immense importance of knowledge and the need for education to be available worldwide. I Am Malala can be meaningful to all audiences because it offers hope in a world that so desperately needs it.
While overcoming the odds and surviving a Taliban bullet is a major part of Malala’s story, the well-known tragedy and her subsequent recovery make up only a small portion of the book. In fact, Malala’s story started much earlier than 2012. To her Pashtun family in the small village of Swat, Malala stood out at birth. While daughters are looked down upon in Pakistani villages, within her home, Malala was celebrated. In fact, one of the most intriguing aspects of the book is how Malala was shaped by her family, particularly her father. Although Malala’s story is inspirational in itself, it would not have been possible if her father, Ziauddin, was not a special person in his own right. He married for love and acknowledged his privilege in relation to his sisters. He encouraged his friends to engage in the same newborn traditions for Malala that were normally reserved only for sons, stating proudly at her birth that “Malala will be free as a bird.” It is in his school, created out of a pure love for learning and a hatred of ignorance, that Malala found her place.
The Taliban arrived in Malala’s village when she was ten. Here, the book shifts to an entirely new set of hardships. While women had long since been oppressed in Pakistan, the Taliban bring over new and even graver dangers. Malala’s whole world is threatened, even her school and her right to learn. When all that she holds dear is threatened, Malala and her father fight back. They give interviews, and Malala writes for the BBC. But amongst the killings and destruction are laced stark reminders that Malala is, at the heart of it all, a teenage girl very much like American girls reading her book today. In sharp contrast to the danger that lurks just beyond her walls, Malala likes to spend time with her friends, and listen to Justin Bieber. She reads Twilight and admires Angelina Jolie. Part of what makes the book so effective for a young reader is that Malala demonstrates that ordinary people have the potential to do extraordinary things. When placed in horrible circumstances, Malala rises to the challenge, recognizing the evils that engulf her beloved land and speaking out for change. By following her example, other young people in all parts of the world can learn that their voices too have power. By speaking out, we too can harvest a better world.
When attacked by a Taliban bullet, Malala Yousafzai very nearly paid the ultimate price for her beliefs. Her survival, and her story, now serves as inspiration for us all. By reading I Am Malala, greater awareness and understanding can be shed on the situation in Pakistan. For young readers in particular, often so caught up their individual problems that the rest of the world becomes a blur, the book is invaluable. Malala’s story allows teenagers to see into a world drastically different from their own. Her message instills in those who may not have thought much about it the immense importance of knowledge and the need for education to be available worldwide. I Am Malala can be meaningful to all audiences because it offers hope in a world that so desperately needs it.