I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World
Title: I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)
Author: Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick
Publisher: Scholastic
Year of Publication: 2014
Genre: Autobiography
Horn Book rating: 3
Summary: Malala Yousafzai lived in Pakistan and loved learning. As the Taliban took control of the area where she lived it became more and more dangerous for girls to receive an education. Yet, Malala would not be scared into submission, even after an attempt on her life.
Summary of Professional Reviews: Taliban victim Malala Yousafzai recounts her Pakistani childhood and how she was shot for her activism for girls' education. Her maturity and resiliency come shining through in this moving story. The book closes with a timeline, glossary, and photographs.
Review by Crystal Ball: This book is important for many reasons; however, do to the subject matter, it is only appropriate for older children, about fourth grade and above. Malala is a courageous, eloquent, and outspoken teenager. She put her life on the line just to have the opportunity to learn. In this book she gives enough background information for children to begin understanding the complicated issues surrounding her story. She also explains how the Taliban twists her peaceful religion to suit their own agenda. As terrorists strengthen their control of Pakistan, they imposed their will on the people, which included withholding education from girls. The more she advocated for education the more she became a target for the Taliban. Eventually, they sent an assassin to silence the child who dared to speak out against them. Her fight to receive an education makes you treasure you own. It’s a truly inspiring story.
This book would be useful when teaching…
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World would be a wonderful way to introduce autobiographies to students. The seriousness and complexity of the material would really benefit from class or group discussions. It could really open up a whole new world for students, and hopefully, help them appreciate their own opportunities for an education.
Disclaimer: Parents would need to be informed of the intent to use this book because of the sensitivity of the subject matter.
Summary of Professional Reviews: Taliban victim Malala Yousafzai recounts her Pakistani childhood and how she was shot for her activism for girls' education. Her maturity and resiliency come shining through in this moving story. The book closes with a timeline, glossary, and photographs.
Review by Crystal Ball: This book is important for many reasons; however, do to the subject matter, it is only appropriate for older children, about fourth grade and above. Malala is a courageous, eloquent, and outspoken teenager. She put her life on the line just to have the opportunity to learn. In this book she gives enough background information for children to begin understanding the complicated issues surrounding her story. She also explains how the Taliban twists her peaceful religion to suit their own agenda. As terrorists strengthen their control of Pakistan, they imposed their will on the people, which included withholding education from girls. The more she advocated for education the more she became a target for the Taliban. Eventually, they sent an assassin to silence the child who dared to speak out against them. Her fight to receive an education makes you treasure you own. It’s a truly inspiring story.
This book would be useful when teaching…
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World would be a wonderful way to introduce autobiographies to students. The seriousness and complexity of the material would really benefit from class or group discussions. It could really open up a whole new world for students, and hopefully, help them appreciate their own opportunities for an education.
Disclaimer: Parents would need to be informed of the intent to use this book because of the sensitivity of the subject matter.