Reviews
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai
ingahrund's review against another edition
1.0
Gafst upp á þessari. Erfitt flæði, ekki vel ritstýrð frásögn.
stories_by_sharanja's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. I ended Malala's story with a feeling of empowerment. What a remarkable young woman. We should all have a little bit of her courage and determination within us.
luckyliza13's review against another edition
5.0
I gave this book 5 stars not because it's well written, but because it should be read. Malala is an amazing person, not because she survived a shooting, but just because of who she is and her conviction that all girls have a God-given right to be educated. This book should be required reading for every American teen, especially those who take being able to go to school for granted.
millarpa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
maykasahara's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
mrgavin_writes's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis: This is the autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, a champion for education, particularly of ensuring women, children, and the poor are educated. In 2012, she was attacked by the Taliban and shot. Despite her injuries, she still fights for the right of all to learn.
Reflection: I Am Malala, written by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb chronicles the life of Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012. This autobiography sheds light on the unsettled political state of Pakistan, the impact of the Taliban and outside countries, and the state of education in Pakistan. Malala’s goal is to promote education for all children, regardless of their sex, race, political views, or socio-economic position.
Yousafzai, does an excellent job telling her story and including important historical facts that had an impact on how her life and the lives of many in Pakistan have proceeded. For example, before even talking about her own life, she discusses the upbringing of her parents and grandparents: where they are from, how they lived, what they believed. In addition, she takes time to explain important historical occurrences and political changes impacting Pakistan during and prior to her lifetime. The political climate has been unsettled for most of modern history. Pakistan has been used as a proxy in several wars, by countries of much greater wealth. She clearly describes the oppression Pakistan has suffered. While reading about Malala’s home in Swat, the reader learns how the people of Pakistan have been oppressed. A lack of resources, a lack of education all contribute to a cycle of oppression. This part of her story allows the reader to understand the life that Malala and many others are experiencing. It made me consider my own life, my perspective, and my privilege.
While Malala tells the story of her upbringing and mixes it with the history and politics of Pakistan, she integrates the memories and perspectives of others into her story as well. Malala was shot in the head on the bus home from school in October, 2012. It is not a spoiler that this occurred or that she survived. However, I was surprised she tells her story entirely in first person. Generally speaking when someone experiences a traumatic injury, his or her memory of the incident itself is spotty at best, and often non-existent. Malala doesn’t remember anything other than being with her friends on the bus, and waking up in a hospital in Europe. Everything else is fuzzy. Yousafzai and Christina Lamb do an excellent job integrating what Malala does recall - include her false memories - with the experiences of those close to her at the time: her mother and father, her teacher, and her doctors. This provides a holistic view of the event without disturbing the first person prose of Malala’s story. She relates the facts of what happened in what feels like a retelling of a story told to her. She specifically refers to the feelings of her father and mother, their hopes, their doubts, and their prayers to enlighten the reader’s understanding of the faith, luck, and science involved in saving Malala’s life.
This is an incredible story. I recommend this book to anyone who values education for all, for young women and men fighting for equal rights, for educators, for students, for those who simply wish to read an inspirational book. As a former educator in a low-income, high-needs area, I thought this book would help me understand what my students need or want. In truth, it didn’t meet that expectation, but it made me realize how lucky my students and I are to have the opportunity to learn. Not all of my students value education in the same way Malala does, and many people her book do not value it in the same way. That is where I see the greatest need for change. Education should not be for only the privileged, or the wealthy, or the western nations. Education must be for all. Parents must be encouraged to support their children’s education. Malala was taught the value of education and didn’t waste one minute of it. I think often times, students who have the opportunity for school view it as an obligation, instead of something to be coveted. Malala calls everyone to arms, to support the education of all people, young and old, poor and rich, male and female. That begins with every individual person taking stock in the education they have and supporting the ones they love to see the value in education every day.
Synopsis: This is the autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, a champion for education, particularly of ensuring women, children, and the poor are educated. In 2012, she was attacked by the Taliban and shot. Despite her injuries, she still fights for the right of all to learn.
Reflection: I Am Malala, written by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb chronicles the life of Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012. This autobiography sheds light on the unsettled political state of Pakistan, the impact of the Taliban and outside countries, and the state of education in Pakistan. Malala’s goal is to promote education for all children, regardless of their sex, race, political views, or socio-economic position.
Yousafzai, does an excellent job telling her story and including important historical facts that had an impact on how her life and the lives of many in Pakistan have proceeded. For example, before even talking about her own life, she discusses the upbringing of her parents and grandparents: where they are from, how they lived, what they believed. In addition, she takes time to explain important historical occurrences and political changes impacting Pakistan during and prior to her lifetime. The political climate has been unsettled for most of modern history. Pakistan has been used as a proxy in several wars, by countries of much greater wealth. She clearly describes the oppression Pakistan has suffered. While reading about Malala’s home in Swat, the reader learns how the people of Pakistan have been oppressed. A lack of resources, a lack of education all contribute to a cycle of oppression. This part of her story allows the reader to understand the life that Malala and many others are experiencing. It made me consider my own life, my perspective, and my privilege.
While Malala tells the story of her upbringing and mixes it with the history and politics of Pakistan, she integrates the memories and perspectives of others into her story as well. Malala was shot in the head on the bus home from school in October, 2012. It is not a spoiler that this occurred or that she survived. However, I was surprised she tells her story entirely in first person. Generally speaking when someone experiences a traumatic injury, his or her memory of the incident itself is spotty at best, and often non-existent. Malala doesn’t remember anything other than being with her friends on the bus, and waking up in a hospital in Europe. Everything else is fuzzy. Yousafzai and Christina Lamb do an excellent job integrating what Malala does recall - include her false memories - with the experiences of those close to her at the time: her mother and father, her teacher, and her doctors. This provides a holistic view of the event without disturbing the first person prose of Malala’s story. She relates the facts of what happened in what feels like a retelling of a story told to her. She specifically refers to the feelings of her father and mother, their hopes, their doubts, and their prayers to enlighten the reader’s understanding of the faith, luck, and science involved in saving Malala’s life.
This is an incredible story. I recommend this book to anyone who values education for all, for young women and men fighting for equal rights, for educators, for students, for those who simply wish to read an inspirational book. As a former educator in a low-income, high-needs area, I thought this book would help me understand what my students need or want. In truth, it didn’t meet that expectation, but it made me realize how lucky my students and I are to have the opportunity to learn. Not all of my students value education in the same way Malala does, and many people her book do not value it in the same way. That is where I see the greatest need for change. Education should not be for only the privileged, or the wealthy, or the western nations. Education must be for all. Parents must be encouraged to support their children’s education. Malala was taught the value of education and didn’t waste one minute of it. I think often times, students who have the opportunity for school view it as an obligation, instead of something to be coveted. Malala calls everyone to arms, to support the education of all people, young and old, poor and rich, male and female. That begins with every individual person taking stock in the education they have and supporting the ones they love to see the value in education every day.
bastet's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. After reading it I definitely felt like I didn't appreciate my school enough growing up and I want to impress upon my own kids how important their right to school is as well. I've seen other reviews where they said the writing feels very young but the young woman who wrote it was only 16 when she did so. I feel that she wrote very well for her age.
nataliek124's review against another edition
5.0
I hope that one day I’ll get a sense that this memoir is being taught in schools and that students are hearing this story. This is a story that needed to be told and understood by many people. It is a story of a girl who went about her normal life until her world completely changed and there was no control she had over it. But her and her family decided to stand up. They decided to use their resources and do what they could to make life better under the worst circumstances. This is a moving story and I enjoyed hearing her journey.
sarahnibhriomhar's review against another edition
5.0
An extremely powerful read. I strongly believe this should be required reading for school age children (secondary) so as not to take their education for granted. Malala is an amazing young woman, and I'm delighted that she's been accepted to study at Oxford.
ikuo1000's review against another edition
5.0
I decided to read this book after inadvertently reading the Young Readers Edition, [b:I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World|19161872|I Am Malala How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)|Malala Yousafzai|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1418768876s/19161872.jpg|52473571]. Mostly I was curious to see how the two versions differed.
If all you know of Malala Yousafzai is that "she's the girl who was shot by the Taliban", then the Young Readers Edition is an excellent, approachable introduction to who she is, how people have suffered under Islamist extremism, and what she hopes to accomplish with the Malala Fund. It's the 10,000-foot overview of her story, and it's a worthwhile read for anyone, regardless of age.
If you're interested in zooming in and getting more details, this book is exactly that. This edition provides significantly more information and context regarding Malala's family history, the Pashtun code, and the geography, religion, history, politics, and culture of both Swat and Pakistan. In this book, Malala also talks about U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, and other things related to U.S.-Pakistan relations, which are mentioned only very briefly in the Young Readers Edition. Still, even with the many more names, dates, and places thrown in, the book is primarily a memoir, which makes it a very accessible read.
While on the whole this edition is much more thorough, the Young Readers Edition does have some additional personal reflections and anecdotes that are not included in this book, e.g., what it was like to meet President Obama and Jon Stewart, and the teasing exchange Malala shares with Moniba at the start of every Skype call, about who has forgotten the other more. This book is certainly more informative, but I think the Young Readers Edition actually gives you a more complete and intimate impression of who Malala is as a private person.
There was one very minor, interesting difference I noticed between the two books... In the Young Readers Edition, Malala's best friend Moniba came across to me as kind of volatile, full of drama and quick to become jealous and angry. It wasn't clear to me why Malala was such good friends with her. But in this book, their friendship doesn't seem overshadowed by their spats, and Moniba is much more fleshed out and likable.
If all you know of Malala Yousafzai is that "she's the girl who was shot by the Taliban", then the Young Readers Edition is an excellent, approachable introduction to who she is, how people have suffered under Islamist extremism, and what she hopes to accomplish with the Malala Fund. It's the 10,000-foot overview of her story, and it's a worthwhile read for anyone, regardless of age.
If you're interested in zooming in and getting more details, this book is exactly that. This edition provides significantly more information and context regarding Malala's family history, the Pashtun code, and the geography, religion, history, politics, and culture of both Swat and Pakistan. In this book, Malala also talks about U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, and other things related to U.S.-Pakistan relations, which are mentioned only very briefly in the Young Readers Edition. Still, even with the many more names, dates, and places thrown in, the book is primarily a memoir, which makes it a very accessible read.
While on the whole this edition is much more thorough, the Young Readers Edition does have some additional personal reflections and anecdotes that are not included in this book, e.g., what it was like to meet President Obama and Jon Stewart, and the teasing exchange Malala shares with Moniba at the start of every Skype call, about who has forgotten the other more. This book is certainly more informative, but I think the Young Readers Edition actually gives you a more complete and intimate impression of who Malala is as a private person.
There was one very minor, interesting difference I noticed between the two books... In the Young Readers Edition, Malala's best friend Moniba came across to me as kind of volatile, full of drama and quick to become jealous and angry. It wasn't clear to me why Malala was such good friends with her. But in this book, their friendship doesn't seem overshadowed by their spats, and Moniba is much more fleshed out and likable.