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recs_be's review
4.0
In this shorter version of her book, Malala's bravery and humility still shone through. if you're not sure if you would like to read her memoirs so far, due to the topics discussed within, then this abridged edition is ideal for you, as it is both short, giving you a glimpse into the lived reality, but is also low in cost, since the quick reads range cost £1 per title.
unapologetic_bibliosmia's review
3.0
‘“Who is Malala?” The gunman demanded. I am Malala. This is my story.’
This is the story of Malala, who despite being born not only a girl, but from Swat, in Mountainous Pakistan, decided to attempt to change the world.
It was Malala’s dream that all children regardless of their upbringing or family wealth, should have access to an education. After seeing children as young as 4 or 5 sorting rubbish into piles at the rubbish tip, and watching her mother invite all of the neighborhood’s hungry children into their kitchen where she would feed them with rice and meat despite not having much money themselves, Malala was determined to change the world to ensure all children learned to read and write, and got educations that allowed them to excel in life.
Malala was lucky to be born into a family that did not care that she was a girl, but she highlights how others were not so fortunate and their fathers would visibly cry if their wives did not birth a boy. She was also lucky that her father had strong beliefs in the right for young girls to go to school, and not only opened his own school in their home town of Swat, but also campaigned publicly, interviewing key individuals and speaking on the radio about the importance of females being allowed to gain an education.
For this work, her father soon gained notoriety, and when the Taliban invaded their home town, her father was soon targeted for his views. This soon turned into attention towards Malala who refused to stop going to school when the Taliban gained control, and refused to be silenced about her beliefs. Malala used her experiences living under Taliban rule to write about girls being denied the ability to learn, and as her audience grew she wrote about other experiences of living under Taliban rule, including when her and her family became ‘IDPs’ - International Displaced Persons and had to flee to Islamabad.
This defiance in the public eye gained her the attention of the Taliban, who announced that they would be targeting her....and sure enough...they did.
The world-famous event that we all know Malala for, happened one day on the school bus back from school, with her best friend by her side. ‘Who is Malala?’ The gunman asked.....
The shot pierced her eye and exited her shoulder, leaving her close to death. Despite medical attention in the country’s best hospital, Malala was eventually flown to Birmingham, England for treatment, and found the stage for her story. This is her story.
I think I have done an injustice to this book by reading the abridged version. It appears there are at least 3 different versions of this auto- biography, including an unabridged version and an abridged children’s version. This Galaxy Quick Reads version is only 120 odd pages long and took me a couple of hours to read cover to cover. I think the unabridged version is probably less erratic and fast paced and probably explores each time frame a little more in depth. This quick version is split into 5 parts and gives a brief overview in each time period of Malala’s life from school to her days in England.
Having been denied an education myself from the age of 13 by an abusive, alcoholic mother I felt and understood Malala’s drive for her own education, and admired her dream to ensure all children have the right and access to education. Like Malala, I fought for my right to be educated, and at 16 went to college to get GCSEs ( not after a fight with the college who told me I wouldn’t have the skill set), went on to get a degree in English, and now work for the government overseas.
I feel strongly about Malala’s cause and admire her achievements and the ability to turn her own and her family’s lives around for the better despite her serious and shocking setbacks that would set any normal child back.
Having just read The Librarian of Auschwitz, the similarities are striking - the desire and worth of just a single book to a child who is denied the right to learn, and the bravery and passion of the deprived to keep and hold onto that book is massive.
I would recommend this book to all, at only 120 odd pages in this edition, there is an accessibility to everyone. Perhaps I may read the longer unabridged version to improve my understanding of her backstory in the future.
This is the story of Malala, who despite being born not only a girl, but from Swat, in Mountainous Pakistan, decided to attempt to change the world.
It was Malala’s dream that all children regardless of their upbringing or family wealth, should have access to an education. After seeing children as young as 4 or 5 sorting rubbish into piles at the rubbish tip, and watching her mother invite all of the neighborhood’s hungry children into their kitchen where she would feed them with rice and meat despite not having much money themselves, Malala was determined to change the world to ensure all children learned to read and write, and got educations that allowed them to excel in life.
Malala was lucky to be born into a family that did not care that she was a girl, but she highlights how others were not so fortunate and their fathers would visibly cry if their wives did not birth a boy. She was also lucky that her father had strong beliefs in the right for young girls to go to school, and not only opened his own school in their home town of Swat, but also campaigned publicly, interviewing key individuals and speaking on the radio about the importance of females being allowed to gain an education.
For this work, her father soon gained notoriety, and when the Taliban invaded their home town, her father was soon targeted for his views. This soon turned into attention towards Malala who refused to stop going to school when the Taliban gained control, and refused to be silenced about her beliefs. Malala used her experiences living under Taliban rule to write about girls being denied the ability to learn, and as her audience grew she wrote about other experiences of living under Taliban rule, including when her and her family became ‘IDPs’ - International Displaced Persons and had to flee to Islamabad.
This defiance in the public eye gained her the attention of the Taliban, who announced that they would be targeting her....and sure enough...they did.
The world-famous event that we all know Malala for, happened one day on the school bus back from school, with her best friend by her side. ‘Who is Malala?’ The gunman asked.....
The shot pierced her eye and exited her shoulder, leaving her close to death. Despite medical attention in the country’s best hospital, Malala was eventually flown to Birmingham, England for treatment, and found the stage for her story. This is her story.
I think I have done an injustice to this book by reading the abridged version. It appears there are at least 3 different versions of this auto- biography, including an unabridged version and an abridged children’s version. This Galaxy Quick Reads version is only 120 odd pages long and took me a couple of hours to read cover to cover. I think the unabridged version is probably less erratic and fast paced and probably explores each time frame a little more in depth. This quick version is split into 5 parts and gives a brief overview in each time period of Malala’s life from school to her days in England.
Having been denied an education myself from the age of 13 by an abusive, alcoholic mother I felt and understood Malala’s drive for her own education, and admired her dream to ensure all children have the right and access to education. Like Malala, I fought for my right to be educated, and at 16 went to college to get GCSEs ( not after a fight with the college who told me I wouldn’t have the skill set), went on to get a degree in English, and now work for the government overseas.
I feel strongly about Malala’s cause and admire her achievements and the ability to turn her own and her family’s lives around for the better despite her serious and shocking setbacks that would set any normal child back.
Having just read The Librarian of Auschwitz, the similarities are striking - the desire and worth of just a single book to a child who is denied the right to learn, and the bravery and passion of the deprived to keep and hold onto that book is massive.
I would recommend this book to all, at only 120 odd pages in this edition, there is an accessibility to everyone. Perhaps I may read the longer unabridged version to improve my understanding of her backstory in the future.
readingwithgemma's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to learn more about Malala’s story but knew I wouldn’t get around to the whole book anytime soon so when I saw it was a quick read I picked it up straight away. It’s an incredible and empowering story and it makes me want to change the world. She is an incredible individual and the book perfectly narrates her story in a concise way.
justovereherereading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Very informative. What a girl!
jacobs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.25
willow_21_05's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Grief, and War