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I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Malala Yousafzai

Start date: August 1, 2015

Finish date: August 31, 2015

Why we're reading this: August Group Read

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Jul 11, 2014 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio, culture, family, autobiography, religion, war, library, nonfiction, social-commentary, concierge

Audiobook read by Archie Panjabi

The subtitle says it all: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
Adapted from the book cover: When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out,. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expec ...more

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Oct 12, 2014 Diana S rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2014, remember-2014

I give it 3.5 stars ★★★ I couldn't put it down once I got into it. A very brave young woman. A heart wrenching story. ...more

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Apr 19, 2016 Marie (UK) rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2016-reading-challenge

I have to say the first 3/4 of this book is the best cure for insomnia going. There is far too much about pakistani history and the life of Malala's family. She claims to have decided at a very young age that she would not conform to the Islamic expectations of women - I suspect she was brought up to feel like that because of the way her father, in particular, treated her and that this was less a decision of hers than one of her father's. I find the writing contradictory sometime very mature and ...more

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Jul 07, 2015 Linda C rated it it was amazing

Shelves: religious, non-fiction, memoir-biography, cultural, history, middle-eastern

Malala Yousafzai was a much loved daughter of an educator who operated from one to a chain of schools. He was a strong proponent of education for all and had many students attending his schools that could not pay keeping him on the financial edge. Malala was his first born and a celebrated birth, though girls were often not celebrated. Father and daughter had a strong connection and he treated her as an intelligent companion from an early age, discussing religion, politics and education. She was Malala Yousafzai was a much loved daughter of an educator who operated from one to a chain of schools. He was a strong proponent of education for all and had many students attending his schools that could not pay keeping him on the financial edge. Malala was his first born and a celebrated birth, though girls were often not celebrated. Father and daughter had a strong connection and he treated her as an intelligent companion from an early age, discussing religion, politics and education. She was allowed and encouraged to speak her mind although friends continually warned her to guard her tongue. Malala's mother was illiterate and despite encouragement would not stray from her traditional role. It is ironic that she finally decided to learn to read and attended her first class on the day that Malala was shot.

Malala had been attending interviews with her father throughout the region and voicing her opinion from the age of 11. She was asked to write a blog for the BBC concerning a girl's life in northwest Pakistan's Swat Valley, where the military and Taliban fought for control. She did this under an assumed name, but was acknowledged as the writer before too long. By 13 she was making speeches on education for all and promoting peace. By 15 she was being recognized with awards for her work.

It is unfortunate that she was not considered to be in as much danger as her outspoken political father and indeed did not consider it so herself. Malala was shot in the face on her way home from school on a bus with other girls. 2 other girls were also injured. Although the Pakistan government paid for her medical bills both at home and in England and moved her whole family to Birmingham to be with her tensions in Pakistan have made it impossible for her to return home and the family remains in Birmingham.

Malala has since won the Nobel Peace Prize (2014 at 17) and speaks for education worldwide. A fund has been created in her name and several schools opened in war torn areas. This book gave me a history of Pakistan particularly the struggles under a military government and a religious fanatic group. Very well done. ...more

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Oct 16, 2020 Skye rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: strong-women, biographies, feminism, memoir

There are just some people in the world who seem to make me feel bad for the many, many things that I don’t do. It’s not necessarily a bad thing… just a, well… thing. That feeling of guilt that accompanies the reminder that there are some seriously bad arse, tough, amazing women out in the world. And Malala Yousafzai is most certainly one of them. That’s not to say that reading I Am Malala made me feel guilty or horrible, but it served as a reminder of the awesomeness of this young woman.

The jou ...more

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