Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls' Rights

I firmly believe that everyone, young and old, should know Malala's story. Her book, I am Malala, brought global attention to her incredible story and international acclaim for her courage and strength. In this abridged version of that story, young readers find a relatable young girl from whom to draw inspiration.

In this book Malala tells the story of her life, starting from when she was a toddler standing in the empty classrooms of her father's school and tracing the events that led her to speaking out for the educational rights of girls in her country. She writes with such sincerity, engaging the reader in her everyday life while coming across as a young girl any reader might find themselves sharing a classroom with. As time goes on, she begins to relate the fear that overtook their valley as the Taliban moves further and further into their lives.
Malala goes into detail about the day to day experiences with the Taliban and their fear-mongering, explaining the effect it was having on not only her and her family, but their entire town. People were staying indoors, hiding away from watchful eyes. Girls stopped coming to school, fearful as the Taliban spread messages that girls should not be allowed to have an education and that in doing so, they were defying the laws of the Taliban and the Quran. Malala was 10 years old, and praying for the safety of her friends and family every night, slowly growing used to the sounds of the bombs nearby and listening to the news everyday, praying that the army would drive away the Taliban once and for all.

She begins to speak out, becoming increasingly vocal about the fear and turmoil her and her friends are suffering through. She volunteers to write a diary for the BBC to publish, demonstrating the average life for a Pashtun living under the threat of Taliban rule. She follows in her father's footsteps, advocating for educational rights and promising to stand tall against threats to destroy her school, and threats against her father.
Even when her own life is threatened, Malala does not back down. She is determined to see this through, to continue to push for peace and equality. She is awarded the Pakistan Youth Peace Prize and speaks out often, understanding know that her destiny is to be the voice for every child who cannot speak for themselves.


Her story is written simply and concisely, with enough extra details to paint a picture of an ordinary young woman, trying to live the life she felt born for and wanting nothing more than the freedom to pursue her dreams. Malala tells her story from her own point of view, meaning that all she knows of what happened when she was shot, point-blank, in the head, is what others tell her. She wakes up in the hospital alone and afraid, thousands of miles from home, in pain and with little to no memory of how she might have ended up here.

The book includes a short glossary of terms, a pronunciation guide, and a timeline of her life. There are several short excerpts with information about the Islamic holiday Ramadan and Mingora, Malala's hometown in Swat Valley. I like that a lot-I really think that Western education spends so little time helping children understand different cultures and religions. Seeing how Malala and her friends are just like any other kids goes a long way toward her impact on readers.

I am in absolute awe of her strength, courage, determination, and generosity. With this book, perfect for young readers around 8-12, she reaches a whole new generation that deserves to know what this young girl has been through and how she has not only survived, but thrived in a world determined to beat her down. A must-read for any young readers, and older readers looking for a brief introduction to her story.