I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

                Malala Yousafzai is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. She is a young Pashtun girl who was raised in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin, dreamed of creating a school and ended up residing over three schools in the Swat Valley. His love for education was passed on to his daughter and she became an advocate for educating women in Pakistan and all over the world. Her love of education made her a target for the Taliban. Malala had experienced fear under Taliban rule years earlier when they took over the Swat Valley in 2009. Bombings and gun fire rang out in her village and the fear was palpable. Her school was closed and she began speaking out alongside her father for the need to educate youth, including girls. She would eventually leave her home in Swat Valley as the military fought to take back the valley from the Taliban. She would return 3 months later to her home, school and would continue to speak openly. Three years later she would be shot by the Taliban. Malala left Pakistan for medical care, never to return again. She was only 15 years old.

                I could never imagine having to live the life described in the pages of I Am Malala. I never experienced a hostile takeover. I have never seen my government completely taken over by terrorist. I have never feared for my life because of the sound of gunfire ringing through the night or feared that a suicide bomber may be lurking around the corner. Malala spoke about all these things and how she watched the world around her slowly be destroyed. With each page Malala wrote of her world very honestly and from the heart. She spoke of her faith and how her family lived. She explained her culture and what life was like living in her beautiful Swat Valley. She discussed how life changed when the Taliban slowly took over and how the government seemed to allow it. It was obvious throughout that Malala wanted people to understand everything that happened to her, how these things were allowed and what led to her shooting.

                To hear of a young girl fighting for her education and the education of women around the world was inspiring. It was that passion and drive that made me want to read Malala’s memoir. I remember hearing of her shooting in 2012 but I wasn’t aware of the impact she had been making in Pakistan. I was shocked and disgusted that the Taliban would stoop so low as to attack a child. Now after reading her book I understand that they were afraid of the message she was spreading. You can’t manipulate people if they educate and think for themselves. Reading this memoir there were so many moments that I could only commend Malala for not only her bravery but her faith. At a time when many people look at Islam as a threat, she showcases what her religion is supposed to embrace and it’s not what the Taliban showcases. I’m glad Malala chose to write this memoir and that she told not only her story, but the story of her people, the history of Swat Valley and of the terror everyone experienced. I give this memoir 5 out of 5 stars. It was educational, inspiring and full of the hope of a young girl fighting to make a difference.