I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb
I Am Malala is a powerful and inspirational book, that tells the story of one courageous girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Malala was just 17 years old when she received the Nobel Peace Prize, making her the youngest ever recipient. Her passion, determination, and bravery resonates deeply within each and every page, touching the hearts and encouraging the minds of many.
When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, they banned all girls from going to school. They took their books and pens, and gave them pots and pans. They took their knowledge and joy, and replaced it with fear and sorrow. A storm cloud of gloom cast the valley into darkness, but there was one blazing beam of light that refused to be extinguished. Malala fiercely spoke out against the Taliban, through speeches and interviews, demanding that the gift of education be handed back to girls. When the Taliban threatened her, she spoke up even louder, With a thirst for education that could not and would not be quenched.
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when Malala was just 15, she was shot in the head at point blank range by the Taliban, while riding the bus home from school. They thought their bullets would silence her, but instead they amplified her voice. intensifying her strength, to fight with her burning devotion for girls rights and education for all. Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on a remarkable journey, from a remote valley in Pakistan to the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. Malala is an icon for peaceful protest and a role model for girls all around the world.
I Am Malala is an absolute must read, that highlights just how much we take for granted every day; freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the freedom to dream. For although Malala wasn't allowed to dream beyond the Taliban's strict rule, she took her dream of equality for girls and education, watered it day by day with love and care, and watched it blossom into something beautiful that sheds it petals all around the world today.
Reviewed by Vindhya Kathuria