When I read Malala Yousafzai’s memoir I Am Malala I was surprised by the courage of this young girl in the face of danger, by the fear that came with the Taliban, and by the confidence she had when faced with death threats and threats toward her family. With a voice that spreads the truth about the Taliban’s control in Swat while keeping a hopeful perspective throughout the story, Malala is wise beyond her years and is truly inspiring.

Malala tells the story of her home in Swat before and after the Taliban came into her valley. She shows the changes in her daily life as the Taliban spread terror by bombing schools and killing those who spoke out against them. Their terror-inducing methods changed a lot of aspects of her life, as well the lives of many others. She talks about leaving Swat when the fighting got too intense to stay with family in a different neighborhood and having to leave behind her books and her brother’s chickens. The stories she tells of her experience living in a place taken over by the Taliban are unbelievable and opened my eyes a little more to the struggle of many women and men in countries all over the world.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the Muslim culture or anyone interested in the stories of people living in a world so different from our own. Malala opens eyes to the difficulties that many people in Pakistan face and weaves optimism with truth in this inspiring memoir.

AR Information: 
ZPD 7.1  
16 points

Young Reader's Edition:
ZPD 5.9
7 points