I Am Malala,The girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban.   By Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

This is the second book about strong, empowering women that I have read from my list shared at the Oswego, NY Fall Seminar.

This book, with it’s mesmerizing portrait of Malala on the cover, is the story of a family that lived in the Swat Valley in Pakistan:  North of Pakistan, sandwiched in by Afghanistan on the NW, Iran on the SW, Tajikistan and China on the N. and India on the SE.  This is an area of the world that I know very little about, hence my desire to read her story.

Throughout the book, even with all the difficult adversities that she and her family suffered, Malala lovingly and longingly talks about her homeland with exquisite detail as she describes growing up in that part of the world.  She was born in a country that did not embrace daughters, as sons were the ultimate “prize” for families.  Malala’s father however, respected and loved her unconditionally and asked friends to throw dried fruits, sweets and coins into her cradle when she was born (something that they traditionally only do for boys.)  Her father looked into her eyes after she was born and said, he “fell in love.”

She grew up very close to her father and he encouraged her love of free speech, education and peace.  Her intense love of her valley, Swat, is well described in several pages of her book.  If you don’t know too much about this region of the world, Malala describes it in vivid detail.

The book includes pictures, a glossary of unfamiliar words, maps as well as important events in Pakistan and Swat history.  After reading this book, I have a deeper appreciation for what some women and girls must endure and I know little about.  Very enlightening! 

Malala is an activist and fighter for girls around the world who are being denied the right to go to school. In 2013, Malala addressed the UN in New York on her 16^thbirthday and called for free education for all children.