Although I didn't know who Malala was when I chose this book, I remembered hearing about her on the news as I read through. It was more emotional for me reading her story and the illustrations than hearing it on television. Malala is a Muslim girl from northern Pakistan. Her family and she were in the middle of a war between the Pakistan government and the Taliban. The Taliban forced strict rules upon the people where Malala lived. One rule is that girls and women should stay mostly at home and not receive an education. However, Malala was a bright young girl and she believed that all children have the right to an education. After the war, Malala and her family returned home. While on a school bus, the Taliban shot Malala on the side of her head. Thankfully, she recovered, now stronger than ever. She spoke up for children around the world. "One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world." This biography is significant to our world. With the Malala fund, many girls are provided education. For children and families who are not affected, this book provides knowledge of what is happening in other countries. The author has included a page of sources that were used in writing the book. I like that the author provides background information about the countries involved and photographs of Malala. She also includes the projects Malala has been involved in to give children better opportunities. ( )

Summary: A story of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani girl who stands up and speaks out for every child’s right to education. When the Taliban came to power in the Swat Valley, they thought girls should not be educated nor should they go to school. Her father was the principal of the school and encouraged Malala to tell the story, in which she did through her blogs and voiced her opinions on the right to education for all children. She won the Pakistan’s first National Youth Award for Peace in 2011. In 2012 Malala and two of her classmates were shot by a Taliban gunman, she survived the attack and it gave her more strength to resolve the issues she was fighting for. She spoke at the U.N. on her 16th birthday nine months after being shot. People around the world are hearing her advocacy and dream for everyone’s rights to education. And Malala began a fund called Malala Fund to give girls hope for a better life and provides girls in the Swat Valley access to education. In 2013 she was awarded by the European Parliament the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for her courage in defending the right of all children to be educated.

Personal Response: This book is a nicely written biography of the life of Malala Yousafzai, the girl who fought for the right for children to have an education. The story is touching with wonderful illustrations that capture the text. It is a very influential book that can be easily understood by children.

Curriculum Connections: This book can be used in a PreK-2nd grade Social Studies classroom when teaching about influential people, the events that are happening throughout the world and the rights people are fighting for. It can also teach children about the importance of education, what other children are enduring and how we can help better our world. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I was reading through it. As an adult I have read the actual Malala book and similarly to Iqbal I was shocked at how well the language in this book still was able to portray the message that was coming across but in an approriate way for children. The illustrations were sharp and helped add a sense of familiarity to children who may be unaware of a life such as Malala's. Though it is a children's book, the characters are all portrayed to be very real. There are many parallels to the Malala novel just in a more kid friendly sense. I think that this book can help children be more aware of the world around them in a fun and educational way. The language and illustrations convey a powerful message in an engaging way. I think this book is approriate for both children and adults to read and will leave both with a sense of satisfaction and interest. ( )

This is the picture book to share the incredible bravery of Malala Yousafzai and her courage that almost cost her her life and the story behind her Noble Peace Prize. " We have some people who are afraid of ghosts and some people who are afraid of spiders, and in Swat we are afraid of humans like us."