Free as a Bird, The Story of Malala written and illustrated by Lina Maslo. This lovely biography tells the story of Malala Yousafzai and her courage to stand up, at a very young age, for the right of girls to be educated anywhere on Earth. Malala grew up the daughter of a teacher living in Pakistan, at a time and place when the religious extremist group, the Taliban, rose to take power. Malala was shot at the age of 15 only because she was a girl and she was getting an education. Malala’s courage to continue and speak up for equal human rights continues today. Lina Maslo has taken a, what could be construed as a scary story, and illustrated it in calming, soft watercolors to gently tell students of a younger age the story of a girl with the strength and courage to speak out for what is right in an environment stiff with ridged views.

Author/illustrator Lina Maslo tells the moving story of Malala Yousafzai in this beautifully-illustrated picture-book, describing her early exposure to schooling, thanks to her educator father, and her growing commitment to learning, in the face of violent opposition from some extremists in her region of Pakistan. The Taliban's attempt to assassinate her, and her subsequent worldwide campaign for educational access for girls, are also discussed. The book closes with an afterword that gives more information about Malala, and that also includes a timeline and a list of sources...

After reading Malala Yousafzai's own autobiographical picture-book, Malala's Magic Pencil, I was curious to see what other authors would do with her story, and requested Free as a Bird: The Story of Malala from the library. I found it informative and deeply moving, and appreciated some of the details - the fact that Malala was named for Pashtun heroine Malalai of Maiwand, for instance - that weren't in the other book. I also really liked the attention paid here to the role of Malala's father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, in encouraging her to struggle for her right to an education. He too was very courageous, as a public figure who took a strong stance in favor of girls' education, and without his influence, Malala would not be the person she is today, so I was glad to see that element of the story included. Maslo's artwork here was as beautiful as her narrative was inspiring, and I was struck by her assured use of vibrant color and stylized form. It's astonishing to think that this was her picture-book debut - I will definitely be on the look-out for more of her work! Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy biography, or are looking for inspiring stories of people who overcame great obstacles. ( )

This book is about the inspirational and empowering true story of Malala. I had never heard of Malala before but so glad I now have. She advocated for the right for girls to be educated in Pakistan during a tumultuous time for their country. Her efforts have turned into an international movement as she proves to be a voice for those that are silenced.
This book sparked my interest to learn more on the life and accomplishments of Malala. Education is so important, and I love that she refused to be silenced despite the danger she faced. Although simply told, the author does a fantastic job of conveying the powerful story of a girl who didn’t give up fighting for what was right. ( )

I decided to read this book since I'm also reading the book Malala Yousafzai wrote. This book told the story of her life in detail, but summed it up in a quick way. I really liked that the author did not say she shot or even where she had been shot. The illustrations did show the visuals of where, though it wasn't out right said. ( )

The Biography is of Malala, she is a young girl who has stood up for girls and boys all over the world. She speaks of peace, dignity, equal opportunity, and the right to an education. She is considered a significant figure because she has been through dangerous situations due to her beliefs and opinions but has opened many people’s eyes to the problems of the world. Malala was born into a culture where women were seen as less important than men and they did not deserve the same opportunities. Malala’s father ran a school for girls and boys, he always saw the potential in her and wanted her to be educated. When Malala grew up she refused to follow her cultures rules and not everyone agreed with her views. When Malala was born people felt sorry for her parents because girls were considered bad luck. She secretly went to school and spoke up for education. Malala traveled around the world speaking to queens, presidents and leaders of different countries about the importance of education for girls and boys. On July 12th Malala addressed the Youth Assembly at the United Nations on her 16th birthday. On December 10th Malala won the Nobel Peace Prize. The accuracy of the biography is spot on even though it simplifies the information for children. The book does leave out a lot of information but does a good job at keeping it at a level that children will understand. There is a part in the biography where it talks about Malala and the accident on the bus but does not go into detail for a good reason. Over all, the biography was interesting and had creative illustrations. ( )