Miss K. Southern⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I learnt so much! Inspirational and heartbreaking…
7th June 2019
Format: eBook Edition Verified Purchase
I KNEW that I would find this to be a good if tough read, but never did I imagine that the words would literally reduce me to tears on more than one occasion. Seriously. This is one of those books that I’m instantly putting on my ‘books that everyone should read’ list because if they did, they would really learn a thing or two! For those who don’t know who Malala Yousafzai is, I really recommend looking into her inspiring story about opposing the Taliban regime, fighting for girl’s education and how Pakistan might be war-torn, but it is home and beautiful to her.

I liked how this book was split up. This is the Young Readers edition and I can see how the attack on Malala (and the aftermath in hospital) has probably been translated to be far less gruesome, as well as a simplification of the political climate in Pakistan. But I really thought that Patricia McCormick did a really good job of making the facts easy to understand, and it’s still an emotional read. I learnt A LOT while reading this as I don’t think that the plight of the Middle East is covered well in Western Society and I certainly had no real clue about exactly how the Taliban came about in the first place.

Malala’s story, as I said, is really touching. I liked that she remained focused throughout on her desperate bid to raise awareness on girl’s educational needs and the love for her country’s natural surroundings and sense of community when compared to that of England (being a white British girl even I can relate to the sense of isolation in our big cities) is nice because it really puts into perspective that money, technology and a sense of entitlement is NOT everything. It is love that brings happiness, as soppy as it sounds. What’s more, the horrors imposed by the Taliban could EASILY happen in any other country and I really feel that privileged people (including myself) would do well to remember this while reading. Passionate and inspiring, this is my favourite read of the month for sure!

Phoebe Penny ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you’re going to read anything in 2016, please let it be this.
1st June 2019
Format: eBook Verified Purchase
This book was one of a few autobiographical books I read last year, really in a phase of doing so. But this one is one of the top books I’ve EVER read. This shouldn’t even be a hard decision for people to purchase. I learnt more about Pakistan and Afghanistan, more about the Taliban, more about Islam and Muslim religion, more about the life for people in those countries and the history of the people that live or lived there. This book was eye opening and amazing to read.

Malala Yousafzai encompasses stories from her father and from people in history and they all tie into her own. How she stood up for education long before the majority of the world knew who she was, how her father stood up for education before her and how he taught her and helped her and how she helped him. How the war in those countries began and how her life was affected by the worst things you couldn’t even imagine experiencing if you live anywhere like I do, the pretty countryside in the south of England. The most I have to deal with is a bus not showing up on time or money problems. This story is about all of the men, women and children who have suffered at the hands of the Taliban and it teaches us who read it the importance of remembering where we live and what we do not understand along with teaching us that we’re all the same. We are all human beings and all deserve to be treated with the same amounts of respect and love as each other.  Read this book if you’re going to read anything this year. Please let it be this.

  Mrirazak

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  The toughest book I’ve ever read, packed full of emotion and understanding by the world.”

16th Mar 2019

I have never been so integrated by her book with our worlds society facts. Women around the world, don’t get the same liberties and rights that men do- FACT!, Women like Malala would be denied the chance of education if she hadn’t fought for it- Fact!. These were many of problems of today’s society, when I even write this review my heart breaks after reading this book. the toughest book I’ve ever read, packed full of emotion and understanding by the world. Why does the world come together after a disaster has happened? Malala was outspoken by Taliban regime that took over SWAT, but nobody came for her aid or the millions that lived their. I myself am working on an education project to help people like Malala before she came to the UK to get an education, with the constant support of public hopefully, I will be successful but I won’t give up on trying to help people.

  Library Lady
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Incredible
19 May 2019
Format: eBook Verified Purchase
A story of incredible bravery, from an inspirational child who refused to be bowed by the might of possibly the most powerful terrorist organisation. She is the champion of all oppressed women and a champion of education for those women. It was the most incredible read, I sobbed through most of the book, alternately sad for this poor little girl and all she has had to endure , and then filled with with hope that this young girl will over the next generation inspire our young people to take back the power from the despots, dictators and the oppressors and build a better world for all. This should be on the curriculum for all teenagers to read.