I Am Malala

January 27, 2014
Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen who captured worldwide attention and admiration after surviving a violent attack from militant forces opposed to female education in her region, introduces the audio edition of her memoir with the same enthusiastic oratorical style that characterized her appearance before the United Nations. Emmy-winner Panjabi (The Good Wife) reads with a balanced tone that manages to embody both Yousafzai’s youthful zeal and the seasoned perspective of coauthor and foreign correspondent Lamb. Panjabi’s narration effectively evokes the attachment of Yousafzai to her community, and her enunciation and pronunciation lends authenticity to the production. A helpful PDF with color photos, a glossary, and a timeline is also included. A Little, Brown hardcover.

Starred review from August 25, 2014
Adapted with McCormick (Never Fall Down) from the adult bestseller, this inspiring memoir by activist Yousafzai sketches her brave actions to champion education in Pakistan under the Taliban. Her father runs a school in the Swat Valley, where Malala proves an eager student; as the Taliban gains influence, she increasingly becomes an international spokesperson for girls' right to learn. The narrative begins with a prologue in which a Taliban gunman boards her school bus and asks, "Who is Malala?" The authors then offer insight into the cultural and political events leading up to the shooting that followed and Yousafzai's dramatic recovery. Yousafzai highlights the escalating tensions as the Taliban takes holdâincluding the strictures against girls attending school, the obliteration of Western influence, violence, and the eventual warâbut also brings the universal to life as she quarrels with her brothers, treasures her best friend, and strives to earn top grades. A glossary, color photo inserts, and an extensive timeline help establish context. It's a searing and personal portrait of a young woman who dared to make a difference. Ages 10âup.

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen shot for her activism for girls' education, tells her story for a middle-grade audience.Although billed as a "young readers edition" of Yousafzai's 2013 book of the same name for adults, co-written with Christina Lamb, the designation does the book a disservice, as this is no simple redaction. With the capable assistance of co-author McCormick, the account has been effectively rewritten specifically for children. The story is straightforward, related chronologically and covering Yousafzai's growth in activism, her shooting and her recovery in England. Yousafzai's voice is appealingly youthful, though it often tells rather than shows and frequently goes over the top: In her school, she writes, "we flew on wings of knowledge." Still, young Western readers will come to understand the gulf that separates them from Yousafzai through carefully chosen anecdotes, helping them see what drives her to such lyrical extremes. Unfortunately, much is lost in the translation from the adult book, presumably sacrificed for brevity and directness; most lamentable is social and political context. Although readers will come away with a good understanding of Yousafzai's immediate experiences, the geopolitical forces that shape her culture go largely unmentioned except in a closing timeline that amounts to a dizzying list of regime changes. Though Yousafzai's memoir never transcends her story, that story is a powerful and inspiring one; supplemented by contextualizing information, it should pack quite a wallop. (glossary) (Memoir. 10-14) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2015

Gr 6 Up-In this young readers edition of Yousafzai's best-selling memoir, the Nobel Peace Prize winner retells her experiences at home and at school and discusses the impact of the Taliban presence in Pakistan. Her strong voice and ideals come across on every page, emphasizing how her surroundings and supportive family helped her become the relevant figure she is today. Yousafzai highlights the importance of school and how it was the only space where she felt empowered. Although at times the transitions between personal accounts and historical background feel abrupt, Yousafzai effectively summarizes her story and her advocacy for girls' education, peace, and human rights. Above all, she stresses that she doesn't want to be known as the girl shot by the Taliban but rather as a young person who actively fought for education. A strong addition to social studies, history, and biography collections.-Sujei Lugo, Somerville Public Library, MA

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