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rosemwood's review against another edition
4.0
A heartbreaking story that is based on a true story of a young brave girl who would not be quite by what she believed in. Malala is a very inspiring person and I remember learning about her after she was attacked. This is her story about not only that attack but the build up of the attack. I wanted to give it a 5 star because she is such a brave girl but the writing was hard to get through at times. Some information it seemed disjointed and not part of her story. Though during her story she educates the read on just how bad it was growing up in her life. I recommend reading it.
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
At first I felt like I should give this book 4-5 stars solely based on what this girl has been through and all that she has accomplished in her very short lifetime. Malala is impressive and it is hard to believe that such a young girl could be so accomplished. When I think about the actual book itself, though, something is a little off for me. I thought it was interesting and informative. I learned some new things and got to know Malala and what she thinks about the world more... but it just wasn't a true 4-5 star rating for me. I think this book is important and would encourage others to read it, but I am going to leave it with 3 stars.
goobdiddy's review against another edition
5.0
I was expecting this to be a tough book to read, mainly because I find myself on the verge of weeping like a baby whenever I hear Malala speak on talk shows, etc. Hers is a truly extraordinary story, made even more so by her insistence that she's just doing what any girl would do. Through this book she paints a picture of Swat as a home, a place to be proud of, and a place to fight for, which is very different from the image that is portrayed in the media. Despite the horrifying events that happened to her, she hasn't given up, and is still giving back to the world. I was expecting to be bawling while reading her story, but instead of saying "that poor girl", I found my self saying "that amazingly powerful girl". I truly hope she succeeds in her mission to bring education to girls around the world. This is a highly recommended read for those in search of inspiration, or a good role model!
mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
5.0
The Diversify That Shelf Readathon was from August 10th to August 19th. I chose this to satisfy POC on the cover, a non western setting, and a different culture than me.
Malala is a young Pakistani woman who was born into a country at war with itself. Her father is a staunch believer of womens' rights especially to education as well as an outspoken political activist in general. Through, his unshakeable support of her, Malala follows in his footsteps to become a trailblazer in her own right.
I will not pretend to understand all of the intricacies of why Pakistan has had such political turmoil. It seems to largely be a result of religious fervor, self serving foreign interference and an inability to properly get anything done because of corrupt officials. This is obviously a broad strokes, outsiders' perspective so I encourage you to do your own research.
This book provides a lot of historical context to bolster Malala's story - something I very much appreciated. As someone who has very little knowledge of Pakistani society I felt that it was a great addition because I was able to better see the factors that contributed to Malala's circumstances. I actually would go so far as to say that it was necessary to ensure the reader gets the whole picture.
This is a mostly easy read. It's well paced, well documented, and well written overall. Malala's voice shines throughout. I listened to the audiobook which immersed me even more in the atmosphere. I say it's mostly an easy read because sometimes the subject matter becomes difficult to get through. It's never graphic in its discussion of some of the tragedies Malala and her people face, but it was often frustrating or lamentable nevertheless.
I don't think it was this life changing read, but it fulfilled all the major requirements of an autobiography and kept me entertained which is all I think you can really ask for when reading this genre.
Malala is a young Pakistani woman who was born into a country at war with itself. Her father is a staunch believer of womens' rights especially to education as well as an outspoken political activist in general. Through, his unshakeable support of her, Malala follows in his footsteps to become a trailblazer in her own right.
I will not pretend to understand all of the intricacies of why Pakistan has had such political turmoil. It seems to largely be a result of religious fervor, self serving foreign interference and an inability to properly get anything done because of corrupt officials. This is obviously a broad strokes, outsiders' perspective so I encourage you to do your own research.
This book provides a lot of historical context to bolster Malala's story - something I very much appreciated. As someone who has very little knowledge of Pakistani society I felt that it was a great addition because I was able to better see the factors that contributed to Malala's circumstances. I actually would go so far as to say that it was necessary to ensure the reader gets the whole picture.
This is a mostly easy read. It's well paced, well documented, and well written overall. Malala's voice shines throughout. I listened to the audiobook which immersed me even more in the atmosphere. I say it's mostly an easy read because sometimes the subject matter becomes difficult to get through. It's never graphic in its discussion of some of the tragedies Malala and her people face, but it was often frustrating or lamentable nevertheless.
I don't think it was this life changing read, but it fulfilled all the major requirements of an autobiography and kept me entertained which is all I think you can really ask for when reading this genre.
lleahy87's review against another edition
I struggle to read nonfiction. It felt like she was telling the same story over and over.
paytonroth33's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
cdjdhj's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting and compelling biography of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani school girl who is known because she was shot by the Taliban on her way home from school in October 2012. This book is her story, but it is also the detailed story of her family and childhood, as well her home country, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in Pakistan. The book tells of the volatile political situation in Pakistan, especially as the Taliban came to power in the days after the 9/11 attack in the U.S.. The book is well worth reading, to get a better picture of that part of the world and the political situation that has led to so much loss of life in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
emily_britton's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.75
This is a fascinating story but not great writing by any means.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Hate crime
booklover000's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Obsessed with Malala’s story. She is an inspiration and role model, and I was so excited to finally read her story in her words.