I Am Malala

The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

By: Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb - contributor

Narrated by: Archie Panjabi

Audie Award Finalist, Biography/Memoir, 2014

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

I am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2013 Malala Yousafzai (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Archie Panjabi is an excellent choice to deliver this memoir of the Pakistani girl who stood up to the Taliban. Her voice is youthful, lilting, and buoyant, invoking the key qualities of the now well-known young woman who, at the age of 15, was shot three times in the face by the Taliban because she actively advocated education for girls. Panjabi narrates with vigor; rapid sentences and warm tones evoke Malala's persona. The listener has the feeling of being told this story by Malala herself rather than by an actor, which is the best type of audiobook. Those who want to hear more about Afghanistan, Pakistan's Swat Valley, or the family behind this courageous young person will not be disappointed." (AudioFile Magazine)

This book was a wonderful surprise

I never had any intention of reading or listening to this book when it came out. Anything Oprah raves about drops down on my list of experiences I want to partake in.....and then one morning, I looked at Malala's face on the cover and changed my mind. And I was pleased to discover this wasn't the preachy or heavy-handed book about politics and the evils of the Taliban that I was afraid it would be.

Happily, this book is more about a brave young woman than about politics. And it's about her supportive parents, in a place and time when that wasn't always available to girls and young women. I was as much impressed by the life and actions of her father as I was about Malala herself, and I think he and his contributions have been overlooked much of the time. Malala obviously learned a lot from the way he treated his wife and daughter (very different from many others of his culture), the way he fought to build schools and teach children (male and female), and the way he spoke out, organized, and negotiated to make education for all a priority.

It's not surprising that a smart girl from a family like that would also grow up to cherish education and to speak her mind about the importance of everyone having those opportunities. What was surprising (to me) was that it didn't take away from her "normal-ness" as a pre-teen and teenaged girl.....and that comes through in the book. She talks about chatting with school friends about pop music and the Twilight books, and about fighting with her younger brothers over access to toys or a computer. About enjoying going on picnics, and playing cricket. Ordinary stuff that happens to young teenaged girls all over the world.

It's also clear from the book how much Malala loves her home and her country, even while she is saddened by what is going on there (mostly in respect to the rights of women and children, but also that some of her own countrymen have claimed her shooting was either a fake, or an excuse to move to the West). She is also quite clear that her views on Islam have not been changed by the efforts of other groups to instill a fringe fanaticism that is not reflective of true Islam. That while her world has been changed by the Taliban and what has happened to her, she has not.

The narration was wonderful, full of heart and emotion, and sounding young enough to actually be a 16 year old girl (which lends even more realism to the reading).

Awesome....

Where does I am Malala rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best I have heard. The story line is very gripping.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Malala

Which character – as performed by Archie Panjabi – was your favorite?

Malala

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I am Malala

MALALA WILL BE FREE AS A BIRD...

There is no other way to sum up this book other than 'humbling and awe-inspiring' and what's more is that this story is true. This is an account of one young girl’s struggle, tragedy and her ultimate triumph against a ruthless, irrational and unreasonable enemy. I absolutely loved the descriptive way in which Malala recounted her life in the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This book opens with a prologue, which is narrated by Malala herself. In spite of the terror she has been through, one can hear the compassion and optimism in her gentle child's voice. Her story is powerful and just as she loves knowledge she uses her book to carefully educate the reader/listener about her beloved land. We are introduced to the beautiful Swat valley as we become familiar with Malala's family and friends, her people, her culture and also the cruel, unreasoning extremists/Taliban who, through fear and terror, force their repressive rules upon her and her townspeople.

Malala is the girl who stood up for what she believed. With her father and family’s support she became known for her activism regarding the rights of girls/women to obtain an education; especially in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban banned girls from attending school and leaving their homes. Malala's outspokenness made her a target of these local Taliban, which caused her to be shot in the head at point-blank range. She nearly died but her assassin failed. Malala was critically injured but that did not stop her and in spite of the Taliban reiterating its death threats against her and her family, Malala has not faded away. She has not faltered and she has never compromised her dreams.

The crime against Malala was inhumane and horrifying but through it all she remains serenely defiant and optimistic. With wisdom beyond her years this young girl's words inspire and it is this spirit of Malala’s that has captured the hearts of people around the world.

I am so stirred by this gentle, optimistic, slight wisp of a girl who even now holds a book as her only ‘weapon’ against the army of Taliban who want her dead…and she is winning! It has taken a child to remind us once again that the pen is mightier than the sword and the world agrees because Malala was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; the youngest person to accomplish such a feat if she is chosen.

I will tell as many people as I can that they should read/hear this story because this amazing young girl is a rare and precious gift with a very relevant and important message/struggle. So who is Malala?...I am Malala!

Amazing

This is an amazing story told by an amazing young woman. It is true hat one person can change the world. Malala proves that!

Uplifting, informative, fascinating!!!

Where does I Am Malala rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top ten for sure!

What about Archie Panjabi’s performance did you like?

The narrator captured Malala's personality beautifully.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

You bet!!!

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this audiobook to you. It helped me understand things about Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India, as well as Islam, and other religions of the area. I also understood the Taliban and Osama bin Laden from the viewpoint of a native Pakistani. It is not depressing or concerning. It is interesting and uplifting and delightful, while, at the same time, being very informative. The attitude and life of this Pakistani girl, Malala, is an example to us all. It was hard to turn it off when I had other things I needed to do (like go to work, go to sleep, etc.). Fascinating and beautifully written.

Good book

Where does I am Malala rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's an ok book but nothing to rave about

What was one of the most memorable moments of I am Malala?

Playing in the school yard

Would you be willing to try another one of Archie Panjabi’s performances?

If they lean to speak faster

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It shouldn't be made into a film

Any additional comments?

Had to listen at double speed as the reader is so slow.

Fantastic

Great narrative. I would recommend this audio to anyone. Malala is a beatiful and heroic girl.

Loved this book!

Through this story I learned about the culture and history of Pakistan through Malala's touching and heroic saga.

My favorite book this year

So inspirational! I wish every American would read this book and gain an understanding of what a true Muslim believes.

This is one of the best books I've ever read

This story was inspirational while clearly detailing what life is actually like for people in Pakistan. It also made it clear how extremist views can be adopted by your upstanding neighbor or even yourself. Most of all though, it reminds us that people across the world are human too.