I Am Malala: A Book Review

Imagine fetching gas cylinders to cook, oil lamps to see & read from, and eating dinner on the floor.

Imagine having chicken for dinner. If you're a girl, you can only have the neck or wing. If you're a boy, you're allowed the breast and thigh. You have no say. You have no choice.

Would you like eggs for breakfast? If you're a girl, you can't have them. Eggs are prepared and given to the boys.

You don't have sanitation pick-up! You bring your garbage/rubbish down the street and throw it into a pile. If you're poor, you rummage through the pile and sort glass, paper etc. to be sold for rupees (money). Sores cover your skin and your hair is matted.

If you're raped and become pregnant, you go to jail. You can only be exonerated if FOUR males come forward and state it was a crime.

You can't open a bank account without a man's permission. If you want to go somewhere, a male must be with you (brother, husband, parent). You can't even open your front door, if someone knocks. A male must answer it.

To flirt with a boy, brings shame upon your family. One girl did, and her family poisoned her.

If you're a girl, you can be given to another tribe to resolve a feud.

This is what goes on in Pakistan!

Life for a woman is even harder in Afghanistan!


"I Am Malala" is about Malala Yousafzai. People know, she was the girl that was shot by a Taliban member, but that's it. The book explains the meaning of her name, WHO she really is, who her family is, where she lives and what she saw on a daily basis while living in Swat, Pakistan. This books gives a detailed account of her birth, childhood, pre-teen and adolescent years.

Malala was blessed with two amazing and loving parents! She was born into poverty. Her mother was illiterate, but very wise and nurturing. Her father? An extraordinary man! Her father is an educator, spokesman and visionary. In his early years, he dreamed about building a school that both girls and boys could attend. He successfully built a school, after MUCH opposition, death threats, lack of money and resistance. He even provided an education to those who couldn't pay. He spoke out about environmental and quality of life concerns that plagued where they lived (water quality, dumps, mistreatment of women, taxes etc). He stood up to militant groups, questioned their motives and voiced his opinion. He's a man of his word (that is most admirable). Malala and her father, share a very close bond. The majority of the book focuses on them. It focuses on their struggles, their concerns, their fears, their hope and their accomplishments. It's a beautiful story.

I read about Malala Yousafzai, when she was shot by a member of the Taliban. It was all over the news. Her story, strength and recovery was miraculous to me. This book covered so many things I didn't know. I wasn't aware she was shot 3 times point blank. I wasn't aware other girls near her were shot and required (one did) hospitalization. When the decision was made for her to transfer to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, only her father was allowed to go (however he stayed behind, because her mother & brothers needed official paperwork and he feared for their safety). Her parents ended up arriving weeks later. Malala was placed in a medically induced coma and awoke to strange doctors, nurses, and country, yet trusted & worked with her medical team. She's had surgeries on her brain (brain swelling), eye (sight), facial nerve (face drooping) and hearing (cochlea). It's amazing. God protected this child. Americans that offered to help Malala were John Hopkins Hospital, Senator John Kerry, and Gabrielle Giffords. There were offers from Germany, Singapore, UAE and Britain. When Malala finally came to herself in the hospital, she wanted to know where her parents were and who was going to pay for all of this (hospital). The £200,000 ($334,540 USD) hospital bill was paid by the President of Pakistan (Asif Zardari) / Government of Pakistan. While in the hospital, they gave her some books. One of which was The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. This is what Malala said:

"I loved reading about Dorothy and how even though she was trying to get back home she stopped and helped those in need like the Cowardly Lion and the rusty Tin Man. She had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get where she was going, and I thought if you want to achieve a goal, there will be hurdles in your way, but you must continue." (I Am Malala)

This book really got to me. I could only read a couple of chapters at a time. It's REAL. It's sad. I knew about some of these things, but it was still hard to comprehend that all of this was happening in this day, age and time. It bothers me that some countries are so advanced and some have barely nothing at all. It makes me ill. Everything is about money in this world and that is what is so sad. The book also goes into great detail about the different groups that don't get along (Sunnis, Shiites, Taliban etc) with one another. Malala mentions they are ALL Muslim, yet they continue to hurt and kill one another. The region is still conflicted. I'm glad she and her family are in a safe place. Malala is continuing with her studies and I don't think, this will be the last we hear of her. I read a book some years ago called "Princess" by Jean Sasson, in which a woman discussed the atrocities she went through in Afghanistan. It's sad the way women are treated in some countries. As women, it's important to understand what women of any nationality or socioeconomic background goes through and to help them anyway you can.

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DONATING TO THE MALALA FUND

Be THANKFUL and GRATEFUL for what you DO have! YOU are BLESSED!

Reading this book will clearly show, how much more you have in comparison to others. 

After reading this book, you will never complain again.
 

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)

I Am Malala is Supersweet

picture credit: I took pictures of the pictures that were in the book "I Am Malala".
All photos are property of Malala Yousafzai and publisher.

This book was purchased with my money.