I Am Malala Sparknotes

I Am Malala Book Report Would you take a bullet for freedom, especially if that freedom was the right to be educated? Many young Americans take education for granted. High school drop out rates have soared over the years. But what if education was not granted to the majority of citizens in America? Would that change our viewpoint on education? Would that cease the complaints towards the most powerful weapon we can use today? Well over twenty notable countries do not grant girls and women the right towards education (….). According to UNESCO, roughly 781 million adults are illiterate. Roughly 64% of that number is women (…). Lack of education leads to illiteracy, and a lack of self confidence, self pride and a voice. Women become useless human
beings, and are meant to serve their families. Severe repercussions are given if they make attempts to form schools and be educated. Malala Yousafzai is a victim of these repercussion. Malala, a young teenage girl, strived for education and was shot by the Taliban because of this. Her determination and drive helped her rave against the Taliban. She authored the book I am Malala. In this book she tells of her life, being shot by the Taliban, and her reaction after. In this paper I would like to review the critical points of this book, and relate it to sociology for my readers. Malala Yousafzai was born in 1997, and resided in Mingora. Mingora was located in the district, Swat Valley in Pakistan. This area was dominated by the Taliban seeing it was only a hundred miles from Afghanistan. Malala’s parents knew she would be special, and her father named her after a women who led troops in a battle. Girls were not widely accepted in this society, because they could not join the Taliban. Malala did not have a bright future to most Pakistanis, but her parents ensured she would. Her mother was illiterate, and a humble wife to Malala’s father and her kids. Malala’s father was a grand speaker. Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala’s father, was involved in many social and political issues around the districts. Ziauddin opened many schools over his lifetime. He believed that boys and girls should be given the right to education just like he was. Malala attended her fathers school, and like her father she was an activist for females rights. On October 9th, 2012 Malala Yousafzai was riding the bus home with her other female students when the bus was stopped by Taliban members. Malala and her family had been targeted by the Taliban for voicing their opinions about rights to the public. On this day Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban, and survived. This is where her story began. A story that outlined how one girls passion and voice changed the world. Imagine waking up in a hospital room not knowing where you are or how you got there?
Lonely and afraid, Malala Yousafzai woke up in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England after her fatal attack. She was transported miles away from her home to receive the treatment she needed. Malala’s shooting resulted in an international awareness. Malala was even more inspired after begin shot to rid the Taliban of their powers. The rest of the book shows the many methods Malala and her family used to get their voice heard. After her recovery she and her family move back to Pakistan to finish the work they had already started. Here she and her father continued educating both girl and boys, and raised awareness to the public about the Taliban. Malala was injured and threatened by the Taliban throughout the whole story. She goes in detail about the injuries she acquired. Each day Malala’s family was faced with a new problem concerning the Taliban. Malala met many leaders of the world, and spoke all across the world. She did not only raise awareness to her district but to the whole world on the disastrous effects the Taliban were making. Malala spoke across the world about this problem. Even though there has not been a complete stop to discrimination towards women, Malala has given women hope. The major theme in this story is about speaking up and making a difference. Malala’s family does just this. Along side of her father, Malala, spoke to the United Nations, Queen of England, and leaders in
Canada. This book tells a great story of determination and bravery, but like every book it has it’s strengths and weaknesses. One major strength that I enjoyed in the book is the personal connection I gained with Malala. The book had a notable ghost writer, this is a strength and weakness. At most times Malala’s personality was revealed. The geography and environment is drastically different than most of the readers. Instead of her flaunting her popularity she showed that she is a normal teenager just like myself even with these differences in location and environment. Many times in the story Malala expressed that she was not happy with her skin, color-wise and complexion-wise like most teenagers. Readers gained a connection with Malala because we could connect to some of her same problems. When Malala complained about a big test or project readers like myself felt similar. Malala also faced the everyday struggles every teenager has to deal with. By Malala noting these struggles I gained a close relationship with her, this made any harm towards her even more devastating to me. Another strength in this book is the realism. Violence, culture, sexism, and religion make up this book. The authors do not shy away to the unbelievable antics the Taliban do everyday. No, we are not given every gory detail about every death and injuries Malala receives or sees, but we are told specifically what was done to her, her friends, and her family. Many people are not fully aware of the severeness of the Taliban. This book stresses the devastating facts that the public is blinded by. As stated before this book had a ghost writer, which means that Malala had another author to write some of the story. Malala’s personality was evident, and at most times I knew that it was Malala writing the sentimental parts. The only weakness of the book is the ghost writer. At some points I was confused on who was writing. This took away from some of the personal connections I gained. Aside from the weaknesses, Malala’s book has inspired women and girls all over the world.