I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education PDF

About the Author

I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education is an eye-opening memoir that tells the inspirational story of a young Pakistani woman who inspired a global movement for women’s rights, peaceful protest and education. Her inspiring story is also a reminder of how important it is to stand up for what you believe in.

The book follows Yousafzai’s journey from her home in Swat Valley to her life in England, where she fought to gain access to an education and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Along the way, she shares her experiences with war, violence and gender inequality as she explores the issues that impact her family and their community.

Part One: Before the Taliban

Yousafzai describes her parents’ love-match marriage, their mountainous Swat Valley home and her cleric father’s expectations of her to pursue an education. She also explains the difficulties her family had in starting the Khushal School and their struggle to provide quality education to girls.

Part Two: The Valley of Death

In 2006, Maulana Fazlullah, known as Radio Mullah, emerged in Swat under his Taliban allies and began broadcasting sharia (strict Islamic law) advice on what is haram or forbidden. The Taliban began flogging and murdering people for their alleged transgressions, and women were forced to live in purdah, or isolation.

Yousafzai’s activism against the Taliban earned her a nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize and an award for Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize. She continues to speak out against violence, ensuring that all girls receive an education regardless of their background or country. In 2013, Yousafzai and her father established the Malala Fund to help girls in countries where education is not free or safe.