Caitríona Marron reviews 'I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban' by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
I am Malala Guildford Book Festival
This stunning autobiography, 'I am Malala' does not hold back in it's portrayal of Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai, her life and the day the Taliban came for her. With an in-depth exploration of Islam and the history of Pakistan, five-time Foriegn Correspondent of the Year, Christina Lamb, documents Malala's life story around the upheaval of her country, and the entrance of the Taliban into her small community.
The book opens on the day the shooter boards her school bus, firing three bullets at Malala. Leaving the reader hanging on the teenage girl's fate, the narrative backtracks to the beginning of her life, introducing her family, friends and daily life in the small town of Mingora.
Raised by a father passionate about education for all children, Malala learns the importance of knowledge at a young age, and was always encouraged to speak up for what is right. With the dream of equality in education deeply instilled, Malala's journey leads us across the rocky terrain of northwestern Pakistan, and through the political turmoil of the country, and the first sightings of Taliban tyranny.
Lamb paints an honest picture of the hardships and drawbacks a young Pakistani woman faces in her society in this book, exhibiting her own passion for her country and her cause.
Reading about the trials and tribulations this brave teenage girl has faced, a surprising feeling was experienced after putting down the book. And that was hope. Malala is a beacon of hope for her continuous mission towards access to education for all children.
