I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)

Malala’s mother worries about continued threats to the family and even makes an emergency plan in case the Taliban come to their home. In school, Malala and the other upper-class students want to make a difference in the conflict. Under the guidance of Madam Maryam and Malala’s father, the girls write speeches against the Taliban’s efforts to eradicate girls’ education. They schedule an assembly for their “peace rally” and are surprised when a television crew arrives. Every girl speaks about how important school is to her. Malala’s friend Moniba declares that while the Pashtuns are peaceful and love their religion, now the world thinks they are all terrorists because of the Taliban. Malala is initially nervous about speaking but finds that the words come naturally to her as she talks about how girls are being deprived of their rights. She vows that they will all keep learning.

Malala feels as though she is “speaking to the whole world” (71). She practices making speeches in the bathroom mirror of their crowded little house. She is embarrassed when her mother interrupts her privacy but wonders if someday, she really will be speaking to the whole world.