Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring memoir of teen Nobel laureate shot by Taliban.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 61 kid reviews
Kids say that this book is an incredibly inspiring read that highlights the story of a brave girl who stood up for girls' education amidst violence and oppression. While it contains some intense themes and violence that may not be suitable for younger audiences, many reviewers praise its empowering messages about resilience, the importance of education, and the role of female empowerment in the face of adversity.
- inspiring story
- important messages
- graphic violence
- educational value
- strong role model
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has garnered world renown for her courageous advocacy of girls' education and her strong recovery from being nearly killed in an assassination attempt. Here, she tells her own story, of her parents' love, inspiration, and encouragement and how they led her to confront Islamic fundamentalists who were trying to keep girls from going to school in her native Pakistan. Her strong Muslim faith and personal determination gain her worldwide prominence -- and make her a target. Malala tells of her idyllic life pre-Taliban, how things changed, and how events unfolded until she was shot in the face on the way home from school. Now living in England with her family, she also tells about her more recent life and work.
Is It Any Good?
Many a kid, and many an adult, will find I AM MALALA an engaging, accessible introduction to Malala Yousafzai, education advocate, Nobel laureate, and 17 years old at the time of writing. It's an inspiring look at what one person can do to stand up to wrongdoers and make things better -- and a fascinating window into daily life in a culture that's very different from that of Western kids.
It's also profoundly poignant, as Malala and her family are uprooted and have their lives changed beyond recognition, probably forever. "Sometimes I get tired," she writes. "Some days I wish I could just sit on the couch and watch Mind Your Language or Skype with friends. But I take the work I'm doing very seriously, always."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Malala thinks education is so important. Do you agree? How would you react if you weren't allowed to go to school? Why do you think the Taliban are so opposed to people getting an education?
What's it like to read a memoir of a teenager? How is it different from a memoir of someone who's lived a long life? How does I Am Malala compare with other autobiographies you've read?
How would you feel if you had to leave your home and everyone you knew because it wasn't safe for you to stay? Do you know anyone who's come from a situation like this?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Autobiography
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
- Publication date : August 19, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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