Jade K. (Jade4142) reviewed on 3/6/2016 + 4 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I heard this book read by a woman with a strong Pakistani accent and I was immediately engaged. Malala knew how much danger she was in. Her father assumed the attack would be upon him. He and his wife greatly esteem their daughter and believe in her utterly. That adds a warmth to the book that puts these people in perspective. Our children, in America, are not shot in the head for standing up for what they believe in. My son did what very few 10 year olds will do and squared off against a construction company and a University who were together keeping him out of school, so I can almost understand Malala and her parents. My son's life was never in danger. Malala's always was and she lived every day with that reality. Her parents did, too. The long history of her remote Pakistani village illustrates who this small family is and why education is so important to them that their daughter will risk her life to bring it to every girl. Her father's delay in going to the hospital does not set well with me. He was about to give a speech to I think 400 Pakistani educators when the news came that probably Malala was on the way to the hospital. His brother convinced him to give his speech first and then go to her. I don't know if I could have done that. And I'm not sure I agree that he should have. But he did. At the end of the book Malala says she has heard from some of her Pakistani friends who scorn her now and wonder why she doesn't come home but instead stays away and lets her mission die. I don't think her mission is dead. I think her mission is safer now, away from Pakistan and the Taliban. But I am also convinced that she will go back, and I am equally convinced that they will not make a mistake next time. The world will lose a remarkably strong and courageous girl if the Taliban destroys her. But her message won't die. That was their mistake. They gave life to her message by shooting a child in the head. I think this is one of the best books I have ever heard, and the preface by Malala herself is almost heartbreaking. Because of course she knows that she will go home and she knows that this time, they won't make a mistake.

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