Summer Reading 2015 // I Am Malala

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
by Malala Yousafzai

The Wakefield School District in cooperation with the Beebe Library is pleased to announce that the town-wide summer read for this year is I Am Malala. 

Malala comes from a political family in the lush Swat valley. She and her family work tirelessly to advocate for universal education for Pakistani children, but years of political turmoil, and the influence of the Taliban on all aspects of life make the pursuit of education an impossibility for many young women.

Malala and her father tour the country, despite the danger, speaking out for educational access. 

One day on the way to school Malala and one of her classmates are shot by Talib. Malala survives and works through her recovery to speak out against the Taliban. 

I Am Malala offers insight into the politics of Pakistan since its establishment as an independent Islamic country in 1947. The names can be a little confusing, but the background information is important to the rest of the story. If you find that you are struggling to keep up with the history, I found that the documentary Bhutto (as of today it is available on Netflix) helped me keep track of major players in the country's history. I watched it well after I read the book, but it definitely clarified some of Malala's narrative. 

 I Am Malala is a an ode to Pakistani patriotism, a lamentation whilst in the throes of exile, a plea for the right to education, and at the heart, a moving story of love for family. 

I am so excited to share this text with all of you in the coming September. The town of Wakefield will be organizing book talks and events so that we have a chance to celebrate reading and celebrate this book. Check back soon for details. I'll post information on the library Twitter account as well- be sure to follow @VolpeReads to get updates and event reminders.

Take a moment to watch Malala speak to the United Nations below. We so often take our own education for granted, by reading and listening to Malala it is important that we learn to cherish the many opportunities we have. 

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