Genre: Memoir
Grade Level: 4-7
Interest Level: 4-8
Themes: education, freedom
for children,girls/women, human rights, standing up for what you believe, courage, perseverance,
gratitude
Culture(s): Pakastani,
children/youth, girls/women
“To those children all over the world who have no
access to education, to those teachers who bravely continue teaching, and to
anyone who has fought for their basic human rights and education.”
Malala
Yousafzai
Malala’s story of courage,
steadfastness and survival has touched the hearts of millions, so I was
delighted on a recent bookstore trip with my 10 year old when she picked this
up and then proceeded to devour it (without waiting for our nightly bedtime
reading as I had hoped). Mind you, this is a 10 year old that I usually have to
cajole into finding AND reading a book, so it was
significant that she discovered this on her own. She remembered that Malala had won a prize, said that she
was very pretty and she wanted to find out more about her.
This young readers edition
of Malala’s courage and triumph has important instructional possibility for
middle grade readers. The Common Core’s focus on informational text makes it a
great choice. It includes a map of Pakistan, Swat and surrounding areas, as well
as color photos of Malala, her family, and Pakistan. The photos would work well
for pre-reading/during reading discussion or quick write. The book is divided into five
parts, and includes a time line of important events. All of these elements
would work well with a study of informational text features, and/or in dividing
reading and instruction according to the lesson focus or themes.
When I asked my daughter
what she liked about Malala’s story, she said “It’s about every girl just
wanting to be a regular girl…you know, go to school, watch Twilight or her other favorite shows, and hang out with her family/friends. Some girls can’t do
that because of the Taliban. That’s not right, and Malala is trying to fix
it.”
Validate, Affirm, Build
and Bridge with I am Malala: How One Girl
Stood Up for Education and Changed the World.
See also:
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