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

Malala idolizes her father, living for his praise and approval: “He was my hero—brave and principled—and I was his jani” (14). She appreciates that he “always treated [her] as an equal” (117). Malala is equally precious to Ziauddin. She is his “dear one,” and he is proud of her intelligence and spirit. Unlike many traditional Pashtun men, Ziauddin values his “brave, beautiful” daughter and vows to protect her freedom to be whatever she wants.

The son of a cleric, Ziauddin founded the Khushal School. He pours his heart into the school, believing, like Malala, in the importance of education for all. At the school, he wears many hats, from teacher to principal to janitor. He is active in the community, helping neighbors resolve conflicts, and participating in mushaira, or poetry concerts. Ziauddin is one of the few citizens of Mingora to speak out against the Taliban, risking their retaliation. He believes in the pursuit of truth in the face of the Taliban’s lies and is affronted at the mufti’s implication that he is not a good Muslim.

Malala compares her father to a “falcon, the one who dared to fly where others would not go” (50). Ziauddin encourages Malala’s advocacy, and she is proud to emulate him. Ziauddin, though fearless for his own life, is devastated by the attack on Malala and initially blames himself. Malala reassures him and hotly defends him against negative opinion. The father-daughter connection runs deep: Malala admits he is “the one person I loved more than anyone else” (155).

While her father is the falcon that flies into danger, Malala’s mother is “the one with her feet firmly planted on the ground” (50). Toor Pekai is strong and supportive and nurturing. She is also the family worrier—and she has plenty to worry about. She is anxious about Malala walking alone to school, and about the Taliban harming Ziauddin, or coming to the house and harming the family. At the same time, she supports Ziauddin’s and Malala’s advocacy because she believes, as the Quran says, “truth has to come forward” (76).

Born in the mountain village of Shangla, Toor Pekai, like many of the village girls, never learned to read. She is a devout Muslim, turning to prayer in times of great distress, like the earthquake and the attack on Malala, and finds comfort in her faith. She loves a house full of relatives and friends. Eventually, Toor Pekai follows Malala’s and Ziauddin’s examples and excitedly begins to read and write Urdu. Moving to Birmingham is especially hard on Toor Pekai because she lacks English language skills, and this difficulty contributes to her sense of isolation. Taking classes at a language center increases her sense of confidence in her new life.

Malala, like most older sisters, feels a mix of love and annoyance towards her younger brothers. As she tells God when she is little, “They are quite inconvenient sometimes” (13). Growing up, Malala, Khushal, and Atal play together constantly and argue constantly. Khushal is closer to Malala in age, and she finds him most annoying because he fights with her over seemingly everything. Atal annoys her less, but his high energy levels exhaust Malala and the whole family. Malala observes that boys simply are “not as civilized as girls” (13).

The transition to Birmingham is hard on both boys: They miss their old life and friends in Pakistan and feel lonely in Birmingham. They slowly adapt to the changes, Khushal discovering the Xbox and Atal finding the joys of Nutella. Malala’s siblings keep her grounded. When she becomes internationally famous, they do not treat her any differently, reminding her that she is still just their older sister.

The first female prime minister of Pakistan, Bhutto is one of Malala’s role models. In 2007, Bhutto returned to Pakistan after living in exile for eight years in the UK. She spoke out against terrorism. Bhutto hoped to advance her Pakistan People’s Party and, as a moderate prime minister, “defeat the forces of extremism and militancy” (54). Bhutto was assassinated while campaigning for upcoming parliamentary elections. At her death, Malala realizes that the Taliban have no scruples about attacking women, and Bhutto’s assassination foreshadows the attack on Malala. Bhutto’s death also inspires Malala to take up Bhutto’s mantle and fight for peace and women’s rights.

Madam Maryam is Malala’s upper school headmistress and is another role model for Malala. Madam Maryam has a college education and a successful position as teacher. Smart and self-sufficient, Madam Maryam is “everything [Malala] wanted to be” (61). Madam Maryam shows her own courage by opening the Khushal School to the upper school girls even though Fazlullah bans girls over 10 from attending school. Opening the school is Madam Maryam—and the students’—“silent protest” against the Taliban’s restrictions against women and education. Malala knows that if discovered, Madam Maryam could be flogged or killed by the Taliban.

Fazlullah, co-leader of the TNSM, the Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Law, becomes leader of the Taliban in Swat and, later, the Taliban leader for all Pakistan. He broadcasts radio sermons urging people to pray daily and lead a virtuous life, threatening listeners with God’s punishment if they do not follow his interpretation of the Quran. Malala’s father discovers that Fazlullah has no religious training and in fact dropped out of high school, but Fazlullah’s power grows, and his followers increase.

Fazlullah implements sharia and enacts violent reprisals against those who disobey his mandates. Malala knows Fazlullah is a “madman.” He declares that everything Western—like music, dancing, television, and girls’ education—is “un-Islamic.” He imposes harsh restrictions on women. Fazlullah and the Taliban are responsible for bombing schools, beating and killing people, and bringing war to Swat. Fazlullah orders the attack on Malala, as a “lesson” and later threatens that the Taliban will try again to kill her.

Malala’s friend Moniba likes to bicker with Malala, but despite their constant small fights and reconciliations, the two are best friends. They love to chat and joke, and they take the second bus home on the day Malala is attacked just to have more time to gossip together. Malala learns that after she was shot, she lay bleeding on Moniba’s lap as the bus sped to the hospital. Malala and Moniba remain friends, Skyping often, though the sessions often make Malala homesick for Pakistan.

Dr. Fiona and Dr. Javid, as Malala calls them, are two British doctors the Pakistani army calls for advice when Malala’s condition worsens. Their recommendation that Malala be treated in England saves her life. Malala moves to Dr. Javid’s hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Malala’s father gives Dr. Fiona legal guardianship of Malala for the trip to England. During her recovery, Dr. Javid facilitates phone calls with Malala’s father, and Dr. Fiona explains to Malala everything that has happened to her.

Zardari is the late Benazir Bhutto’s husband and was the president of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013. Malala meets with Asif Ali Zardari and his daughter, Asifa, in England. Zardari calls Malala “a remarkable girl and a credit to our country” (170-71), names Ziauddin to the position of Pakistan’s education attaché in England, and assures Malala that the government will pay for her medical bills. Although Malala is thrilled to meet him and proud to receive his acclaim, she understands that this meeting means she will not soon return to Pakistan.