Reviews

Jag är Malala: Flickan som stod upp för rätten till utbildning och sköts av talibanerna by Lena Öhrström, Malala Yousafzai, Kjell Waltman, Henrik Karlsson, Johanna Svartström

Only show reviews with written explanations

katelynnmilliken's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

5.0

I listened to this book using Audible. purchased it using one credit sometime in 2022 or 2023, and was finally able to spend the time listening to it... And I'm SO glad I did! Malala retells her early life as a young girl that wants an education. In the United States, this is common - but isn't so common in Pakistan. Luckily, her father was the principal of a school. She had educational privileges that many girls did not, and she recognized this. Her love for school turned into a love of advocating for women and children, boys and girls. "We need to encourage young girls that their voice matters. I think there are hundreds and thousands of Malalas out there." actually sobbed listening to the retelling of her hospital stay after being shot. She expressed her feelings from those moments so very well. She was "wise beyond her years,' as mentioned in the book. The feelings she had and the situations she faced as such a young child were horrifying. She explains the terrors of the Taliban and how it impacted every part of their life, but also gave us a look inside what it is like to be a child during war. This book is inspirational, motivational, and well worth the read (or listen).

jenmangler's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A fascinating window into a world we need to understand.

kitkat962's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I wish I could like this book, I really really does. I have great respect for Malala, the youngest Nobel Prize Laureate.
The rating on Goodreads, as I checked before reading, is more than 4 stars; however, the book did not live up to my expectation. I do take interest in history and politics, but there are not many takeaway from the book itself.

First of all, I am confused by a large number of people and events described in the book. They did not leave much impression, and for the first few chapters, I had to re-read the passages to ensure that it was the same person/event. I gave up, basically just skimmed and scanned over the next chapters.

Secondly, the book is poorly written, and to be honest, boring. Slow pace, limited choice of word, repetitive speeches. It improved a little in later chapter, but can't change my impression on the book as a whole. It has me questioning, "How can this happen, when Malala herself mentioned that she is an eloquent speaker and prolific writer?"

I really appreciate the struggle Malala has been through, and I believe that education for all is the foundation of human rights. Although having fail my expectation, the book has reminded me how privileged I am to be safe in my country, free to study, and passionate to read.