Malala and her father's constant willingness to speak out-and the way they actually manage to change things for the better-is a shining example of how grassroots activism can make a difference. This, however, would go against their belief in the power that social and political activism has to elicit social change.

Activism and ChangeĪs Malala and her father note repeatedly, it would be easy to stop speaking out, fly under the radar, and allow the Taliban and its brutal regime to continue pushing them around. It was because of her education that Malala was empowered to stand strong against the Taliban occupation of her home, and she has used her fame to try to give as many other children as possible the opportunity to go to school. Growing up in and around a school, Malala learned quickly the power that education has to shape a child's life, determine their future prospects, and give them the courage to speak up for what they believe in. Ultimately, I Am Malala shows Malala to be both a product of her environment (her exposure to writing and communication from an early age, her father’s influence, etc.), and an innately brave and intelligent young woman.This theme is the central focus of all of Malala's activism. Malala is modest, always reminding us that she rose to fame thanks to the help and encouragement of other people, especially her father, Ziauddin.

In part, Malala intends for her book to correct this perception, as she shows us how she developed her passion for justice. Malala’s courage and passion make her seem almost superhuman, especially in light of the global fame she’s achieved in recent years. There are many points in the book when it’s easy to forget Malala’s age, as she always seems mature beyond her years. She is also extraordinarily young for someone so politically active-as of 2015, she is only 18 years old, and for many of the crucial events in I Am Malala, she’s barely a teenager. During the course of the book, she appears on television and the radio, before the United Nations, and in the capitol buildings of dozens of countries, always lobbying for the same issues.

The author and central figure of I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai is a strong, intelligent, and intensely passionate crusader for women’s rights and the right to free education.

I am malala by malala yousafzai