I Am Malala

I Am Malala

Company type	Autobiography
Industry	Publishing
Founded	8 October 2013
Founder	Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb
Products	Book

I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban is an autobiographical work authored by Malala Yousafzai in collaboration with Christina Lamb. Released on 8 October 2013 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the UK and Little, Brown and Company in the US, the book narrates Yousafzai's formative years, her father’s role as a school proprietor and activist, the emergence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in the Swat Valley, and the 2012 assassination attempt on her at age 15 due to her advocacy for female education. The publication received acclaim and several honors but has been prohibited in numerous Pakistani educational institutions.

Synopsis

The first section, titled "Before the Taliban," explores Yousafzai’s upbringing in Swat Valley. She lived with her parents—Ziauddin, who held a Master’s degree in English and owned a school—and Toor Pekai, along with two younger siblings. Ziauddin established the Khushal School, which initially faced financial difficulties but eventually grew and provided free education to underprivileged children. This part also addresses Pakistan’s evolving political environment and the initiation of drone strikes following 9/11.

In Part Two, "The Valley of Death," the narrative focuses on the Taliban’s ascendancy in Swat, spearheaded by Fazlullah’s "Radio Mullah" broadcasts that advocated strict social regulations. It also references ongoing conflicts within Pakistan, including Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Despite escalating violence, Ziauddin remained a vocal activist. Malala began contributing to a BBC Urdu blog under the pseudonym "Gul Mukai." After a Taliban decree forced her school’s closure in 2009, her family temporarily relocated.

Part Three, "Three Bullets, Three Girls," recounts the military’s counteroffensive against the Taliban and the Yousafzai family’s return to Swat. Malala resumed her education and became active in public speaking, criticizing both militants and military shortcomings. The devastating 2010 floods further destabilized Swat amid incidents such as the Raymond Davis affair and Osama bin Laden’s death, which intensified anti-American feelings. Malala’s activism brought her recognition but also heightened threats on her life. On 9 October 2012, shortly after finishing an exam, she was shot by attackers targeting her.

The fourth segment, "Between Life and Death," details Malala’s severe injuries and subsequent medical transfers—from Peshawar to Rawalpindi and eventually to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital aboard a UAE jet. Her father remained in Pakistan due to travel restrictions affecting the family.

Part Five, "A Second Life," describes Malala’s recuperation beginning on 16 October in Birmingham. Although initially uncertain about her condition and concerned about medical expenses (which were covered by Pakistan's government), she received extensive support through messages and gifts. Her family joined her on 25 October. After undergoing several surgeries, she was discharged in January 2013 and continues residing in Birmingham while actively pursuing her educational advocacy beyond being identified solely as "the girl who was shot by the Taliban."

Reception

By 2017, Publishers Weekly reported sales approaching two million copies worldwide, with 750,000 copies of children’s editions printed. In March 2018, The Bookseller indicated that UK sales had reached 328,000 copies, generating revenue exceeding £2.47 million.

Awards

• Winner of the 2013 Specsavers National Book Awards for Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
• Recipient of the 2013 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Memoir & Autobiography
• Finalist for the Political Book of the Year at the 2014 Political Book Awards

Reviews from critics

Sayeeda Warsi, writing for The Daily Telegraph, awarded four stars and commended Malala for transforming personal tragedy into a message of hope. Entertainment Weekly assigned a "B+" grade, acknowledging the book’s compelling message despite a somewhat sparse narrative style. The Metro recognized it among the "20 best non-fiction books of 2013," emphasizing its focus on courage and idealism.

In The Observer, Yvonne Roberts praised co-author Lamb for maintaining Malala’s authentic voice, describing the work as a testament to humanity’s finest qualities. Fatima Bhutto, in her review for The Guardian, labeled the book "fearless," though she offered criticism regarding the tone adopted by the foreign correspondent. Owen Bennett-Jones of The Spectator observed that Malala’s voice emerges as both clear and resolute throughout the narrative. Marie Arana from The Washington Post described the memoir as "gripping," likening its emotional resonance to that of The Diary of a Young Girl.

Reception within Pakistan

The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation prohibited the book across its 152,000 member schools, citing concerns over perceived disrespect toward Islam and possible adverse effects. Pakistani investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi condemned the publication, suggesting it provided ammunition for detractors to accuse Yousafzai of acting as a Western agent undermining Islam and Pakistan.

Following its publication, threats to assassinate Yousafzai and target vendors selling the book were issued by the Pakistani Taliban. Nevertheless, it continues to be stocked by major bookstores and enjoys popularity among educated readers, notably young females. Certain educational institutions actively promote it by including it in their library collections. Considering Pakistan’s overall low literacy rates, acceptance of the book predominantly occurs within more literate segments of society.

Publication information

I Am Malala debuted on 8 October 2013 through Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the United Kingdom and Little, Brown and Company in the United States. The memoir has been rendered into more than 40 languages.

A version tailored for younger audiences entitled I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World was issued in 2014. The audiobook edition, narrated by Neela Vaswani, earned the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Children's Album.

External links

• Official website