We Are Displaced

We Are Displaced

Company type	Book
Industry	Publishing
Founded	2019
Founder	Malala Yousafzai
Products	Non-fiction book

We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World is a 2019 publication authored by Malala Yousafzai, released by Little, Brown and Company in the United States and Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the United Kingdom. The narrative chronicles Yousafzai's personal displacement experience from Pakistan to England and includes accounts from nine other displaced individuals across the globe. The book garnered favorable critiques and secured a position within the top 10 of The New York Times bestseller list under the "Young Adult Hardcover" category.

Background

Born on 12 July 1997 in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, Malala Yousafzai is a well-known advocate for female education. At just 11 years old, she began anonymously contributing to a blog for BBC Urdu, detailing life under Taliban control; her identity was disclosed publicly in 2009. Her outspoken activism provoked threats on her life, culminating in an assassination attempt by the Taliban in October 2012. Following medical treatment in Birmingham, UK, she resumed her advocacy work and became the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 2014.

Yousafzai’s earlier works include I Am Malala (2013), co-authored with Christina Lamb, and the children’s picture book Malala's Magic Pencil (2017). In March 2018, it was announced that her forthcoming book—originally titled We Are Displaced: True Stories of Refugee Lives—was scheduled for release on 4 September 2018 but was postponed until 8 January 2019. Published by Little, Brown's Young Readers imprint in the U.S. and Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the U.K., it is also distributed in Australia and New Zealand. Proceeds from sales benefit her charitable organization, the Malala Fund.

According to a 2017 report by the United Nations, approximately 68.5 million people worldwide were displaced, including 24 million recognized as refugees. Yousafzai intentionally uses the term "displaced" instead of "refugee" to emphasize that a majority are internally displaced persons. Since around 2013, she has been involved in global activism, visiting refugee camps such as those hosting Syrians in Jordan, where she met many individuals featured in this book. She underscores the personal stories behind displacement statistics and stresses that fleeing one’s home is never voluntary but a measure taken out of necessity. Her advocacy also draws attention to displacement resulting not only from war or terrorism but also from violence linked to gangs in Latin America.

Synopsis

The initial section titled "I Am Displaced" recounts Yousafzai’s own forced migration prompted by the Taliban’s ascendancy in Mingora, Pakistan. Her family was compelled to relocate multiple times among relatives residing in Shangla District and Peshawar. Upon returning to a ravaged Mingora, she persisted with her activism, which led to her being shot by a Taliban assailant. After receiving medical care in Birmingham, England, she embarked on rebuilding her life.

The subsequent section, "We Are Displaced", presents narratives from nine displaced individuals, each introduced by Yousafzai and told in their own words. Siblings Zaynab and Sabreen escaped the ongoing Yemeni Crisis (2011–present) by fleeing from Yemen to Egypt. Zaynab recovered from tuberculosis while in Cairo before obtaining a U.S. visa; Sabreen undertook a perilous boat journey to Italy, endured severe hardships, and ultimately settled in Belgium following marriage in the Netherlands.

Muzoon Almellehan from Syria, displaced amid civil conflict to Jordan, advocated for girls’ education within the Zaatari refugee camp, earning her the nickname "the Malala of Syria." Najla, a Yazidi woman internally displaced within Iraq from Sinjar to Dohuk, learned literacy after persuading her parents to allow her schooling. María fled violence in Colombia; Analisa escaped Guatemala’s dangers and navigated a challenging trek through Mexico before reaching safety in Texas.

Marie Claire’s family fled conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo seeking refuge first in Zambia before relocating to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Despite facing educational obstacles, she graduated high school at age 19 with assistance from Jennifer of the Church World Service. Ajida escaped persecution during the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar and now resides in Bangladeshi refugee camps where she crafts clay stoves. Farah was born in Uganda and raised in Canada after losing citizenship under Idi Amin’s regime; she currently serves as CEO of the Malala Fund.

An epilogue recounts Yousafzai’s visit to Pakistan in 2018, while an "About the Contributors" section provides updates on each individual’s present circumstances.

Reception

Luke Rix-Standing, writing for The Irish News, awarded the book a score of nine out of ten, commending its "intensely candid vulnerability" and Malala's "clear, heartfelt language" that allows the story to "stand on its own." In The New York Times, Fernanda Santos described the work as "both moving and timely," emphasizing its "profoundly personal narratives" alongside Yousafzai's skillful introductions that offer "concise insights into global issues."

Nayare Ali of the Deccan Chronicle characterized the book as "a revealing perspective on the refugee crisis," filled with "poignant, heartrending accounts" that inspire appreciation. Mandira Nayar, contributing to The Week, lauded it as a "compelling depiction of displacement and hope," deeming it a story deserving of repeated sharing. A review from Publishers Weekly acknowledged the authors' portrayal of "courage, endurance, and optimism amid adversity," describing the narrative as "deeply impactful."

On The New York Times bestseller list for "Young Adult Hardcover," We Are Displaced achieved the #5 position on 27 January 2019 and held #7 the subsequent week. Business leader Bill Gates publicly endorsed the book, remarking, "I can’t think of a better person to illuminate these stories. Congratulations, Malala." Bollywood star Katrina Kaif also expressed admiration, calling the accounts "equally inspiring and touching."

Further reading

• Malala Shines an Important Light on Refugees in We Are Displaced
• 5 things Malala Yousafzai wants you to know about being a refugee