I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Malala’s memoir begins with her shooting and then backtracks to tell her life story. How did this narrative structure affect your reading experience? How was it to learn about her early life while knowing what would eventually happen to her?

2. I Am Malala shares themes with Malala’s later book, We Are Displaced, which explores refugee experiences. How do you think Malala’s own displacement influenced her perspective on education and activism, as described in this memoir?

3. Throughout the book, Malala describes Swat Valley as a paradise that gradually became corrupted by extremism. How did her portrayal of her homeland challenge or confirm your perceptions of Pakistan? Which aspects of her descriptions most surprised you?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Malala’s father was exceptional in the way he treated his daughter—adding her to the family tree and calling her his soulmate (jani mun). How does their relationship compare to your own experiences with family support? In what ways have your family’s beliefs about education shaped your path?

2. Malala and her father demonstrated extraordinary perseverance in the face of threats and violence. When have you found yourself needing to persist despite obstacles or opposition? What gave you the strength to continue?

3. Throughout the narrative, Malala draws strength from her faith. How do your own moral or spiritual beliefs influence your courage to speak out against injustice?

4. When Malala’s mother removes her headscarf and says, “God, I entrust her to You” (250), she demonstrates a combination of surrender and strength. Have you experienced moments during which letting go required more courage than fighting? What was that experience like?

5. In the epilogue, Malala mentions struggling to make friends in her new English school while maintaining connections with friends back home via Skype. How have you navigated maintaining relationships across distance, cultural divides, or major life transitions?

6. Malala draws courage from her father’s example and the stories of historical figures like Benazir Bhutto. Whose stories or examples have given you courage in your own life, and how have their narratives shaped your sense of what’s possible?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Throughout the narrative, Malala distinguishes between the teachings of Islam and the Taliban’s interpretation. How does her memoir challenge stereotypes about Islam and Muslim women?

2. Malala describes how the Taliban’s control gradually increased in Swat—first through persuasive radio broadcasts, then public intimidation, and finally through violence. What parallels do you see in how extremist ideologies gain influence in other contexts or regions today?

3. The memoir highlights how poverty and lack of education created conditions in which extremism could flourish. How do you see the connection between educational opportunity and social stability playing out in other societies? What responsibility do more privileged nations have in supporting education globally?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Malala uses several symbols throughout her narrative, including face coverings and the Quran. How do these symbols serve dual purposes in the story, representing both oppression and potential liberation depending on their context?

2. The memoir contrasts imagery of natural beauty with scenes of violence and destruction. How does this contrast contribute to the book’s themes and emotional impact?

3. How does Malala’s voice evolve throughout the narrative, from her childhood innocence to her growing political awareness? What narrative techniques do Malala and her co-author, Christina Lamb, use to capture this evolution?

4. Perseverance emerges as a central motif in the narrative, appearing in characters like Ziauddin (Malala’s father), Malala herself, and even in the history of the Yousafzai tribe. How is this quality portrayed differently across generations, and what does the text suggest about the various forms persistence can take?

5. The contrast of knowledge versus ignorance runs throughout the memoir, similar to how Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores the theme in Half of a Yellow Sun. How do both authors demonstrate the power of education as a force against oppression? What differences do you see in their approaches?

6. The relationship between Malala and her father forms the emotional core of the memoir. How does their bond evolve throughout the story, and what role does it play in Malala’s development as an activist?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Malala writes that she began to see “that the pen and the words that come from it can be much more powerful than machine guns, tanks or helicopters” (157). What message would you write to young people living under oppression today?

2. The book describes Malala’s childhood wish for a magic pencil that could make everyone happy. What would you do with such a pencil, particularly regarding girls’ education and rights around the world?

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