For Your Readers: Book to Inspire Young People

Do you want your children to have a world view and understand the great gifts they have been given? There's a book for that!

Susan C. Schena, Patch Staff

Posted Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 7:56 am PT

I have read some wonderful biographies lately for kids. They deal with being young in war torn countries and they just pull at your heartstrings. But they are also incredibly inspiring as they show us the resolve and resilience of young people to bring about change.

The book I am profiling today, I Am Malala, takes us behind the scenes to the life and struggles of the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Don’t forget to visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com so that you can be transported and challenged by young people who are resilient and making a difference.

Title: I Am Malala

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Authors: Malala Yousafzai & Patricia McCormick

Target: Grades 5 and up

What this book is about:
This book is about Malala, the youngest ever Novel Peace Prize winner. It profiles her life in Pakistan as the Taliban took control of her town. It shows how she and her father raised their voices in defense of girls going to school and how she nearly lost her life at the hands of the Taliban. It also discusses her recovery and what she is doing to make sure girls get an education.

Why I love this book:
This book was more difficult for me to read because I have children of my own and I could only imagine how Malala’s parents felt. Of course understanding the courage it took for Malala’s family to stand up for the rights of girls, despite the threats leveled against them, is inspiring.

This book will make any girl appreciate the simple act of receiving and education and reinforce that despite how far women have come in the Western world, they are still so powerless and persecuted in other countries.

It will also educate kids on what it is like to live in a war zone. This book is appropriate for children, but it doesn’t shy away from the realities that these families face.

I actually liked the fact that Malala felt young in this book. It was certainly written with a young girl’s voice because as mature as she is in some ways, she is also quite innocent in others.

Who this book is for:
This is the young readers edition of the adult book. It is great for any child who wants to see how different life can be just a plane ride away. This is a wonderful book to discuss as a family.

Final thoughts:
The idea that one young person who stands up for her beliefs can affect real change is incredibly powerful.

I am a mom of three with a passion for literature! No matter what book series our kids devour, as they come to an end, we as parents ask the inevitable question - what is next? I am ever on the job, trying to answer that question. I try to do it with a variety of books. Some are silly, some true to life, some pure fantasy, but in the end I hope they make my children love words, explore new ideas, and laugh!

Previous book columns From Freya Hooper:

Dear Parents: Books That Make Your Kids Smarter

Keep Your Little Ones Reading: Here’s Perfect Alphabet Book

Here Is A Super Science Fiction for Your Kids

For Your Young Readers: Fabulous Fantasy Book for Kids

A Wickedly Clever Book

Football and Math in a Book for Kids

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