I am Malala How one girl stood up for education and changed the world

Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen who captured worldwide attention and admiration after surviving a violent attack from militant forces opposed to female education in her region, introduces the audio edition of her memoir with the same enthusiastic oratorical style that characterized her appearance before the United Nations. Emmy-winner Panjabi (The Good Wife) reads with a balanced tone that manages to embody both Yousafzai's youthful zeal and the seasoned perspective of coauthor and foreign correspondent Lamb. Panjabi's narration effectively evokes the attachment of Yousafzai to her community, and her annunciation and pronunciation lends authenticity to the production. A helpful PDF with color photos, a glossary, and a timeline is also included. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In October 2012, 15-year-old activist Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in her home city of Mingora, Pakistan. The world watched as she was taken to England for treatment and ultimately recovered from her wound. Cowritten with journalist Lamb, this work is much more than the story of Yousafzai's young life. Her narrative examines and elaborates on politics, Pakistan's history, friendship, faith, and, above all else, the need for education for girls. Following in her outspoken father's footsteps, Yousafzai uses every opportunity to champion the cause for which she became a target. While most of the book is well read by actress Archie Panjabi, the prolog, in which Yousafzai narrates the story of her shooting, is particularly powerful. VERDICT Listeners will find a wealth of inspirational material in Yousafzai's story, but the best moments are those in which she steps back from discussions of dissension and Taliban brutality and reveals herself to be an ordinary, Twilight-loving girl.-Anna Mickelsen, Springfield City Lib., MA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.