Book 2: I am Malala

The second book that I chose to read was I am Malala. This book was written by Malala Yousafzai who was fighting for women's rights in education. She is confident and determined to stand up for what she believes in. Malala's bravery and her actions of standing up for herself has put an impact on the entire world.

About the Book:

Title: I am Malala

Author/Main Character: Malala Yousafzai

Published: October 8, 2013

Location: Swat Valley, Pakistan

Main Event: Standing Up for Education

Plot:

I am Malala is a real life story about a young Pakistani girl who demands equal education for girls. The book was written by Malala Yousafzai who was only a teen when this all occurred. Malala was born in 1997 and ever since she was born, she had been treated different just because she was a girl. Her father was an educator and he also believed that women should have the right to go to school. Malala's father encouraged her to work hard in school because he believed that she had great potential. Malala loved her home in Swat Valley, Pakistan and she loved to learn. Because she voices out towards equal rights for women in education, she is targeted by the Taliban. One day in 2012 while she was on her bus home from school, Malala is shot and her two friends are injured. Thankfully, the bullet just barley missed her brain and she received treatment in England. Malala recovers from the shooting, but her life is never the same. Since that incident Malala has continued to speak out towards women's rights in education. She has given many speeches, supported by girls all over the world, and has won many awards.

My Thoughts While Reading I am Malala:

While I read I am Malala many thoughts went through my head. I have had the right to my education my entire life. I never had to fight for it and I didn't have to go through what she did just to get it. I now realize how lucky I am to be living in a society where I am treated as an equal human being in education. Malala was never treated that way. She had to fight and stand up when no one else would. I am now very grateful to be able to go to and from school without being worried that I would be in danger just for wanting an education.

Evaluation:

I liked the story of I am Malala because it taught me that I can stand up for what I believe in too. Malala proves that one person can make a difference in the world if they want to.

I would read more books by Malala because of her inspiring story of standing up for her rights to education. I want to hear more about her life and more about how she thinks this world could become a better place. She has a wonderful perspective on how the world can be and I want to hear more of her words.

I would encourage others to read I am Malala because it can help others to know about her story and how she had to stand up for the right to go to school. These injustices happen all over the globe and it is time that we do something about it. The world needs to know about these things that are going on and I believe that Malala's story is the perfect way to show it.

Book 1: Zlata's Diary

The first book that I chose to read was Zlata's Diary. This book was written in the eyes of a normal girl living her everyday life when war strikes in her country. This event flips her world upside down and everything changes.

About the Book:

Title: Zlata's Diary

Author/Main Character: Zlata Filipovic

Written: 1991-1993

Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia

Main Event: Bosnian War

Plot:

Zlata's Diary is a collection of journal entries written by Zlata's Filipovic. She was just a normal pre-teen whose only concerns were her piano lessons, friends, and grades in school. But in March 1992, everything is about to change for young Zlata. Violence first breaks out at a hill nearby her hose where there is shelling and gunfire, but that was only the beginning. Soon enough, she is spending a lot of time in a cellar for protection, food and water becomes limited, her school closes down, and much more. These things go on for a while. A temporary summer school is opened up and Zlata enjoys being back in school. She also tries to keep up with her piano skills. Sadly, chaos is still all around Zlata and she shares many of her emotions in the Diary. All that Zlata wishes for is that she could have her life back to the way it was. She wants her friends, school, and childhood back, but sadly the war continued on. Then, on July 17,1993, Zlata goes to a promotion for her book made from her diary. Zlata is now famous around the world and her book is compared to The Diary of Anne Frank. The Bosnian War is still going on tough. The book ends when she moves to Paris, France to get away from the war, but Zlata never forgets her old home.

My Thoughts While Reading Zlata's Diary:

Through the story of Zlata in this time got me thinking of many things. Here was a young girl like me who was going through horrors that I could not even dream of experiencing. She spoke of her home town being blown to bits, her old playground being vacant, people she knew whom were being killed. She had so many questions to these events and so did I while I was reading. She was younger at that time than I am now, but she went through much harder things that I will ever encounter. She was such an innocent girl, yet she had to go through these hard things all just because of war.

Evaluation:

I liked this book because it taught me valuable lessons. Zlata's Diary taught me that no matter how hard life can be we need to stay positive and stay strong.

I would definitely read more books by her because of the tone of her writing. How she writes makes the story interesting

and puts things in perspective. I would also red more because I want to hear more about what has happened in her life since her book was published.

Also, I would encourage others to read this book because it was a well written and real life story about the tragedies that have happened in the world. Many people are not aware of the types of things that happen to innocent people which ultimately can be avoided all together.