I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick Review

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick

An ilovemys(h)elf Review

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Edition: Audiobook, Young Readers Edition

# of Pages: 240

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Recommend?: Yes

We tend to remember the happiest, saddest, surprising, often the most tragic aspects of our pasts. In other words, we find the rather extreme moments in our lives to be the most memorable.

With that being said, I remember the first time I had learned about Malala Yousafzai and the tragedy that had struck her, and the unmatched unique bravery that led her to challenge the radical, discriminatory, and questionable theology of the Taliban.

If anything Malala's life is a testimony, a token to all the men, women, boys, and girls who have stood up for what is right and who have spoken out against injustice, but were unfortunately silenced permanently by the forces of terrorism. 

"We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced."

Yousafzai's situations weren't perfect, but they were favorable:

1) Her wonderful father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was an activist for female education, and as a result continued to encourage Malala's efforts in school.

2) Malala also had a deep love and enjoyed receiving an education (a right that is often taken for granted in many areas of the world).

3) Her family did not use the Quran against Malala, but rather, for her. 

4) Above all, The Yousafzai’s were hardly coaxed with fear; these people pushed through the hateful attacks and threats. 

Malala’s family is a great example of the fearlessness we need more of in this world. 

I Am Malala's Malala Yousafzai

Before reading this book, I did not understand why first learning about Malala seemed like such a monumental time in my life. Her story not only sent shivers down my spine, but it reminded me what ‘being good’ really means in such a horrid world. I now know why her story means something to me. Malala is a humble, fearless, and inspiring political figure who not only survived a bullet to the head (!!) but also exceeded the worldly expectations that the Taliban and the rest of Pakistan had of her. 

As I said, Malala is a testimony. She is a testimony to not only the courageous men and women that have passed but to the all of us. Her story is a testimony of what can happen when you defy injustice and remain rounded in the rights that you were born with. 

The book was an experience for me because, before reading her memoir, the only things I knew about Malala were things you could get off unreliable Wikipedia pages. 

You learn that Yousafzai, although extraordinary at her age, had dreams and hopes that aren’t so different to ours.

Although the book is not as inspiring as Yousafzai’s story, there is a looming sense of greatness, struggle, and courage between the lines of every page.

"The Pen is Mightier than the Sword"

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Review

Homegoing

by Yaa Gyasi

An ilovemys(h)elf Review

Publisher: Knopf

Edition: Kindle

# of Pages: 320

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommend?: Yes

I came to America from Nigeria 2.5 years ago. I've integrated well. However, I believe the correct term is conformed.

Nigeria is a wonderful country. And I'm not going to bother saying I am biased because I am, and you are too. Nigeria is wondrous despite what you've probably heard. We don't stand up for the pledge everyday, with a right hand to our chest and with our eyes on the flag; we don't have flags in every classroom, home, or institution; we don't have a lot of opportunities.

But if there is one thing that a majority of Nigerians have, it is a deep-seated love for its country, its people, and most importantly, its future.

You'd think that with all the wars, conflicts, torture, and death that dwells in the land of Nigeria and in the hands of the British, that Nigeria would be demoralized by now.

But that is far from true.
We keep on fighting.
We keep moving on.

I was almost in tears while writing this review because when people hear my mother's accent and her trouble to pronounce certain words, they've already preconceived her entire personality, background, and intelligence.

But they're wrong.
They're always wrong.

When my friends, teachers, and even strangers hear my fairly groomed American accent they start to question my African-ness.
But my sister remains exotic; cultured; evidence of some kind of inferiority.
It's all nonsense.
No body can come to conclusions on another person's background, life, or struggles.
Why?
Because it's all complicated, complex, and intrinsic. Because everyone is unique; everyone is different, and everyone has the choice, the basic right to be whoever the heck they want to be despite their background.

We forget this all the time.

Your background can predict where you're going to be, the colour of your skin, and maybe even the highlight of the eyes.
However, your ancestry doesn't predict who you are or who you are going to be.

When we look at people, we should stop trying to unravel them, or understand them.
People are complicated, complex, and  intricate.

In the novel, Homegoing, Gyasi carefully takes us down the family lines of two half sisters. The reader gets to see what they're decisions, circumstances, and situations bear for their generations in the future.
The care and simple complexity that goes into the construction of this book, each character, and each world-building, and each story absolutely  exceeds my initial expectations of this novel.
Gyasi indicates her expertise at family relations, Ghanaian and African history, the cultural issues faced by African Americans, and the impact that our ancestry has on every single following generation.

We are where we are because of the past.
We are who we are because of our present, our future.

Homegoing's Yaa Gyasi

Homegoing have either been a hit or a miss. It would have been easy to get lost in certain characters and their stories (and there a lot!) and as a result, not delve into the lives of other characters. She could have rarely touched on any character and rush through the ending leaving no story or characterization to fully enjoy. Fortunately and rather skillfully, Gyasi delves into the lives of each character and the characters that surround them, making everyone a main character in their own story and widening the history of each character while expanding on the past.

This book is so complex and beautiful that explaining it's magnificence will take pages and pages of my time.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
The mastery that is reached in this novel illustrates the literary achievement that I believe Gyasi really worked hard for.

Gyasi writes Homegoing with beauty and seamless simplicity. Homegoing is a novel that honors the complexity of Ghanaian history, ancestry, and family.