Friday, May 8, 2015

For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story

"One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world." 
- Malala Yousafzai

For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story
by Rebecca Langston-George and Janna Bock

For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story written by Rebecca Langston-George and illustrated by Janna Bock is a fantastic account of the heroic stance Malala Yousafzai made for her right to an education. 

Malala Yousafzai bravely volunteered to blog about the closing of her school. "They can stop us going to school, but they can't stop us learning!" She was not deterred by the threat of bombs, beatings, or even jail. In October 2012, Malala and her friends were riding a bus to school when it was suddenly stopped. She was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban who was against her and the fight she had launched for the opportunity to go to school. Langston-George conveys a wonderful telling of Malala's story. The tragic shooting is handled very well in this picture book for children (publisher recommends ages 9-12). The text, "Three shots shattered the silence" and illustration, an opened book with drops of blood on the cover are not overly graphic, while providing a strong sense of the terrifying and dangerous situation faced by the girls on the bus.

On December 10, 2014, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize. This young peace activist raised her voice for the right to equal education. "This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change."

I highly recommend For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story for any children's library collection, public and school. I think it is not only the story of a strong female character, but also a story about the importance of education. So many people take education for granted. They feel they are forced to go to school, sit in class, and learn. This is not the case around the world. I wonder how many children in the United States would be willing to stand up to and defy terrorists for their right to go to school?

**To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Capstone has provided an electronic copy of For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion. 

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