# data[].attributes.body
Yousafzai, Malala and Lamb, Christina. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Little, Brown and Company, October 8 2013.

# data[].attributes.body
Tor Pekai and Ziauddin Yousafzai are the names of Malala's parents. They both played a very big part in why she fights so much for women's rights to be able to go to school.

Malala's mother started school when she was six but stopped going because she didn't see the point in it. She knew she was going to end up cooking and cleaning like her cousins anyway. Though she later regrets her decision once she meets Malala's father.

Malala's father was very passionate about education and knowledge and wasn't like many of the other guys in the village. Malala's mother admired those traits and they got married.

Malala's father was very poor at the time. He was in debt to many people because he needed money from others to accomplish his dream of opening up a school. He was broke and had no idea how he would pay all those people back, but he never gave up until he had a successful school. He believed knowledge was power and this is what inspired Malala.

# data[].attributes.body
Malala's date of birth was on July 12, 1997. In Pashtun culture, the birth of a daughter is not celebrated as much as the birth of a son. So when Malala was born, people felt pity for her mother and no one congratulated her father. However, her father stuck up for her.

In chapter 1, Malala says "He told people, 'I know there is something different about this child.' He even asked friends to throw dried fruits, sweets and coins into my cradle, something we usually do only for boys," (page 14).

He also named her after Malalai, who is known to be the greatest heroine of Afghanistan.

As she grows older, Malala pays more attention to the difference in how she is treated and how her brothers, Khushal and Atal, are treated. She takes note of the fact that in her culture, women are expected to stay inside and cook and clean. At a very young age, Malala decides that she won't be like that and she knows her father supports this. But she still wonders if she will ever be as free has her brothers.

# data[].attributes.headline
3: The Expectations of Women in Pashtun Culture (Quote)

# data[].attributes.subject
3: The Expectations of Women in Pashtun Culture (Quote)

# data[].attributes.body
When Malala was a kid, one of her male cousins criticized her for not being fully covered. Her father told him to mind his business.

After this, Malala starts talking to her father about how difficult and restricting lives are for the women in pashtun culture. Her father says she's right but he also tells her that it's even harder for women in Afghanistan. It was taken over by a group called the Taliban, filled with members who were terrorizing women and also men.

In chapter 4, Malala says "The year before I was born a group called the Taliban led by a one-eyed mullah had taken over the country and was burning girl's schools. They were forcing men to grow beards as long as a lantern and women to wear burqas," (page 67).

Although women also have it hard in Swat Valley, Malala was glad that at least in Swat, girls were able to go to school. She was not aware that the Taliban would soon be coming to her home as well.

# data[].attributes.body
Across from the school Malala's father ran lived a man named Ghulamullah who called himself a mufti. A mufti is an Islamic scholar. The school was starting to do well and the mufti wasn't pleased to hear it. In his eyes, the school was haram, as it had both boys and girls. The mufti believed that girls shouldn't go to school and stay at home in order to stay out of the sight of men and strangers.

The mufti tried to shut down the school many times but it never worked. He called the landlady to try and buy the building the school was held in. Fortunately, the landlady refused. The mufti eventually gave up and left the school alone.

# data[].attributes.body
On October 8, 2005, a devastating and dangerous earthquake happened in Pakistan. Thousands of people lost their lives. Thankfully, Mingora, Malala's town, survived without too much damage.

The government could not do much to help. Most of the help was from conservative religious groups. They buried bodies, offered prayers, took in orphans, and cleared rubble. But Malala says that these religious groups were taking advantage of the situation, scaring people into following Islamic law strictly.

In chapter 8, it says "Mullahs from the TNSM preached that the earthquake was a warning from God. If we did not mend our ways and introduce shariat or Islamic law, they shouted in their thundering voices, more severe punishments would come," (page 107).

# data[].attributes.body
When Malala was ten years old, the Taliban arrived in Swat Valley. Their leader was a 28-year-old man named Maulana Fazlullah and he soon became known as Radio Mullah. He started broadcasting from a radio station. At first, he impressed many people. He supported bringing back Islamic law. But soon, he started declaring more things to be haram (forbidden), like music, haircuts, dance, TV, and also school for girls. As time went on, he started focusing on his female audience and said that they should stay home and only go out when necessary but with a male relative and covering their face.

The Taliban soon start patrolling the streets looking for anything they deemed forbidden and publicly whipping people. There was even a public notice saying Ziauddin's school was "too western." Malala's father responds by writing a letter to the local newspaper begging the Taliban to spare the schoolchildren.

# data[].attributes.body
The Taliban had soon reached Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. In July 2007, there was a confrontation at the Las Masjid, or the Red Mosque. It was a violent fight between Islamic fundamentalists/militants and the military of Pakistan.

The Red Mosque was protesting the government at the time and the girls in the mosque were being taught to "[terrorize] the streets of Islamabad," (page 126).

Malala points out that women can only be vocal and visible when it benefits the Taliban. For example, in chapter 10, Malala says "The head of the madrasa was Umme Hasssan ... and she even boasted she had trained many of her girls to become suicide bombers," (page 127).

The military tried to negotiate at first but it didn't end up working out and they eventually just stormed the mosque. This resulted in there being 154 deaths and 50 militants being captured.

# data[].attributes.body
On July 12th 2007, Malala's 11th birthday, Fazlullah declared war on the government of Pakistan.

But, In October 2007 Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan. She was once the prime minister of Pakistan but went into self-exile while her court cases for corruption remained pending in courts. She had finally returned after eight years and became prime minister again. Many people were hopeful and saw her as a role model, including Malala.

On October 18, 2007, Benazir's bus was blown up. Thankfully, Benazir was not in it, but 150 other people had been killed in the explosion.

On December 27th 2007, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. It happened during an election rally and she was in a bulletproof car. But as she stuck her hand out to wave, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the side of the car and there was a lot of gunfire. In chapter 10, it says "The Musharraf government later said she hit her head on the roof handle; other people said she had been shot," (page 133).

The death of Benazir Bhutto scared Malala and many others. She felt "as if her country was running out of hope," (page 133).

# data[].attributes.headline
9: The Closure of Girl's Schools (Quote)

# data[].attributes.subject
9: The Closure of Girl's Schools (Quote)

# data[].attributes.body
During the war, school became a refuge for Malala. She enjoyed studying and competing with her friends to see who would come in first in class.

But the Taliban started blowing up schools. By December 2008, they destroyed 400 schools and officially announced the closure of all girl's schools by January 15. After hearing this, Malala didn't believe them. She didn't think they would have the power to shut down the schools. But her friends didn't agree with her. " 'Who will stop them?' they asked. 'They have already blown up hundreds of schools and no one has done anything,' " (page 146). Malala still had hope that they would return to school again.

# data[].attributes.body
Some people began to just accept the idea that the Taliban will never go away and that they can't do anything about it. Even the district deputy commissioner became a follower of the Taliban.

But some people also started questioning why Malala's family isn't dead yet, especially Malala's father. "Our people are being killed, but this Ziauddin is so outspoken and he's still alive! He must be a secret agent," (page 150). Malala's father brushed it off but Malala was still worried.

# data[].attributes.headline
11: Interviews, Documentaries, and Dairies

# data[].attributes.subject
11: Interviews, Documentaries, and Dairies

# data[].attributes.body
A BBC Urdu website asks Malala to write about what her life is like with the Taliban ruling her town. The website asks Malala to come up with a different name for herself to protect her identity. She goes under the pen name "Gul Makai," and writes about all the difficulties of living in Swat Valley as a girl.

In January 2009, the New York Times makes a documentary of what Malala's last day of school was like.

Malala and her father both start giving more interviews about the Taliban and how important education is.

New York Times executive producer and director, Adam Ellick, takes Malala and her friends at school to Islamabad. Everyone enjoyed their time there and forgot about their troubles back in their home town. So when Malala had to return back to Swat Valley, she knew she also had to return back to reality.

# data[].attributes.body
In May 2009, the army tells the citizens of Swat Valley to evacuate. They are going to try and take back the city from the Taliban.

Almost 2 million pashtuns leave Swat, including Malala and her family. She stays in Shangla with her mother and brothers, while her father stays in Peshawar.

After three long months, the army announces that they have driven the Taliban out of Swat. They can finally return. A lot of the city is damaged but Malala's home is still in place. She is happy to be back home regardless.

# data[].attributes.body
Malala starts getting more recognition. She is awarded Pakistan's first National Peace Prize. She also starts an education fund.

However, because she is getting more recognition, the Taliban starts sending her threats and accusing her of western secularism. Malala starts experiencing nightmares, locking the doors at night, and praying for her and her family's safety.

# data[].attributes.body
After a school trip to Marghazar, Malala's father recieves a letter saying his school goes against Islamic law and is offending God. The girls attending the school start getting worried but Malala's father stays calm and reassures them that they are doing nothing wrong.  However, Malala can see that her father is actually very worried. After that, the intelligence services kept showing up at Malala's house, asking her father personal questions about his family and work.

"My father spoke like a lion, but I could see in his heart he was worried and scared," (page 230).

# data[].attributes.body
In July 2012, Malala turns fifteen, which is the age of adulthood in Islam.

During this time, people start worrying that the Taliban is coming back. This time, they seem to only be attacking people who speak against militants. This is proven when one of Malala's father's friends gets shot. His name was Zahid Khan and was an activist just like Malala's father. Thankfully, he survived but refused to be silent.

# data[].attributes.body
In October 2012, exams were happening. Malala stayed up everyday studying because of how desperately she wanted to come in first place.

On the last day of exam season, October 9th, 2012, two men stop Malala's school bus as it was heading to school. One of the men boards the bus and asks who Malala is. Everyone on the school bus stays silent but looks towards Malala. Suddenly, the man pulls out a gun and fires three shots, one of them hitting Malala.

"The first went through my left eye socket and out under my left shoulder. I slumped forward onto Moniba, blood coming from my left ear, so the other two bullets hit the girls next to me. One bullet went into Shazia's left hand. The third went through her left shoulder and into the upper right arm of Kainat Riaz," (page 9).

# data[].attributes.body
The bus driver immediately drives Malala and the other two girls to the hospital. Malala's family rushes to her side.

Because Malala's brain is starting to swell, she undergoes a risky operation that can help save her life. Many important activists and people arrive at the hospital to show their support.

Two british doctors, Dr. Fiona and Dr. Javid, visited Malala and said she still wasn't getting the aftercare she needed to survive. At first, the doctors transported her to an army hospital. Then, after much debate, Malala is flown on a private jet to a hospital in Birmingham with only Dr. Fiona by her side. Malala's family had to stay behind because they didn't have passports yet.

# data[].attributes.body
Malala wakes up on October 16, 2012, and has to learn how to walk and move again without her family. She can't get in contact with her family back in Pakistan very often.

When Dr. Fiona tells her what happened, Malala doesn't feel angry and knows that she will continue trying to be a peacemaker and a good politician for her country.

Dr. Fiona also tells Malala about the wave of support she got while recovering. She got gifts, messages, and over 8,000 cards. One of the most meaningful gifts she got was two shawls that belong to Benazir Bhutto. Malala looked up to her a lot.

When Malala's parents could finally come to Birmingham to see her, they were shocked at her appearance. The problem was a facial nerve, so she had an operation to repair it. It went well but it took three months for the left side of her face to start working again.

# data[].attributes.body
Malala also gets a visit from Asif Zardari, Pakistan's president, and he offers to pay Malala's medical bills. He also gives Malala's father a diplomatic passport and a job.

Malala and her family came to Birmingham with nothing expect their passports and documents and some clothes. They knew they had to stay in Birmingham for now.

In the beginning of 2013, Malala gets released from the hospital and her and her family move into an apartment. Eventually they move into a house.

# data[].attributes.body
She talks about how much she misses Swat Valley and how lonely it feels going to school with no friends. Her mother and father also feel lonely. They are in a completely different country, miles away from the home they had lived in their whole life. However Malala keeps pushing through and focuses on her dream for universal education and peace. She will return to Swat Valley one day.

"Peace in every home, every street, every village, every country -- this is my dream. Education for every boy and girl in the world," (page 313).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Schoolgirl's Odyssey - Malala Yousafzai Story | The New York Times

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Malala Yousafzai's First Thought When She Woke Up in the Hospital | SuperSoul Sunday | OWN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Malala Yousafzai Changed The World And Won A Nobel Peace Prize | Herstory

# data[].attributes.body
Malala Fund Official Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With more than 130 million girls out of school today, we’re breaking down barriers that hold girls back.