I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.
Chapter 5 Summary: Why I Don’t Wear Earrings and Pashtuns Don’t Say Thank You
“By the age of seven I was used to being the top of my class” (69). Malala competes with her good friend, Moniba. When a new girl, Malka-e-Noor joins the class, she thinks little of it, until Malka-e-Noor receives top marks on the year-end exams. The incident hurts Malala, and she cried. Around the same time, Malala and her family moved to a different neighborhood. She meets Safina, a younger girl. Malala plays with a fake cellphone her father bought her. It disappears, and one day, Safina plays with one that looks like Malala’s. Malala begins to steal Safina’s things and finds it thrilling. However, she is caughtand her mother refuses to speak to her. “It’s horrible to feel unworthy in the eyes of your parents” (71). After that day, Malala did not steal or lie. She stops wearing jewelry. “What are these baubles which tempt me? Why should I lose my character for a few metal trinkets?” (72). Her father comforts her by talking about the mistakes others have made. Malala enters a public speaking event. Her father writes her speech. “We thought speaking in English meant you were more intelligent. We were wrong of course. It does not matter what language you choose, the important thing is the words you use to express yourself” (78). Malala loses the event to Moniba. Instead of sadness, Malala realizes she must sometimes lose.
