Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan: Two Stories of Bravery

Gr 2-4--Author and illustrator Winter, known for such works as The Librarian of Basra (Houghton Harcourt, 2005) and Nasreen's Secret School (S. & S., 2009), once again tackles the topic of humanitarian activism amid political violence in this two-in-one picture book. Malala Yousafzai, a young proponent of girls' education, came to the world's attention after being shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012. The corresponding story of Iqbal Masih, a young anti-child labor activist from 20 years earlier, is less well known--and has much less of a happy ending: the boy was shot and killed at age 12. Like Winter's earlier works, simple sentences and repetition ("Still Malala speaks out") give the story an accessible rhythm, and illustrations consisting of bold colors and shapes, each framed by a colorful geometric pattern, indicate moods ranging from the light pink of mourning to the bold orange and purple of defiance. The two stories are linked by a shared, wordless center spread featuring a kite motif from Masih's story. (The attentive viewer may note the symbolism in the choice to show Iqbal, in muted gray, as having let go of his kite, while Yousafzai, in full color, holds hers tightly.) The need to rotate the book physically in order to read each story adds a tactical element to the reading experience. Direct quotes from the young activists appear in red and purple respectively, and while author's notes provide background, this title lacks a bibliography of primary sources. Overall, a sensitive, age-appropriate treatment of a difficult but important topic.--Jill Ratzan, I. L. Peretz Community Jewish School, Somerset, NJ

Winter (Henri's Scissors) continues her series of illustrated biographies with a two-in-one volume. One side memorializes Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani boy sold to the carpet industry to pay off his parents' $12 debt. The reverse tells the now well-known story of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl who ignores the Taliban's threats and resolves to continue her schooling. Of her pursuers, Malala says, "They are afraid of women. How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?" Iqbal declares himself free when he learns that the Pakistani government has declared debt enslavement illegal. When he begins talking to gatherings of other child laborers, he is murdered. Malala, too, is shot; unlike Iqbal, she is flown to hospitals in the West, treated, and survives. Naif, milky-toned digital illustrations make the story's terrors easier to bear--the stiff figures and static action have the flavor of religious art. The thread joining these stories is the children's thirst for education, no matter the cost. Readers who drag their feet to school may benefit, at least briefly, from an introduction to children who are desperate to attend. Ages 4-8. (Nov.)