Malala Yousafzai's Reading List

The activist and co-author of "I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" relished "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," the first book she read in the hospital when recovering from an attack by the Taliban.

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By the Book: Malala Yousafzai (2014)

NYT By the Book column (2014-08-19).

Source: www.nytimes.com

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck · Buy on Amazon

"It's a short book, but it is filled with so much. It really reflects the situation of 1930s America. I was fascinated to learn how women were treated at the time, and what life was like for poor itinerant workers."

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho · 1988 · Buy on Amazon

"I like it because it is hopeful and inspiring. It tells the story of a boy who embarks on a journey to find a treasure, but as he goes along, he learns from every part of his journey."

Parvana's Journey

Deborah Ellis · Buy on Amazon

"Both tell stories about young characters in difficult circumstances, having to make hard choices and having to find strength. They accurately depict war-torn regions."

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini · Buy on Amazon

"It shows you should not judge other people by external things. And it shows loyalty and friendship."

Mud City

Deborah Ellis · Buy on Amazon

"I was gripped by this series and couldn't drag myself away from it. Ellis beautifully captures childhood in war-torn Afghanistan and Pakistan. The stories are very moving."

The Breadwinner

Deborah Ellis · Buy on Amazon

"I think it's important for girls everywhere to learn how women are treated in some societies. But even though Parvana is treated as lesser than boys and men, she never feels that way."

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Unknown · Buy on Amazon

"It is a lovely book, and it was given to me by Gordon Brown — he sent me 25 books, and this was my favorite."

A Brief History of Time

Stephen Hawking · Buy on Amazon

"I read it during a period when life in Swat was very hard. I distracted myself from the fear and terrorism by thinking about things like how the universe began and whether time travel is possible."

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Unknown · Buy on Amazon

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