What next after I Am Malala?

[ArthurMcAffertyhastwocats]

dd is 11 and has been reading I Am Malala over the holiday. I read it at the same time and we talked about it a lot so I'm confident she had a good idea of what was going on. She's asked what she can read now that is similar to that, and I'm struggling a bit. I suppose it's "age appropriate autobiographies of inspiring women (or men, why not?)", if I had to sum up what I'm after!

[madamehooch]

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah

[ElinorRochdale]

Anne Frank?

[ArthurMcAffertyhastwocats]

Not heard of Chinese Cinderella- will check it out, thank you.

Anne Frank a great idea, can't believe I didn't think of that. And I know I have a copy somewhere!

[breward]

The Breadwinner Collection by Deborah Ellis.

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird

(My DD and DS both loved these stories that are set in Malala's part of the world. They gave an insight into these beautiful but troubled countries and the struggles that the children living in there face. Like you, we read them together and discussed the storyline. None are quite as political as I am Malala, but all insightful and beautifully written.)

[LikeSilver]

Is this any use? You can filter for her age range.

[CraftyMissus]

Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic

And a man... But genius.... My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell covers his animal obsessed childhood... There are lots if other books after documenting how he became a zoo specimen collector before he founded Jersey Zoo.

[Robertaquimby]

I always recommend this on Mumsnet.

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D Taylor

About an African American family in 1930s Mississippi. Based on the author's father's childhood.

[Daffydil]

When Hitler stole pink rabbit (and the sequels)?
The endless steppe (if it's still in print)

More about young girls in challenging situations than being inspiring in the Malala sense, but inspiring in a different way.

[bigbutsrus1]

We are in exactly the same position. My daughter and I read I am Malala together. We just read Nelson Mandela walk to freedom (picture book) quite young but lots of things to talk about and age appropriate - she is 9 but reads above her years. Now on the hunt for more inspirational books we can read together!

[emmaMBC]

Try Looking at the Stars by Jo Cottrill

[ethelb]

Persopolis

[mrsmortis]

Can you explain what it is that she liked about it? Would she like another biography or is it the setting. Does it need to be about a girl? Is it the themes?


Would she like something like The little house books? They are fictionalized but the story of the author's life.

[ArthurMcAffertyhastwocats]

Thanks everyone, some great ideas here. She does like graphic novels so Persepolis is a good one to follow up with. And lots of these are new to me.

mrsmortis, I think it was the biographical aspect that appealed to her, together with the lightness of touch in the story telling and the detail. It really made her think about the world in a new way and we've had some interesting conversations since as a result. She really enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie series when she read them. She's incurably nosy, so likes poking into people's lives, I think!

[PenguinVox]

As well as the diary of Anne Frank, there is a biography called Anne frank: Roses from the Earth. I read it when I was about 12/13 and it had a big impact on me.

[chicaguapa]

The Other Side of Truth by Beverly Naidoo is about child refugees, told from the perspective of two young Nigerians who've been abandoned in London. The blurb says it's for 10-14. Not biographical but relevant.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

A Bite of Mango

True story about a 12 year old girl who is caught by rebels in Sierra Leone. They cut her hands off. Sounds bleak but stay with me - its a great story of survival and courage and how this girl builds a life for herself. Happy ending.

[Balletgirlmum]

Dd was slightly older when she read a Briefer History of Time.

[Balletgirlmum]

She was in year 7 when she read Boy about Roald Dahl.

There is another book she loved & for the life of me I can't remember it. I think it's by Zepheniah somebody?

[annandale]

Slightly at Persepolis tbh! I found it pretty bleak in my 40s...

Has she read Mary Anning's Treasures? Out of print now and unfortunately looks pretty dull but I thought it was a great story well told.

[FullOfChoc]

My DD is 10 and just about to read I am Malala. I read it too and really enjoyed it.

Anne Frank is another I thought of, I read it first and thought it's a bit old for her. When Anne falls "in love" with Peter there were some bits I was uncomfortable with. Perhaps I'm being a prude, anyone else read it recently?

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

definitely Diary of Anne Frank and also Eva Schloss (think it is called Eva's story?) - her mother married Otto Frank after the war and Eva recently wrote a second book about her more recent life.

second the mention of The Endless Steppe - I still have my copy in the loft, it was part of the Puffin Plus range I think.

I read lots of autobiographies around Yr7/8/9 but can't think of titles at the moment.

What about sports ones? I haven't read it but I am sure Jessica Ennis's one would be perfectly respectable. I liked gymnastics at that age so read quite a few American gymnast ones.

[Grifone]

Watching with interest as my DD is currently reading I Am Malala as well. I recently saw Persepolis mentioned as a must read for YA girls in a blog post recently. Must try to dig it up.