  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2014 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 - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/01/2014 In a two-in-one book that readers can begin from either end, Winter links the lives of two courageous child activists from Pakistan—Malala Yousafzai and Iqbal Masih. The pairing works to good effect; it is as if Malala stands on the shoulders of Iqbal. At age 4, Iqbal became a bonded worker in a carpet factory. When he was liberated at age 10, he studied, shared his story, and worked to free others. He was shot in what most believe was a deliberate silencing. Malala, born two years after Iqbal’s death, defied the Taliban’s edict against the education of girls and women, not only attending school but making speeches against the ban. She, too, was shot but survived. Winter’s spare prose and simple, colorful pictures illustrate both children’s circumstances and the mantles they accepted. An introductory note to each story provides a much-needed event summary. Readers will be moved by both sacrifices, and many will want to know more (and perhaps wish that Winter had provided a bibliography). This is an inspiring introduction to two important young champions of human rights. - Copyright 2014 Booklist. Loading...
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