Malala to Write a Book about her Ordeal and Taliban Killing

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban, is to write about her ordeal in a new book.
The 15-year-old's memoirs will be called I Am Malala and are expected to be released in the autumn.

As well as her shooting in October last year, the book will cover her long-running campaign to promote children's education in her homeland.

"I hope the book will reach people around the world, so they realise how difficult it is for some children to get access to education," Malala said.

"I want to tell my story, but it will also be the story of 61 million children who can't get education."

Michael Pietsch, executive vice president of publishers Little, Brown Book Group, added: "Malala is already an inspiration to millions around the world.

"Reading her story of courage and survival will open minds, enlarge hearts and eventually allow more girls and boys to receive the education they hunger for."

The book deal is reportedly worth around £2m, although Mr Pietsch did not confirm how much Malala would be paid.

The 15-year-old was shot in Pakistan's Swat Valley by militants who said she promoted "Western thinking" and was an outspoken critic of the Taliban's opposition to education for girls.

She was flown to the UK for treatment and spent several months in hospital undergoing skull reconstruction and surgery on her ear.

She has started school in Britain since she was released in February.

The book deal was confirmed a day after a teacher at a girls' school in Pakistan was killed in a drive-by shooting.

Shahnaz Nazli, 41, was shot dead 200 metres from the school in the tribal district of Khyber.