Paired Texts > Marley Dias: The 13-Year-Old Activist & Author

Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is from the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban has banned girls from attending school. Malala, whose family ran a chain of local schools, publicly stood against the Taliban’s actions and launched an international movement, surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban on October 9th, 2012. The article discusses this incredible young woman and her continuing advocation for universal women’s education.

This is a short biography of Ida B. Wells and the personal tragedy she experienced that pushed her to raise national awareness about violence and discrimination against African Americans.

In J. Patrick Lewis’ poem “The Many and the Few,” a speaker describes the historic moment when Rosa Parks refused to give her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

In J. Patrick Lewis’ poem “I’m the Library Lady” the speaker describes the books that readers can find at the library.

In the informational text “Money Tells a Story,” Carol Baldwin discusses John Jones’ discovery of Confederate bills with images of slaves happily working.

In the informational text “Daisy Low Grows the Girl Scouts,” Natasha Wing discusses how Daisy Low founded the Girl Scouts and contributed to their success.

In the article “Making Books in Braille,” Sara Matson discusses Laurie Lower’s job transcribing books into braille for people with vision loss.

After discovering the importance of making books with female Muslim available in schools and libraries, two girls living in Michigan create a non-profit organization to pursue their mission.