From School Library Journal
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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 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 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 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 of a difficult but important
topic.—Jill Ratzan, I. L. Peretz Community Jewish School,
Somerset, NJ
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Review
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A master picture-book artist introduces quite young readers
to two astonishing heroes of the world born in Pakistan...Winter,
in impressive command of the page with her spare text and calm,
rich, digitally rendered art, offers this difficult material
unapologetically. As she often does, she distills the stories to
their essences, conveying with very few words the fearlessness
and the hope wielded by these children. Iqbal's and Malala's
stories are presented as two separate tales, back to back. In a
poignant double-page spread at the middle, edge-to-edge art shows
each child atop a ain. Iqbal's kite string has just left his
hand; his kite drifts away toward Malala. Malala's kite string is
still in her hand, and her kite reaches toward Iqbal...Brave and
heartrending. -- Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW 10/1/14
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...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...This is an
inspiring introduction to two important young champions of human
rights. -- Booklist 10/1/14
Author and illustrator Winter...once again tackles the topic of
humanitarian activism amid political violence in this two-in-one
picture book...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 need to rotate the book physically in order to read
each story adds a element to the reading experience.
Direct quotes from the young activists appear in red and purple
respectively...a sensitive, age-appropriate of a
difficult but important topic.–Jill Ratzan, I. L. Peretz
Community Jewish School, Somerset, NJ -- School Library Journal
Winter (Henri’s Scissors) continues her series of illustrated
biographies with a two-in-one volume...Naïf, milky-toned digital
illustrations make the story’s terrors easier to bear...The
thread joining these stories is the children’s thirst for
education, no matter the cost. Readers who drag their feet to
school may benefit...from an introduction to children who are
desperate to attend. -- Publishers Weekly, October 15, 2014
With an economy of words, unembellished language and her
signature flat, child-centric illustrations, Jeanette Winter (The
Librarian of Basra) creates a quietly magnificent tribute to two
extraordinary human beings...The front-to-back story features
Malala, the reverse tells the story of Iqbal, and Winter smoothly
joins them together in the center spread. Malala's story opens as
her would-be assassin descends upon her school van, then
backtracks to tell how Malala spoke out repeatedly against the
Taliban's ban on educating girls...Winter describes the Taliban
attack, and Malala's miraculous survival, in simple,
child-appropriate language...In the luminous full-page center
spread, Malala and Iqbal stand on ains, gazing at each other
under a starry sky, flying kites that dance across to the other's
side. Malala keeps a firm grasp on her kite string, while Iqbal
releases his. Even as Iqbal's story saddens us, we must remember
him in conjunction with Malala, living proof that hope thrives
alongside death. Coupling the stories creates a whole greater
than the sum of its parts. Winter has created a radiant,
transcendent book. --Allie Jane Bruce, children's librarian, Bank
Street College of Education Shelf Talker: The biographies of two
children's rights activists, Malala Yousafzai and Iqbal Masih,
together in one book; their stories balance each other to create
a radiant whole. -- Shelf Awareness, October 15, 2014 - STARRED
REVIEW
This picture book tells two stories (one side is Malala’s story;
flip it over for Iqbal’s), introducing young readers to Malala
Yousafzai and Iqbal Masih, two Pakistani children who fought for
peace and justice and who both suffered violence...Winter tells
each child’s story in clear, concise prose...Winter uses the
imagery of a kite as both a metaphor for childhood and as a way
to visually connect the two child activists. Mid-book, where the
two narratives meet, a poignant double-page spread shows Malala,
in vivid coral, flying a kite in a night sky, while Iqbal, shaded
in an ethereal gray, can no longer hold on to his. Though both
stories are painful, they can be a great place to begin a young
activist’s education. -- Horn Book, November/December 2014
Muted tones and doll-like representations of the two heroes
soften the tragedy of the stories, and the inclusion of kites as
symbols of freedom are used to advantage as the ghostly Iqbal and
vibrant Malala exchange kites on the transition spread between
stories. With Malala’s recent Nobel Peace Prize award (made after
this title’s publication), this work will fill demand for
material at a primary-grade level. -- Bulletin, December 2014
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