Online Author Talk with Malala Yousafzai at the Bettendorf Public Library -- October 22.
Wednesday, October 22, 6 p.m.
Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf IA
With the virtual event taking place in the Bettendorf Public Library's Malmros Room on October 22, Quad Citians are invited to be among the first to hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai about her astonishing new memoir, Finding My Way. All ages are invited to this watch party as Malala reintroduces herself to the world, sharing how she navigated life as someone whose darkest moments threatened to define her narrative – while seeking the freedom to find out who she truly is.
Malala Yousafzai is an education activist, the youngest-ever Nobel laureate, bestselling author, and award-winning film producer. She was born in Mingora, Pakistan, in 1997 and graduated from Oxford University in 2020. Thrust onto the public stage at fifteen years old after the Taliban’s brutal attack on her life, Malala quickly became an international icon known for bravery and resilience.
After her recovery, Yousafzai became a more prominent activist for the right to education. Based in Birmingham, she co-founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit organisation, with Shiza Shahid. In 2013, she co-authored I Am Malala, an international best seller. In 2013, she received the Sakharov Prize, and in 2014, she was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with Kailash Satyarthi of India. Aged 17 at the time, she was the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. In 2015, she was the subject of the Oscar-shortlisted documentary He Named Me Malala. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 issues of Time magazine featured her as one of the most influential people globally. And in 2017, she was awarded honorary Canadian citizenship and became the youngest person to address the House of Commons of Canada. But away from the cameras and crowds, she spent years struggling to find her place in an unfamiliar world.
Scheduled for release on October 21, Finding My Way is a story of friendship and first love, of anxiety and self-discovery, of trying to stay true to yourself when everyone wants to tell you who you are. In it, Malala traces her path from high school loner to reckless college student to a young woman at peace with her past. Through candid, often messy moments like nearly failing exams, getting ghosted, and meeting the love of her life, Malala reminds us that real role models aren’t perfect – they’re human.
Finding My Way is also a vulnerable, surprising memoir that buzzes with authenticity, sharp humor, and tenderness. It is an intimate look at the life of a young woman taking charge of her destiny, and is a deeply personal testament to the strength it takes to be unapologetically yourself.
The Online Author Talk with Malala Yousafzai will take place the Bettendorf Public Library's Malmros Room on October 22, participation in the 6 p.m. event is free, and more information is available by calling (563)344-4179 and visiting BettendorfLibrary.com.
