Our thirteenth book is a remarkable true tale that outlines the experiences of Malala Yousafzai who refused to be silenced by the Taliban when it took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan. Her “demand” was for the right of girls to be educated. On October 9, 2012, when Malala was 15, she was shot in the head – action meant to end her life. Instead, Malala’s journey has taken her from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York and later to the stage as the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In Touch with the World – Book Thirteen
Kim Perez currently serves on the faculty of the history department at Fort Hays State University. Just like her educational background, my reading interests are eclectic. As a child, her favorite books to read were volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica, choosing a different topic every time she picked one up off the shelf. Currently, her research interests are on the intersections between science, nature writing, and conservation. She’s also deeply interested in the history of childhood (as it relates to the aforementioned topics and in general) and the ways in which children are taught about the world in which they live. Some of Kim’s favorite authors are early twentieth century nature writers. When she’s am not reading or working, I’m hiking, kayaking, or hanging out with my dogs.