Much like For the Right to Learn: Malala's Story, Because I am a Girl stopped me in my tracks. Some books, even those meant for children, aren't meant to be read lightly. This is another one of those. The stories contained within this book are staggeringly powerful. Its easy to coast from trouble to trouble in your life, thinking you've got it so bad... and then you read the stories of these girls. Then you remember Malala. You realize how good you have it, and how horrible it is that not everyone has these basic rights.

More than anything, its the girls' tones of hope that make this so powerful and heartbreaking at the same time. These young women have been through an unimaginable amount, and what do they want? They don't want to sit and feel sorry for themselves. They want to learn. They want to help others. That is, quite frankly, amazing.

This book brought tears to my eyes on 3 separate occasions, and made my heart clench from beginning to end. The statistics were horrifying. The stories brought me hope even as they taught me heartbreak. I highly recommend it, and wish we could put copies in everyone's hands! Fantastic job by the collaborators.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this is an amazing book. The Because I Am A Girl initiative started by Plan International, is all about girls making a difference in the world. The book is made up of the stories of girls from around the world dealing with issues of child slavery, orphans who get the leftovers, families with no money to put their girls in school, child marriages, poor healthcare etc. In each story, the girl triumphs. There are many facts about how education will solve almost all the problems in poor countries and that we need to empower the girls in these countries. Different programs are highlighted throughout. This is an amazing book that could be used in so many ways such as social justice programs.