I am Malalai Excerpt by Malalai Yousafzia I am a Pashtun a member of a proud tribe of people spread across Afghanistan an Pakistan My father Ziauddin and my mother Toor Pekai are from mountain village but after they married they relocated to Mingora the largest city in the Swat Valley which is in northwest Pakistan where I was born Swat was known for its beauty and tourists came from all over to see its tall mountains lush green hills and crystal clear rivers I m named for the great young Pashtun heroine Malalai who inspired her countryme with her courage But I don t believe in fighting even though my fourteen year old brother Khushal annoys me to no end I don t fight with him Rather he fights with me And I agree wit Newton For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction So I guess you cou say that when Khushal fights with me I oblige him We argue over the TV remote Ove chores Over who s the better student Over who ate the last of the Cheesy Wotsits O whatever you can think of My ten year old brother Atal annoys me less And he is quite good at chasing down cricket ball when we kick it out of bounds But he does make up his own rules sometim 9 The point of view used by the author gives the reader insight into the A family s behaviors B Pashtun tribe narrator s thoughts Obrothers feelings 10 Newton s law is significant because it explains A the relationship Malalai has with her family how Malalai justifies fighting with her brother