This is such a brilliantly written book. The subject matter means this is not an easy read.
It is very thought provoking and inspiring
I recommend this to everyone

I Am Change tells the story of Lilian, a Ugandan girl who strives to have equal opportunities as the males in a country where females are not entitled to education, have opinions, and are encouraged to stay home to look after the men. I initially struggled with getting stuck in to the story because of what the story was about. Coming from a white British family in the UK it is clear why I initially had difficulties connecting with Lillian, the other characters and the plot. But as I read on those differences between my experiences in life and what was happening in the story became the things that gave me the most feelings. I went through feeling outraged at times, sometimes happy but with a sad undertone, tearful, and downright disgusted. Lillian fought for what she knew was right every step of the way and never gave up despite being treated horribly. She was a fantastic main character and the fact that I know this is all very realistic and there are girls out there that will have experienced the things that Lillian did made the story more hard hitting.
I Am Change raises important issues regarding tradition, understanding, and education in countries such as Uganda. If all people have ever known is one way of life then that is the way they will live and that is what they will pass down to the next generation. The book deals with some harsh realities such as sexism, sexual assault, teenage pregnancy, forced child marriage, prostitution, racism, and female genital mutilation.
The story is so very well written and the characters so developed and realistic that it could easily be mistaken for a memoir. It's just so saddening that in 2020 girls and women are still suffering these atrocities.

A powerful and important read, which Walker are aiming at the YA market, I actually think this should be targeted at a wider audience and aimed at everyone. This is an important book for change, it’s a uncomfortable read, it’s challenging, but wow is it a worthy one. As a white person I can only comment on this from my own reading, my own un-learning and re-education. I feel for BAME Representation , especially BAME women this is such an important book, a beautiful, strong and powerful voice demanding to be heard, I am Change is something everyone needs, I hope that it is rewarded with the recognition that this book deserves. It’s a brave, truthful book, written beautifully , the challenges faced are unimaginable for me as a white reader, but this is why it’s so important it should be targeted to everyone not just YA, I’m 42 (definitely not the YA target audience) and I found it engaging, important and as strong a message as the mainstream/adult books. I am change is an incredibly moving and inspiring book, a book you must read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Wow. This was such an emotional and enthralling read. I don't even know what to say. I think I learned a lot about Ugandan culture and it made me rethink a few things about my own life and about privilege to say the least.
I honestly don't know what to say to make you guys pick this up. I think the best thing to do is to go in blindly? Maybe look up trigger warnings beforehand if you've got topics you don't want to read about but other than that, let this educational, harrowing but also beautiful tale take you on a ride.

Lillian lives in a small village where girls are expected to get married as a teenager, to a man (typically 10-20 years older) of their parents choice, and spend the rest of their lives looking after their husbands and producing sons. It is frowned upon for girls to go to school and deemed unnecessary, but Lillian dreams of being a writer or a teacher and she is desperate to make her dreams become reality.

This book was absolutely beautiful. I've just finished reading and I'm speechless and at a total loss for words at how powerful and eye-opening it was. It was harrowing to see such a strong character be forced into situations that felt so hopeless, and at times the subject matter had me feeling genuine anger at the way the girls were treated.

Suzy Zail has done a magnificent job of creating this story, based on 30 Ugandan women's true accounts on their lives, that reads like a biography. I would recommend this book to any girls (or boys!) out there that want to make a difference, see change, or even be the change.

This book is so important. It makes you want to talk about women's rights, about the things women in Western worlds take for granted and what you can do to help those who don't have the opportunity or the privilege to make a better life for themselves.

This is, without a doubt, a 5 star read!

TRIGGER WARNING

I Am Change deals with subjects such as sexual abuse, disrespect to women and harsh realities.

Lillian is from a small Ugandan village and wants to get an education and be a writer, make something of herself. But society has other ideas.

Suzy Zail writes an engrossing novel and I was rooting for Lilian, scared for her and her fate and future. The synopisis hooked me despite being short.

I Am Change is detailled and makes an impression and opened my eyes to the reality some have to face. I liked the cover too.

Thanks to Suzy Zail and Walker Books Australia for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

I Am Change is an utterly heartbreaking and tragic story, but also an empowering account of a woman using the voice society told her she couldn't have, to be heard. A powerful, relevant must-read.

I couldn’t get this book to download properly. It’s a real shame, it looked like something I would really enjoy. I’ll pick
It up when it goes on sale.