Malala Yousafzai begins her story by saying, “I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday” (3). She describesher homeland and contrasts the modern conveniences of England with the less-than-modern difficulties of Swat Valley in Pakistan. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, Malala’s life changed. She was on the way to school. The school was founded by her father before she was born.

Malala explains her father used to wake her up for school. His nickname for her is Jani Mun, which means “soulmate.” In her house, she keeps “gold-colored plastic cups and trophies” because only “a few times had I not come top [sic]” (6). Although the school was not too far away, her mother feared for Malala’s safety. Instead of walking, Malala took a bus. This fear stemmed from the murder of her father’s fellow campaigner Zahid Khan. Even Malala worried she might be shot, although she did not consider her worry to be the same as fear.

On the way to school one day, the bus is stopped. A man asks the driver if this is the Khushal School bus. The driver says yes. When the man asks about the children on the bus, the driver directs him to the office to get information.