I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)

Malala awakens October 16 in a hospital in Birmingham, England. She has a tube down her throat and is unable to speak. Her vision is doubled, she has a terrible pain in her head, and she cannot lift her left hand. A Muslim chaplain prays with Malala, and a doctor speaks to her in Urdu, telling her she is safe. Malala is convinced something terrible has befallen her father, but she is initially unable to speak or write her questions. A nurse prints an alphabet for her, and Malala points to letters to spell “father” and “country.” When doctors explain she is in England but do not answer questions about her father, she is positive he has been hurt. Malala also worries about how her family will pay for her expensive medical treatment.

Dr. Fiona Reynolds brings Malala a green teddy bear and a notebook for her to write in. Dr. Fiona explains that Malala’s father is safe in Pakistan and she need not worry about her treatment cost. Malala cannot remember exactly what happened to her and is tormented by horrible images she cannot separate from reality, like being shot on a bus with her father, and a man preparing to choke her.