Malala and her family join over two million people fleeing their homes in advance of the fighting between the Taliban and the army. Malala and her mother and little brothers travel to their family in Shangla, while Malala’s father goes to Peshawar to increase media awareness and warn people of the conflict in Swat. They are officially IDPs, or internally displaced persons.

The normally short trip to Shangla takes more than two days, and Malala, her mother, and her brothers must walk the final miles and barely clear the army roadblock. In Shangla, Malala attends school with her cousin, Sumbul. Malala’s habits of speaking up in class and not covering her face cause surprise, but the teacher treats her like his other students—few of whom are older girls like her.

Malala misses her home, her books, and her father. Because of poor phone reception, they have little contact with him. They rely on the radio for information, learning that the army claimed victory after a four-day battle with the Taliban in Mingora.

In Peshawar, Malala and her family reunite with her father. They attend a meeting of Pakistani activists and special ambassador from the United States Richard Holbrook.