Themes of family and community in I Am Malala are apparent from the very beginning of the book. In the prologue, the reader learns that Malala's father founded Khushal School before she was even born. Malala's father believed strongly in the value of education for both boys and girls. Malala's family cared for others in their community on a regular basis. For example, Malala ran errands for her neighbors, and her dad was often asked to mediate feuds because he was so well-respected in the community. The community did many things together, such as celebrating Eid in the village. Malala advocated for the scavenger children by begging her dad to give these children free places at his school. Malala's mother filled their home with people and could often be found visiting someone in the hospital. After the earthquake on October 8, 2005, Malala and her family began raising money to help those people affected by the natural disaster.

When the Taliban taped a letter to Khushal School telling Malala's father to stop teaching girls and that the uniforms were un-Islamic, Malala's dad, Ziauddin, continued to educate the girls, but he did change the uniforms. Ziauddin's friend Hidayatullah told Malala's father,

Ziauddin, you have charisma; you can speak up and organize against them. Life isn't just about taking in the oxygen and leaving out carbon dioxide. You can stay there accepting everything from the Taliban or you can make a stand against them.

So, Ziauddin wrote a letter to the local newspaper, the Daily Azadi, saying, "Please don't harm my children, because the God you believe in is the same God they pray to every day. You can take my life but please don't kill my schoolchildren." Malala and her family loved their community so very much that they were willing to speak up and lose their lives if necessary. When Malala was shot, her community rallied around her and her family. Malala's family had a great love for their community, and the community had a great love for them.

In I Am Malala, the theme of family or community is closely related to the theme of courage. For example, Ziauddin's courage to pursue his own path was inspired by his mother's faith in his abilities. Similarly, Malala's courage was buoyed by the support she received from Ziauddin, Toor Pekai, and Hidayatullah. In Pashtun culture, families and close friends constitute powerful support systems. Malala's happy descriptions of celebratory Eid festivals demonstrate the importance of social cohesion during times of peace. During times of tragedy, the support of family is even more crucial to survival. As IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), Malala's family was fortunate to be taken in by relatives in Shangla. Other IDPs endured greater suffering; they were displaced to one of three IDP camps, where conditions were far worse. After Malala's shooting and during her convalescence, her close-knit Pashtun community came together to comfort her family and to provide much-needed emotional support. The theme of family reinforces the role support systems have played in Malala's life.