Amal Unbound

     I knew helping family was what a good eldest daughter did, but this time after school with Miss Sadia wasn t just fun; it was important. I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, and who better to learn from than the best teacher I ever had? I loved washing the chalkboards, sweeping the floor and hearing stories of her college days. I loved watching her go over her lessons and rework them based on what worked and what didn t the day before. I learned so much from watching her. How could my father not understand?
     I could still use your help with the poetry unit next week, she told me. Some of the students are grumbling about it. Think you could convince Hafsa to give it a chance? You know how she rallies the others to her side. She ll listen to you.
     I don t think she minds reading the poems. Writing them makes her nervous.
     You d think everyone would be happy to write poetry! Shorter than an essay.
     It s different. The great poets like Ghalib, Rumi, Iqbal they had things to say.
     And don t you have things to say?
     What would I write about? I laughed. My little sisters? My father s sugarcane fields and orange groves? I love reading poems, but there s nothing for me to really write about. Our life is boring.
     That s not true! Write about what you see! Write about your dreams. Pakistan was founded by the dreams of poets. Aren t we o

like Amal, who are not guaranteed freedom or education. An inspired read for all, particularly for those who have followed Malala Yousafzai s story or enjoyed Deborah Ellis The Breadwinner or Tara Sullivan s The Bitter Side of Sweet." School Library Connection, starred review

Readers will find that a little perseverance and a heart filled with hope can eventually surmount a harsh reality. Saeed fills her prose with lush descriptions of Pakistani life, while still managing to connect with readers whose surroundings and experiences will be starkly different. Hand to any reader who struggles with definitive gender roles, norms, and expectations held in place by societal structures. Booklist

This simple yet lyrical novel paints an evocative picture of life in a small village in modern-day Pakistan, especially the limits placed on girls and women. . . . It may serve as a read-alike or a gateway to stories such as Yousafzai s autobiography, I Am Malala; The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah; and Saeed s debut novel, Written in the Stars. The Voice of Youth Advocates

Amal s narration is straightforward and direct, and her despair at losing her dreams is palpable, as is her unflagging determination to get them back. . . . There s clear commentary on the marginalized lives of girls and women in Pakistan . . . and the fight for her education is already fraught even before she is taken from her home. An author s note discusses the issues of indentured servitude, particularly among girls. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This heart-wrenching yet hopeful contemporary novel about class, gender, and literacy features a narrator who takes great risks in the name of justice and self-determination. . . . Short chapters and unadorned prose make the story accessible and direct, with Amal s emotions, perspective, and strength anchoring the narrative. An author s note asserts that Amal represents real women and girls who fight injustice across the globe, often without recognition. Horn Book