Awards

• Short-listed for West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2019 (Australia)

Overview

An uplifting novel for 11-13 year olds about oppression, privilege, girls and womens' status, education and diversity, and also a heartwarming story about a girl with a mission Twelve-year-old Amal loves learning and dreams of becoming a teacher. Then something unimaginable happens-after an accidental run-in with the son of her village's corrupt landlord, she is forced to work as his family's servant to pay off her own family's debt. At the opulent and corrupt Khan estate, Amal realises she will have to find a way to work with others in order to bring about change, and to achieve her dreams. Inspired by Malala Yousafzai, Amal Unbound is a heartwarming story for brave girls everywhere.

Full Product Details

9781925773026

Table of Contents

Reviews

`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 experience will be starkly different. Hand to any reader who struggles with definitive gender roles, norms, and expectations held in place by societal structures.' * Booklist * `A Pakistani girl's dreams of an education dissolve when she is forced into indentured servitude...Amal narrates, her passion for learning, love for her family, and despair at her circumstance evoked with sympathy and clarity, as is the setting. Inspired by Malala Yousafzai and countless unknown girls like her, Saeed's timely and stirring middle-grade debut is a celebration of resistance and justice.' * Kirkus Reviews, starred review * `Saeed infuses this true-to-life story of unjust power dynamics in a poor Pakistani village with a palpable sense of dread regarding the fate of the inquisitive, industrious, poetry-loving titular character...Amal's experience navigating an unfamiliar social hierarchy in the landlord's lavish estate exposes her to pervasive gender inequities and unfair labour practices...Saeed's eloquent, suspenseful, eye-opening tale offers a window into the contemporary practice of indentured servitude and makes a compelling case for the power of girls' education to transform systemic injustice.' * Publishers Weekly, starred review * `This heroic story about a girl's struggle to become educated against overwhelming odds will open readers' eyes and hearts. A gorgeous and compelling read.' -- Laurie Halse Anderson `A beautiful and moving story about indentured servitude, economic class, family, resistance and ultimately-freedom. Amal's story and the many people we meet in it are so thoughtfully and deeply rendered, I remain haunted by their struggles and changed by their journeys.' -- Jacqueline Woodson `A wonderfully uplifting tale of courage and the fight for justice. Saeed has created a compelling story that shines a light on a part of our world that has been ignored for far too long.' -- Zana Fraillon `Raw, honest, funny, charming and hopeful. A reminder of how people with privilege should never underestimate the courage and strength of young people fighting for their rights. Girls and boys everywhere can learn so much from a young girl like Amal.' -- Randa Abdel-Fattah

`A beautifully written and extraordinary narrative of one young girl and her determination to invoke change. Essential reading.' * Diva Booknerd * `Saeed's eloquent, suspenseful, eye-opening tale offers a window into the contemporary practice of indentured servitude and makes a compelling case for the power of girls' education to transform systemic injustice.' * Publishers Weekly, 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 experience will be starkly different. Hand to any reader who struggles with definitive gender roles, norms, and expectations held in place by societal structures.' * Booklist * `A Pakistani girl's dreams of an education dissolve when she is forced into indentured servitude...Amal narrates, her passion for learning, love for her family, and despair at her circumstance evoked with sympathy and clarity, as is the setting. Inspired by Malala Yousafzai and countless unknown girls like her, Saeed's timely and stirring middle-grade debut is a celebration of resistance and justice.' * Kirkus Reviews, starred review * `Saeed infuses this true-to-life story of unjust power dynamics in a poor Pakistani village with a palpable sense of dread regarding the fate of the inquisitive, industrious, poetry-loving titular character...Amal's experience navigating an unfamiliar social hierarchy in the landlord's lavish estate exposes her to pervasive gender inequities and unfair labour practices...Saeed's eloquent, suspenseful, eye-opening tale offers a window into the contemporary practice of indentured servitude and makes a compelling case for the power of girls' education to transform systemic injustice.' * Publishers Weekly, starred review * `This heroic story about a girl's struggle to become educated against overwhelming odds will open readers' eyes and hearts. A gorgeous and compelling read.' -- Laurie Halse Anderson `A beautiful and moving story about indentured servitude, economic class, family, resistance and ultimately-freedom. Amal's story and the many people we meet in it are so thoughtfully and deeply rendered, I remain haunted by their struggles and changed by their journeys.' -- Jacqueline Woodson `A wonderfully uplifting tale of courage and the fight for justice. Saeed has created a compelling story that shines a light on a part of our world that has been ignored for far too long.' -- Zana Fraillon `Raw, honest, funny, charming and hopeful. A reminder of how people with privilege should never underestimate the courage and strength of young people fighting for their rights. Girls and boys everywhere can learn so much from a young girl like Amal.' -- Randa Abdel-Fattah

Author Information

Aisha Saeed is a Pakistani-American writer, teacher and attorney. She has been featured on MTV, the Huffington Post, NBC and the BBC, and, as one of the founding members of the much talked about 'We Need Diverse Books' campaign, she is helping change the conversation about diverse books. Aisha lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and sons.

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