Amal is curious and ambitious. She is a role model to her younger sister, and she dreams of becoming a teacher. After her mother gives birth to another girl, Amal is expected to take a break from school. One day, a wealthy stranger hits her with a car, and she speaks her mind to him. At the time, she doesn't realize that the man she has offended is the town's landlord, to whom everyone is in debt. In order to redeem her family, Amal is forced to go live at the estate and work as a servant until her parents can repay their debt. Amal wonders if she will ever get to return home, see her friends and family, and continue her education.
Amal is a dynamic and empowered young woman. Her character is strong, which is valuable in challenging stereotypes of Muslim women being subservient and oppressed. In Amal's own family, she witnesses the preference for bearing sons, and the disappointment as yet another daughter is born. The setting of Pakistan is not often represented in novels and would be unique for most middle grade students. The estate, which begins as a type of prison and becomes more like a home, is contrasted with Amal's tight-knit village. The sense of honor and celebrations of the family, like the wedding scene, represent aspects of the Middle Eastern culture.
Amal Unbound explores the themes of challenging the status quo and building up the courage to fight against injustices. In the natural world, stronger animals are at the top of the food chain, and in society, the weak villagers do in fact have the capability of overthrowing the powerful by working together.
Saeed takes care to represent the story of Amal in a respectful way. The characters do have flaws and could be one-dimensional, like the fear of Amal's mother, who felt depressed to have yet another daughter, and the heroic teacher who embraces Amal's curiosity and stands up for her when the corruption scandal breaks.
An author's note is included at the end of the book. In it, Aisha Saeed discusses the book's inspiration from the shooting of Malala Yousafzai, a young girl in Pakistan who was shot by Taliban forces for attempting to attend school and for speaking up about girls' rights. This, along with the reality of indentured servitude that still exists around the world led to Saeed's decision to write Amal Unbound. The novel sheds light on these real issues that many face.
Saeed is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books, and explains that she never saw herself represented in books she read as a child. She has been a teacher and a lawyer, and speaks three languages. Her diverse talents and experiences certainly helped her in writing Amal Unbound. Saeed successfully explains cultural terms and words in a natural way that flows from her characters and their interactions. Minor characters are described in detail, and are able to overcome challenges and change, particularly in the case of Amal's fellow house servants, with whom she works at the estate. The one villain of the book, the corrupt landlord, does not redeem himself, but his power is challenged by the commoners.
Amal Unbound won several accolades, as listed here. It is well-written, riveting, and mixes serious issues with relatable struggles of a pre-teen girl. This novel could easily be incorporated to a social studies lesson. For example, a middle school world geography teacher could begin with a mini-lesson on geography, for students to see maps and images representing Pakistan. Students could read and discuss the issues of the book, and then research the experiences of Malala Yousafzai. To make an additional connection, students could read Malala's Magic Pencil and draw their own conclusions and advice for those perceived as weak to fight stronger, more powerful forces. This could be a great lesson in civic engagement, and students could even research issues that concern them and try to solve these problems.
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