does my head look big in this? written by randa abdel-fattah

 

Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Does My Head Look Big In This. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2008. ISBN: 9780439922333

Plot Summary:
     Amal is an Australian-Palestinian teenage girl who faces everyday teenage dilemmas but with an addition -- discrimination due to her decision of wearing the hijab. Amal makes the conscious decision to wear the hijab as a testament to her faith. However, she is overwhelmed with, both, negative and positive attention on her decision.

Critical Analysis:
     Does My Head Look Big In This is a novel that details the decision of a teenage girl to wear the hijab at her new school. The author, Randa Abdel-Fattah, allows Amal to tell her own story providing her audience with a first person point of view. Through this usage, the audience is able to experience the impact and education as Amal embraces her culture and religion among Western culture. Randa does a good job of incorporating interlingualism such as Yallah, fajr, and wudah. Not only does she incorporate these words, but she provides her readers with their meanings.
     The author does an exceptional job delivering the details of the everyday life that Amal entails. She vividly describes Amal's day-to-day occurrences in a manner that reaches her audience. More specifically, within the first five chapters Amal details how she makes her decision to wear the hijab; she details that she writes a list of people who would accept her decision; she details how on her first day of school, how her principle reacted; and she also details how her teacher reacts to her seeking permission for prayer in the afternoon. All of these descriptions provide readers with a varying perspective on her religion and what it entails, as well as some of the hesitation that she feels due to her assumptions on the people around her.

Review Excerpts:

"With an engaging narrator at the helm, Abdel-Fattah's debut novel should open the eyes of many a reader. Headstrong and witty, 16-year-old Amal, an Australian-Muslim-Palestinian ("That means I was born an Aussie and whacked with some seriously confusing identity hyphens") decides during winter break from her posh private school that she's ready to wear the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, fulltime, as a testament to her faith. Amal knows she will face discrimination by classmates and misinformed people but she is committed to her decision; her parents are initially concerned, but ultimately rally behind her. Their worries, in fact, are well-founded: Amal attracts her share of stares and taunts both at school and around town, but she finds strength, not only from her convictions, but from her close-knit group of friends, who for various reasons-being Japanese, Jewish, nerdy or body-conscious-are perceived as being outside "the norm." As Amal struggles with her identity in a post-9/11 world ("Do you have any idea how it feels to be me, a Muslim, today? I mean, just turn on the television, open a newspaper.... It feels like I'm drowning in it all"), her faith-and an array of ever-ready quips-help her navigate an often-unforgiving world. Using a winning mix of humor and sensitivity, Abdel-Fattah ably demonstrates that her heroine is, at heart, a teen like any other. This debut should speak to anyone who has felt like an outsider for any reason." - Publishers Weekly

"The sight of Jennifer Aniston in a bridesmaid's dress creates an urge to change the channel for most viewers, but for witty, academically talented Amal Abdel-Hakim, it inspires the confidence to wear the hijab full time. As a Pakistani Australian Muslim, she has been teased about her religion, but in her decision to wear the hijab, she also has the support of loyal friends and her loving parents. Armed with fashion sense as well as faith, Amal sets out to match her hijab to her school clothes and modify her weekend wardrobe to flatter her assets as well as to express her belief in modesty. Not everyone is so accepting of her hijab, however. Classmates at her private high school ask her what she knows about terrorism, and a cranky neighbor makes no effort to hide her prejudices. Throughout the book, Amal makes candid yet astute observations on what it means to be a Muslim, a modern woman, and a good friend and daughter. Although the book addresses many teen issues including identity, family, religious traditions, and body image, it rarely strays into the realm of didactic. There is plenty of gentle humor, and strong female relationships balance Amal's racist classmates and a friend's crushingly traditional Muslim parent. In addition to her friendships, Amal also tries to deal with a crush that she knows will never develop into a romance and the hypocritical behaviors of some of her cousins. This novel is an excellent addition to the multicultural and chick-lit genres, and it is recommended for most collections." - VOYA

"An "Australian-Muslim-Palestinian" teen opts to wear the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, full-time, embarking on a courageous exercise in self-understanding. Sixteen-year-old Amal attends an elite prep school in a Melbourne suburb. Poised to begin the third term of 11th grade, Amal admits, "it's hard enough being an Arab Muslim at a new school," but "shawling up is just plain psychotic." Determined to prove she's strong enough to "wear a badge of my faith," Amal faces ostracism and ridicule as she dons her hijab with both good humor and trepidation. Supported by her parents, Amal spurns racial epithets like "towel head" and discovers her friends still accept her for who she is, not what she wears. As the term progresses, Amal's friends face their own issues of self-worth while her faith is tested when she falls in love with a non-Muslim classmate. Wearing the hijab full-time shuts some doors, but opens others for Amal as she emerges a bright, articulate heroine true to herself and her faith. Abdel-Fattah's fine first novel offers a world of insight to post-9/11 readers." - Kirkus Reviews

Connections:
Customers who purchased this title also bought the following books: Ten Things I Hate About Me, Dreamrider, Ready or Not.

Interactivity:

• Ask children have they ever been mocked for something that is normal to them and their family i.e. religion, sexual orientation, race, etc...
• Facilitate a discussion surfaced around the notion of not associating one race with terrorism.
• Ask children what are some physical religious practices they've seen i.e. Ash Wednesday, hijab, not eating pork, etc...