Quotable Quote (and maybe one of my most favorite EVER): Without books, what was there to look forward to?
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed tells the story of a young girl in Pakistan who loves reading and learning and dreams of becoming a teacher. When she accidentally insults a ruling member of her village, she is forced into servitude to work at the estate of the man she insulted. With promises from her family that it will only be for a short time, Amal quickly realizes that returning to her home may not be as simple as her family had hoped. Faced with giving up on all of her own dreams, Amal must navigate this new world full of new people and new experiences.
I am so excited to share this story with my fourth graders next year. As the world becomes a smaller and smaller place, it is very important that we provide more opportunities for ALL of our students to see themselves, their families, and their cultures represented in legitimate realistic ways. Ms. Saeed has crafted a story of hope, forgiveness, perseverance, family, and honor--a story that will connect to all students no matter their culture. What a perfect mirror and window this book is for readers of all ages!
