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yousrabushehri's review against another edition
3.0
I remember reading this while I was in high school and I felt like this girl was reading my mind. It's a very realistic and representation of what Muslim girls go through. Society versus religion. Cultural norms scared of things they don't understand. And bravery. amazing.
dhemoney's review against another edition
4.0
The first book that ever made me believe that hijabi's belong in books. Not only did Randa do something amazing, she did it with little pomp and circumstance. Being hijabi is an everyday reality, and so the protagonist has regular teenage girl issues like pimples, friendship and relationship angst.
I can tell you you head may not be bigger, but after this book, my heart did! A rite of passage for all young girls.
I can tell you you head may not be bigger, but after this book, my heart did! A rite of passage for all young girls.
daniellersalaz's review against another edition
3.0
This book is written for teenagers and does a great job of demystifying Islam and reasons why a young adult would choose to wear the hijab.
The writing feels like it’s trying too hard to appeal to young readers—like a mom who insists on wearing her daughter’s trendy fashions—but this is an engaging story and anything that helps readers find commonality and connection with different members of the global community rather than fearing difference is worth reading.
The writing feels like it’s trying too hard to appeal to young readers—like a mom who insists on wearing her daughter’s trendy fashions—but this is an engaging story and anything that helps readers find commonality and connection with different members of the global community rather than fearing difference is worth reading.
lillillilli's review against another edition
really enjoyed revisiting this childhood fav <3 i recommend everyone read randa’s more recent work/articles and keep up with her activism for palestine!
bookishblond's review against another edition
4.0
Does My Head Look Big in This? is a fairly typical (but still solid!) YA book about sixteen-year-old Amal and her decision to wear hijab as a "full-timer."
This book came out in 2005, and I think a lot of the hype around the book is the fact that it was one of the first YA books about a "normal teenager" who is also a Muslim. This book reminded me so much of Jacqueline Wilson's "The Girls" series: melodrama, boys, dieting, parents, mean girls, etc. All the melodrama can be irritating, but it's a hallmark of YA lit. Teenagers are melodramatic. Here, the book is about the second semester/term of the school year after Amal decides to start wearing hijab full-time - at school, at the mall, basically anywhere where she would encounter men who were not family members. When Amal shows up on the first day of the term wearing a veil with her prep school uniform, basically everyone in her life becomes OBSESSED with her choice. From the other reviews that I've read, it seems like this is what annoys people about the book: the criticism is that the attitude of everyone in Amal's life is just not realistic. But after reading the book, I'm not so sure that Abdel-Fattah intended the book to be realistic. I really got the impression that this book was written for white readers - to give them a new, post-9/11 perspective. A lot of terms and references (especially related to Islam and Pakistani culture) are defined and/or explained for the benefit of white readers who may not be familiar with the terms. Furthermore, in order to make Amal relatable and "normal," Abdel-Fattah's writing is heavy on pop culture - Amal watches Friends, takes Cosmo quizzes, goes to the mall, gossips with her (white and Asian) friends about boys and diets, and eats a lot of pizza. It was almost over the top: Abdel-Fattah repeatedly tells us what Amal is watching on TV, etc. But again, at the time, there weren't many (if any) mainstream YA books about Muslim girls who wear hijab, so I get that Abdel-Fattah was trying to normalize her character by showing the reader, over and over again, that she is just a regular Australian.
As an adult reader, I wasn't overly engaged in the story. The drama is mostly about Amal's hijab, with some other typical YA themes thrown in, like crushes on boys. But I do appreciate this book for what it is. Readers will learn a lot of basic things about Islam, what a hijab is, why some Muslim women decide to wear the veil, fasting during Ramadan, and the differences and similarities between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book for middle school girls. Maybe even for high school girls, although I think the tone of the writing is better suited for younger readers. I would have been in middle school when this book came out, and I really wish I had read it at that time. Looking back, I can't think of having read a single book with Muslim characters until I was much older, which is such a shame. I love that YA and children's lit has become so diverse in the fifteen years since this book was published. It's so important for kids to grow up reading about the experiences of people from different religious and cultural backgrounds, and I'm very happy that there are so many fantastic books out there, like this one.
This book came out in 2005, and I think a lot of the hype around the book is the fact that it was one of the first YA books about a "normal teenager" who is also a Muslim. This book reminded me so much of Jacqueline Wilson's "The Girls" series: melodrama, boys, dieting, parents, mean girls, etc. All the melodrama can be irritating, but it's a hallmark of YA lit. Teenagers are melodramatic. Here, the book is about the second semester/term of the school year after Amal decides to start wearing hijab full-time - at school, at the mall, basically anywhere where she would encounter men who were not family members. When Amal shows up on the first day of the term wearing a veil with her prep school uniform, basically everyone in her life becomes OBSESSED with her choice. From the other reviews that I've read, it seems like this is what annoys people about the book: the criticism is that the attitude of everyone in Amal's life is just not realistic. But after reading the book, I'm not so sure that Abdel-Fattah intended the book to be realistic. I really got the impression that this book was written for white readers - to give them a new, post-9/11 perspective. A lot of terms and references (especially related to Islam and Pakistani culture) are defined and/or explained for the benefit of white readers who may not be familiar with the terms. Furthermore, in order to make Amal relatable and "normal," Abdel-Fattah's writing is heavy on pop culture - Amal watches Friends, takes Cosmo quizzes, goes to the mall, gossips with her (white and Asian) friends about boys and diets, and eats a lot of pizza. It was almost over the top: Abdel-Fattah repeatedly tells us what Amal is watching on TV, etc. But again, at the time, there weren't many (if any) mainstream YA books about Muslim girls who wear hijab, so I get that Abdel-Fattah was trying to normalize her character by showing the reader, over and over again, that she is just a regular Australian.
As an adult reader, I wasn't overly engaged in the story. The drama is mostly about Amal's hijab, with some other typical YA themes thrown in, like crushes on boys. But I do appreciate this book for what it is. Readers will learn a lot of basic things about Islam, what a hijab is, why some Muslim women decide to wear the veil, fasting during Ramadan, and the differences and similarities between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book for middle school girls. Maybe even for high school girls, although I think the tone of the writing is better suited for younger readers. I would have been in middle school when this book came out, and I really wish I had read it at that time. Looking back, I can't think of having read a single book with Muslim characters until I was much older, which is such a shame. I love that YA and children's lit has become so diverse in the fifteen years since this book was published. It's so important for kids to grow up reading about the experiences of people from different religious and cultural backgrounds, and I'm very happy that there are so many fantastic books out there, like this one.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
3.0
Amal has an epiphany during winter break. She decides that she truly believes in her religion (Islam) and wants to completely live it. That includes wearing the hijab (head scarf). Unfortunately, she goes to a prep school that prides itself on controlling every aspect of its students' education, including dress, and there is plenty of ignorance regarding Muslims in the wake of 9/11. Amal finds it is not easy to live your beliefs, but that also it is what inside that counts - being true to one's beliefs despite the opposition.
Grades 9+.
Grades 9+.
kchiappone's review against another edition
4.0
I read this after seeing some of my students read it. Young adult romance isn't particularly my thing, but the writing is fine enough. The story is a little anticlimactic. I really wanted to see more of Amal's neighbor. Her story arc was a lot more interesting than her friend's. Then again, this is a teen drama and, as I said, I'm not really the intended audience. I would easily recommend this book to my students.
kaatiba's review against another edition
1.0
This book, and its sequel, were stupid and insulting. Why can't there be books about a girl who's [mostly] happy being Muslim?
alexalarocque's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
yokorie's review against another edition
4.0
With all of the negative representations of Muslims out there, it was refreshing to read a book with a more positive outlook. Amal, the main character, was refreshing compared to some of the more "airy" female protagonists I've encountered: she's smart, determined, a great friend and daughter, has a good sense of right and wrong, and knows what she believes in; a very good role model for girls of all faiths. The book covers a year or so in her life as she deals with the challenges that not only come with being a teenager, but also as one that chooses to practice her Muslim faith by beginning to wear the Hijab (headscarf). The book is a bit on the long side, but again, very pleasurable to read.