Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed - ESSENTIAL

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, 226 pages. Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin), 2018. $18.  Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Amal has always dreamed of becoming a teacher and studies hard at school, so when Amal’s mother has difficulty after the birth of Amal’s little sister, Amal is devastated that she has to stay home from school to care for her siblings.  Amal tries to stay up on her studies, but soon her devotion to school is inconsequential when Amal insults a powerful man at her local Pakistani market.  Amal’s whole world is turned upside down, and at the age of twelve, she finds herself as a servant in the powerful man’s home.  

I couldn’t put this book down!  I read it in one afternoon, anxious to find out what would happen.  It was interesting to get a glimpse into indentured servitude and Amal’s strong character was fantastic.  I enjoyed the compelling development of Amal’s story and world.  The violence is Amal is slapped and there is a murder but it’s not described.  

C. Peterson