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Abdel-Fattah, R. (2007). Does my head look big in this? New York: Orchard Books.
Summary
Amal is a fashion-savvy junior at a snooty prep school in a well-to-do suburb of Melbourne. She is also Australian-Muslim-Palestinian and has just decided to wear her hijab--the traditional Muslim head cover--full time. Her parents warn her to think carefully about her choice, warning her of the teasing she is bound to endure at school and the whispers she will hear in grocery stores and at the mall. Her closest Muslim and non-Muslim friends are supportive of her choice to display her faith on he read. Her classmates simply do not understand her choice or the reasons behind it, largely because they do not understand her faith. Amal struggles to stay strong as she faces discrimination and learns more about herself and her Muslim culture, eventually coming to terms with her identity as a young Australian-Muslim-Palestinian girl.
My Impressions
Does My Head Look Big in This? tackles issues that every teenager faces--identity, faith, and the pressures of teenage life. Amal tells her story with a smart, and insightful voice, all the while remaining true to her youth with a little bit of sass. It is refreshing to find a well-executed young adult novel with a strong heroine who does not bend in her morals. Amal successfully fields questions about her choice to not drink or do drugs, as well has her decision to remain pure until marriage. Teens face these choices every day, and this novel demonstrates that abstinence in any form is a valid choice without being preachy.
Another aspect of this book is the understanding it brings to Muslim culture. While the story takes place in Australia, many parallels can be drawn to American society. One of Amal's biggest obstacles in school is the lack of understanding by her peers. They see a hijab and immediately think of the Taliban, which is simply not the case for a majority of devout Muslims. The reader also experiences a spectrum of Muslim families, from Amal's religious, yet contemporary, family, to her friend, Leila's, very strict, very traditional family. Amal finds strength in her faith and freedom through her choice to wear the hijab.
Reviews
"I would sit beside other commuters bent over books
containing the crude orientalist-type narratives in which Muslim women
protagonists achieved 'liberation' because they 'escaped' Islam or were victims
of honor killings, domestic violence and oppression because of Islam,"
says Randa Abdel-Fattah of what inspired her to write Does My Head Look Big in
This? Rather than tell a story about victims and oppression, Abdel-Fattah
created witty, fashion-conscious, Friends addict Amal, who could have a home in
any number of chick-lit YA novels. Amal, a Pakistani-Australian Muslim, makes
one of the most important fashion and social decisions of her life: She's going
to wear the hijab full time. Her Muslim girlfriends are thrilled as are her
loving parents. Buoyed by their support and her faith, Amal carefully chooses
head scarves that will complement her complexion and match her school outfits.
Once she enters her exclusive prep school, however, she finds that her
classmates taunt her and call her "towel-head." Amal's strong sense
of self and confidence, along with reassurances from her friends, help her
stand up to the students who ask her what she knows about terrorism. Outside of
school, Amal makes sharp observations of what it means to be a modern Muslim
woman and describes the different ways her parents' friends interpret the Koran
and practice Islam. Amal never wavers in her faith, even when it means letting
go of a crush on cute, smart Josh. Despite the heavy subject matter, Amal
narrates with humor and depth. "I wanted to write a book which allowed
readers to enter the world of the average Muslim teenage girl," says the
author, "and see past the headlines and stereotypes and realize that she
was experiencing the same dramas and challenges of adolescence as her non-Muslim
peers and have a giggle in the process."
[Review of the book Does my head look big in this? by R. Abdel Fattah]. (2007). Kirkus Reviews, 75(23), 3-4. Retried from http://www.kirkusreviews.com.
"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. Ages 12-up."
[Review of the book Does my head look big in this? by R. Abdel Fattah]. (2007). Publisher's Weekly, 254(21), 56-57. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com.
Suggested Library Uses
- Read as part of a junior high or high school-age book club. This book provides an excellent opportunity to allow teens to discuss issues in their lives, such as identity, school pressures, and faith of all varieties. It would be especially interesting in a mother-daughter book club, as mothers can provide insight into lessons they've learned and share in their daughters' struggles in a key time in their lives. It would be especially interesting if a Muslim teen or community member could share their own experiences.
- Include in a display about Islam or during an important Muslim holiday, such as Ramadan.
Find it @ your library - Albany County Public Library
YA FICTION AB231D
