Does My Head Look Big in This?

Reviews

"This is a superb first novel with clever, entertaining dialogue, language and characters." "[A] witty, sensitive debut..." "More than the usual story of the immigrant teen's conflict with her traditional parents, the funny, touching contemporary narrative will grab teens everywhere." "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." "Amal Abdel-Hakim is a 17-year-old Australian-Palestinian-Muslim who's asking the same question all teens ask: How do I fit into my world?. She's bright, pretty, popular, and she's just decided to wear the hijab – the headscarf – full time. How this changes Amal's life is recounted in serious and hilarious detail and narrated with authenticity by Rebecca Macauley, who manages both teen angst and adult tones with equal aplomb. While the Australian slang may sometimes mystify American teens, the story's universal appeal and Macaulay's gifted narration will keep listeners fully engaged in Amal's struggle to be an observant Muslim while still maintaining an ordinary teenager's life." Amal's decision to wear the traditional Muslim veil full-time (including school) takes some guts. Can she cope with the prejudice, keep her friends, and attract the cutest boy in school? "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... Abdel-Fattah's fine first novel offers a world of insight to post-9/11 readers." Expand reviews