Does My Head Look Big In This?

Bibliography: Abdel-Fattah, R. (2008). Does my head look big in this? New York: Scholastic.

ISBN: 043992233X

Genre: religious

Reading Level/Interest Age: 12+/14+

Critical Evaluation: Author Randa Abdel-Fattah jumped right into a teenage girl’s mind when she started chapter one with a reference to Jennifer Aniston in Friends (1). Giving the reader a visual of the Adidas shorts and Winnie-the-Pooh shirt (2) protagonist Amal is wearing underscores the instant camaraderie of teen girls everywhere. But she doesn’t shy away or creep slowly into the theme of the book--the very challenge of Amal deciding to wear her hijab full-time is right on page two. The conversational tone captures the informal intonations of teenagers looking to fit in with their peers. Yet despite this realism, Amal’s multifarious group of friends seem a bit forced and too conveniently placed to specifically emphasize the importance of diversity. The story does not have the freedom to move on its own, but it instead seems like every character, every description is deliberately framed by Abdel-Fattah. The book feels stilted and boxed in by the author’s personal objectives of inter-religious integration. Despite these failings, the characters had depth and were very well rounded. Amal’s moods, goals, adventures with friends and obsession with boys kept the story moving easily and created a fun, relatable and educating narrative.

Plot Summary: After agonizing over the decision, Australian-born Amal decides she’s ready to wear her hijab full time, showing her friends, her schoolmates and her community that she’s a devout Muslim. Her friends are supportive, her parents are concerned and her classmates are just weirded out. They don’t understand why she now wears a headscarf and prays several times a day. Some are open to learning, but others, as typical in any high school, are just plain cruel. Amal, always ready with a comeback for those cutting remarks, learns to explain her beliefs in terms other teens can understand. But things get complicated when her crush tries to kiss her and she has to pull away because of Islamic mandates. She finds that people are willing to understand until it involves personal risk. It all becomes very real, though, when her best friend runs away from a family constantly trying to undermine her education and marry her off. Amal has to figure out if she wants her viewpoints respected, she has to learn to respect the beliefs that others hold dear. Only then will she truly be able to embrace her own Islamic tenets.

Reader’s Annotation: Amal is ready to wear her hijab full time and show the world that she’s serious about her beliefs. But when everyone from her friends to her family shows doubt in her decision, will she have the courage to continue following her heart?

Author Information:

Randa Abdel-Fattah was born in Sydney in 1979. She is a Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage. She grew up in Melbourne and attended a Catholic primary school and Islamic secondary college where she obtained an International Baccalaureate. She studied Arts/Law at Melbourne University during which time she was the Media Liaison Officer at the Islamic council of Victoria, a role which afforded her the opportunity to write for newspapers and engage with media institutions about their representation of Muslims and Islam.

During university and her role at the ICV, Randa was a passionate human rights advocate and stood in the 1996 federal election as a member of the Unity Party-Say No To Hanson. Randa has also been deeply interested in interfaith dialogue and has been a member of various interfaith networks.

Randa has used her writing as a medium for expressing her views about the occupation of Palestine. Her articles about Palestine, Australian Muslims and the misunderstood status of women in Islam have been published in the Australian, the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Canberra Times, New Matilda, Le Monde (France).

Randa lives in Sydney with her husband and their two children. She works as a litigation lawyer.¹

Curriculum ties: multiculturalism

Booktalks: Would you be willing to permanently and visually show your belief in something?

Challenge issues: Islam, Muslims, religious stereotyping

Challenge resources (for usage in a challenge situation):

• Library Selection Policy

• Rationale explaining why the item was chosen for the collection
• Active listening skills
• Awards
• Reconsideration form (as a last resort)
• Illinois Library Association (Banned Books Listings)
• National Council of Teachers of English “Right to Read”
• Positive and negative reviews: expert, parent, student
• ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials
• ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom

• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

Reasoning: Expanding perspectives is a core objective in library mission statements. This book helps develop understanding, empathy and compassion for teenagers of different religions and opinions. It has won or been short-listed for multiple awards, including Kirkus's Best Books for Young Adults.

References:

¹Abdel-Fattah, R. (n.d.). Biography: Randa Abdel-Fattah. Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://www.randaabdelfattah.com/biography-randa-abdel-fattah.asp

Does this make my head look big? (n.d.). Retrieved December 3, 2015, from http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_12?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=does%2Bmy%2Bhead%2Blook%2Bbig%2Bin%2Bthis&sprefix=does%2Bmy%2Bhead%2Blook%2Bbig%2Bin%2Bthis%2Caps%2C214