Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she's in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the "cool" girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more "American."
Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized. Amina's Voice brings to life the joys and challenges of a young Pakistani American and highlights the many ways in which one girl's voice can help bring a diverse community together to love and support each other.
Amina's story continues in the sequel, Amina's Song.
"Through Amina’s emotional, honest responses — betrayed confusion over Soojin wanting an American name, her worry about her uncle’s comments that her passion for music is un-Islamic, her dejected disbelief in response to the Islamophobic vandalism — Khan (Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns) gracefully addresses the difficulty of reconciling individual beliefs with those of others, especially those you love, as well as the complications that accompany the merging of cultures. Watching Amina literally and figuratively find her voice — bolstered by community, friendship, and discovered inner strength — makes for rewarding reading." -- Publishers Weekly
Recommended Age | 9 - 12 |
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Author | Hena Khan |
ISBN | 1481492063 |
Publication Date | Mar 14, 2017 |
Publisher | Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers |
Award Winners | Parents’ Choice Award |
Language | English |