Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed is the perfect book for middle grade readers. In this book, we are taken to the country of Pakistan and follow the life of Amal. Amal is ambitious, curious, and excited about learning. She yearns to be a teacher when she grows up. Unfortunately, Amal has an encounter at the market that changes her life and forces her to become a servant. Throughout the book, we see how Amal handles each struggle and the strength she displays during her journey.
Over and over, readers will be reminded that life’s not fair. We see inequalities and unjust situations throughout the book. It charges readers to think about the importance of change and being courageous and brave.
Amal Unbound has dynamic characters and it’s possible that your feelings toward these characters will change throughout the book. Aisha Saeed beautifully developed each character and we see many unfair circumstances that each character has to face.
While reading Amal Unbound, students can explore the effects of one’s economic class, gender, and family has on their quality of life and the opportunities they are afforded.
How to Use Amal Unbound in Your Classroom
Amal Unbound is the perfect novel to include in classroom lessons. This book can be used as a read aloud or for small group literature circles or book clubs. Students can take a deep look at the characters and analyze how their actions drive the story. Amal Unbound also sparks important discussion and dialogue amongst students and forces them to look at issues of justice and fairness. They can see the importance of education and how social class can divide groups of people. They will be reminded that they can make a difference by standing up for change.
This book pairs well with I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai.
