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Does My Head Look Big in This? (by Randa Abdel-Fattah)

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Muslim teen grows up, sees prejudice Down Under.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the Muslim main character, Amal, who lives in Australia, faces religious and racial prejudice, including kids on the playground who tell the "darkies" to go home. She gets frustrated trying to explain that every Muslim is not a terrorist. The book addresses Islamic religious practices and customs, including misconceptions, and is very positive about the symbolism of the hijab that Amal decides to wear to school, emphasizing how empowered she feels wearing "this cloth [that] binds us in some kind of universal sisterhood." Amal doesn't drink or date boys, though other teens in the book drink and smoke.

Positive messages: Amal must face several incidences of racial and religious prejudice and ignorance. Several mothers and girls worry about their weight and go on diets and one considers bulimia. Simone's mother suggests she start a crash diet so a boy doesn't lose interest in her. Amal and her friends get on boys' cases and insist they respect girls for their minds, "not their bra sizes." One 16-year-old girl's mother is "more interested in her getting a marriage license than a high school diploma"; her brother is verbally abusive to her. Amal and her friends skip school and serve detention as a result. Leila runs away from home when she can't handle her mother trying to marry her off anymore; Amal criticizes Leila's mother to her face.
Violence: In class, Amal's nemesis Tia brings up an article about Muslim girls being circumcised in Nigeria and asks Amal, "So are you, you know, whole down there?" Amal pushes Tia down when Tia insults her at a party. Leila runs away from home and stays at a women's shelter with women who had been raped, molested, or "beaten to a pulp by their boyfriends."
Sex: Some boys at school talk about porno movies they watched, loudly enough so girls can hear. Amal can't date boys and says, "I can still care and share with a guy without having to get physical with him." Regarding a kiss, she says she wants the "guy I spend the rest of my life with [to be] the first person I share something so intimate and exciting with."
Language: Fairly mild: "bi-yotch," "bitch," "pissed off," "crap."
Consumerism: Teen magazines; celebrity, TV, and music references.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Teens drink at a party. Adam admits he smoked pot. Simone starts smoking as an appetite suppressant. After he caught her sneaking a cigarette, Amal's dad makes her smoke half a pack -- she doesn't want to smoke after that. Some residents at a women's shelter are described as "druggies clinging to their babies and desperate to shoot up."
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More on Does My Head Look Big in This?

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about their own religious beliefs and their perceptions of people from other faiths. Was any of the background about Islam surprising? After a terrorist attack in Bali, a fellow student asks Amal to "explain to everyone why they did it and how Islam justifies it." Amal, in turn, asks if the Christian girl could explain the Ku Klux Klan, or the IRA, or "Israeli soldiers bombing Palestinian homes." Families can discuss how the media portrays followers of different faiths, especially in the wake of violence.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Sixteen-year-old Amal exchanges IMs with a cute boy, chats with friends on her cell phone, reads Cosmo … and decides to wear a hijab, or Muslim head scarf, full-time, including to her elite private high school in Melbourne, Australia. Her friends, both Muslim and Christian, support her choice, but she still deals with negative consequences at school and in the community. Amal's close relationship with her parents contrasts with her friends': Leila's mother is determined to marry her off at 16; Simone's mom tells her to diet because she's fat; Adam's mother deserted him. With her attention-attracting hijab and her policy against dating, Amal tries to find the line between social acceptance and assimilation as she grapples with adolescence and her "hyphenate" identity as an Australian-Palestinian-Muslim girl.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Abdel-Fattah, who describes herself as "an Australian-born-Muslim-Palestinian-Egyptian-chocoholic," gives voice to girls underrepresented in literature and the popular media. Readers will learn more about Islam's religious practices and beliefs, but to the extent that some dialog exchanges seem awkwardly set up in a question-and-answer format. Amal's behavior is full of contradictions as she learns that wearing the hijab is symbolic; She eventually realizes she must also change what's inside to truly reflect her religious values.

Western feminists may struggle with Amal's assertion that wearing the hijab is "liberation" from body-image issues. Readers of different faiths will admire her determination to be true to her beliefs and identify with her strong friendship bonds. Overall, it gives teens of every faith and background a great chance to see another perspective and discuss prejudice and identity.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Randa Abdel-Fattah
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: May 1, 2007
Number of pages: 360
Hardcover price: $16.99
Paperback price: $8.99
Read Aloud: 13
Read Alone: 13
This review was written by Stephanie Dunnewind
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

zerealevilcelery
teen, 17 years old
11
 
Great story.
I really enjoyed reading it. I liked that Amal developed pride for her hijab rather than taking it off as soon as she left school. Many contemporary books I've read about Muslim teens, they usually want to push away from their culture. I liked it.
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helped me decide (9) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
randomgurl
teen, 15 years old
12
 
This book is one of the best books about muslim teenagers that I have read. Amal is a good role model. She is not outright preachy, but she makes the right choices and stick up for her religion. Teens can relate to her. There are a few sexual references and a kiss attempt, but nothing explicit. The language and drinking is mild too.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (6)
Momaofkzkj
parent of 10 and 16 year old
13
 
Well written, explaining the difficulties that young Muslim women face in a very secular society. Also explains some of the misconceptions of the Islamic religion.
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (6)
Shoppingspree92
teen, 14 years old
12
 
I read this book over spring break and it was OK except for the swears. Anyway I'd call this book a great page turner. It has 360 pages and 45 chapters.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (5)
mdmuslima
parent
14
 
A unique POV
As a Muslim mom, who grew up in the west, much of the story is spot-on with what I've experienced. It's interesting to see how the main character walks a fine line in order to stay true to her beliefs. At the same time, the book is funny and not preachy. The author has given voice to a female character (a strong girl who is a practicing Muslim) the likes of whom we have seen very little of in English literature. Bravo!
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (5)
Jen_Chen
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Does my Head Look Big in this? Review
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (5)
fato0oma98
teen, 13 years old
13
 
does my head look big in this
i think that its a great and valuable book as it gives people an insight look of islam and it refutes and falasifies alot of the misjudgings and misconceptions about islam and muslims .It also shows us how descrimnative and racist people can get when it comes to religion and appearance ,as amal gets treated alot diffrently when she wears the higab ( head veil) full time. its amusing , entertaining and fun to read i recomend it :)
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
P.R.O.X.Y.
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Great book! read it ALL DAY. (even during class) =-P
Well, it was a great book for a number of reasons. It had good messages, like staying strong, no matter what others think, and it also has good role models. Amal is strong, funny, and the kind of stuff that happenes in this book is almost exactly what goes on in my school! =-D
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Blueeyes67
teen, 15 years old
12
 
No, your head looks fine
I just finished this book and it was a real page turner! I think everyone should read it. In the book, Amal, an austral Ian born Muslim-Pakistani girl decides to wear the hijab (head scarf) full time. She deals with concerned parents and teachers, boys and mean girls at school. It kind of sounds cliche but it is a really good read that I highly recommend! It's funny but serious and you'll love it!
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mtalvernia
teen, 14 years old
13
 
Perfect 4 teens
I think it is a heart-felt novel inspired by the author's own life experiences. It is very relevant to us as a multi-cultural community as it focuses on raciol and religious discrimination. As a thirteen year old having read this book, Ican easily reccomend this to all adolescents as it is easy-to-read and attention grabbing
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ToyaEvans
teen, 16 years old
12
 
Does My Head Look Big In This?
Reading this book changed alot about my personality and my perspective on how other people in different country do things. The way the Muslims treat their young is way different then how Americans treat their young. I loved reading the book because it showed me how amazing their culture is, but that marriage will have to wait until your older and ready for it, but education will always be there you just have to put your heart into it and belive that you can do it. But, for the most part kids from the ages 12 & up should be aloud to read a wonderful, amazing book such as this one. You image how your kids will feel about another cuture besides their own.
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