Amal Unbound

`A beautifully written and extraordinary narrative of one young girl and her determination to invoke change. Essential reading.' * Diva Booknerd * `Saeed's eloquent, suspenseful, eye-opening tale offers a window into the contemporary practice of indentured servitude and makes a compelling case for the power of girls' education to transform systemic injustice.' * Publishers Weekly, starred review * `Readers will find that a little perseverance and a heart filled with hope can eventually surmount a harsh reality. Saeed fills her prose with lush descriptions of Pakistani life, while still managing to connect with readers whose surroundings and experience will be starkly different. Hand to any reader who struggles with definitive gender roles, norms, and expectations held in place by societal structures.' * Booklist * `A Pakistani girl's dreams of an education dissolve when she is forced into indentured servitude...Amal narrates, her passion for learning, love for her family, and despair at her circumstance evoked with sympathy and clarity, as is the setting. Inspired by Malala Yousafzai and countless unknown girls like her, Saeed's timely and stirring middle-grade debut is a celebration of resistance and justice.' * Kirkus Reviews, starred review * `Saeed infuses this true-to-life story of unjust power dynamics in a poor Pakistani village with a palpable sense of dread regarding the fate of the inquisitive, industrious, poetry-loving titular character...Amal's experience navigating an unfamiliar social hierarchy in the landlord's lavish estate exposes her to pervasive gender inequities and unfair labour practices...Saeed's eloquent, suspenseful, eye-opening tale offers a window into the contemporary practice of indentured servitude and makes a compelling case for the power of girls' education to transform systemic injustice.' * Publishers Weekly, starred review * `This heroic story about a girl's struggle to become educated against overwhelming odds will open readers' eyes and hearts. A gorgeous and compelling read.' -- Laurie Halse Anderson `A beautiful and moving story about indentured servitude, economic class, family, resistance and ultimately-freedom. Amal's story and the many people we meet in it are so thoughtfully and deeply rendered, I remain haunted by their struggles and changed by their journeys.' -- Jacqueline Woodson `A wonderfully uplifting tale of courage and the fight for justice. Saeed has created a compelling story that shines a light on a part of our world that has been ignored for far too long.' -- Zana Fraillon `Raw, honest, funny, charming and hopeful. A reminder of how people with privilege should never underestimate the courage and strength of young people fighting for their rights. Girls and boys everywhere can learn so much from a young girl like Amal.' -- Randa Abdel-Fattah