Randa abdelfattah is the awardwinning author of 11 novels and is published in over 15 countries. I felt like it had the potential to be a coming of age story, but in the end it just felt like i was reliving. The book addresses islamic religious practices and. Brilliantly funny and poignant, randa abdelfattahs debut novel will strike a chord in all teenage readers, no matter what their beliefs. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read does my head look big in this.
She grew up in melbourne and attended a catholic primary school and islamic secondary college where she obtained an international baccaularetate. From school library journal grade 7 upaustralian 11thgrader amal is smart, funny, outspoken, a good student, and a loyal friend. She is a muslim of palestinian and egyptian heritage. Randa abdelfattah, quote from does my head look big in this. Excerpt from does my head look big in this im terrified. She uses humor to keep the book from getting too heavy, but she deftly touches on topics such as prejudice, 911, dating, job career choices, marrying and more.
The first edition of the novel was published in 2005, and was written by randa abdelfattah. Yes, simone, he is mentally unstable for being attracted to you. It became apparent to me that the only time muslim females appeared as heroines in books were as escapees of the taliban, victims of an honour killing, or subjects of the saudi royalty. The novel was first published in australia by pan macmillan australia pty ltd. Like many other young adult books, does my head look big in this.
She has written nine young adult books inspired by her research on racism, including does my head look big in this. With an engaging narrator at the helm, abdelfattahs debut novel should open the eyes of many a reader. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. The following version of the book was used to create this study guide. Does my head look big in this gives an inside look into the modern challenges and pressures faced by muslims in the western world. Read the excerpts from does my head look big in this. Abdelfattah uses the first person voice of amal to share an insiders view of being a palestinian muslimaustralian. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. For many people, religion is a large part of their identity. With funding from screen australia and create nsw, randa is currently adapting does my head look big in this. Pan macmillan australia gives permission to photocopy text from these teachers. Building diverse bookshelves this book was a joy to read. Written by randa abdelfattah, audiobook narrated by rebecca macauley.
One of my favorite things about does my head look big in this. I was fascinated by the trials amal underwent as a result of wearing a simple religious article of clothing. An australianmuslinpalestinian teen opts to wear the hijab, the muslim head scarf, fulltime, embarking on a courageous exercise in selfunderstanding. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of does my head look big in this. What inspired you to write does my head look big in this. Social and personal acceptance in does my head look big. It was published on august 1, 2005, by pan macmillan australia. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 360 pages and is available in hardcover format. Answered this is timed please helpread the excerpts. This novel, while a little overlong, is definitely worth reading, but i wish i had read this back in 2005. Feb 19, 2014 a bit overly girly and giggly for me, a bit too much like an afterschool special, but the seriousness of the topic of religious faith and religious freedom almost balances that out. Randa abdelfattah is an attorney, a writer, a chocoholic, and an active member in the interfaith community, as well as the campaign for palestinian human rights. Drama by jeff gottesfeld and elizabeth wong based on the book by randa abdelfattah dramatic publishing company woodstock, illinois australia new zealand south africa.
Randa abdelfattah is twentyfive, and has her own identity hyphens to contend with. The intense emotions of adolescence drew her to the genre, and nine books and a law degree later, abdelfattah remains enchanted by writing and has another book in the works, a return to. Abdelfattahs fine first novel offers a world of insight to post911 readers. Amal is a 16yearold melbourne teen with all the usual obsessions about boys, chocolate and. Australian author randa abdelfattah wrote her first ya novel while still a young adult herself.
This novel, while a little overlong, is definitely worth reading, but i wish i had read this back in 2005 when it was new and when i was actually 16 years old. Randa was born in australia and her debut novel, does my head look big in this. The feedback to reserve does my head look big in this. Sixteenyearold amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab fulltime and everyone has a reaction. Read the excerpt from does my head look big in this. Ten things i hate about me, where the streets had a name, buzz off, the friendship matchmaker, the friendship matchmaker goes undercover, no sex in the city, jodie and the book of you, and rania and the book. Randa abdelfattah is an australian muslim writer of palestinian and egyptian parentage. Does my head look big in this by randa abdelfattah 1184. Buy this book with an engaging narrator at the helm, abdelfattahs debut.
Sixteenyearold amal attends an elite prep school in a melbourne suburb. Randa abdelfattah is twentyfive, and has her own identity hyphens to contend with australianbornmuslimpalestinianegyptianchocaholic. It won the australian book industry award and australian book of the year award for older children. Jan 26, 2020 this pin was discovered by discover books. Does my head look big in this is a young adult contemporary novel written by randa abdelfattah. Poised to begin the third term of 11th grade, amal admits, its hard enough being an arab muslim at a new school, but shawling up is just plain psychotic.
Too many people look at it as though it the hijab has bizarre powers sewn into its microfibers. Try wearing a veil on your head and practising the bums up position at lunchtime and you know youre in for a tough time at school. Read common sense media s does my head look big in this. Amal is an australianpalestinian muslim with really long surnames.
Year eleven at an exclusive prep school in the suburbs of melbourne, australia, would be tough enough, but it is further complicated for amal when she decides to wear the hijab, the muslim head scarf, fulltime as a badge of her faithwithout losing her identity or sense of style. I found the main character to be very whiney and naive. Browse randa abdelfattahs bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. A bit overly girly and giggly for me, a bit too much like an afterschool special, but the seriousness of the topic of religious faith and religious freedom almost balances that out. Download and read free online does my head look big in this. That work, with a few tweaks, later became her debut novel does my head look big in this.
When 16yearold amal decides to begin wearing the hijab, she discovers the effect that her decision has on the nonmuslim people she loves. For years randa has been active in the interfaith community. Randa abdelfattah author of does my head look big in this. It paints a clear picture of the varied opinion between families ad generations about what it means to be a good muslim, and shows the differing options on what is culturally appropriate.
It was released in australia, by pan macmillan australia, on 1 august 2005. Can she handle the taunts of towel head and the prejudice of her classmates, and still attract the cutest boy in school. In the novel, does my head look big in this, randa abdelfattah shows how oppression divides society into two distinct groups of the dominant and the subordinate. Luckily my friends support me, although theyve got a few troubles of their own. Randa abdelfattah was born in sydney in 1979 and grew up in melbourne. Does my head look big in this by randa abdel fattah.
But at the same time i feel like my passion and conviction in islam are bursting inside me and i want to prove to myself that im strong enough to wear a badge of my faith. Now the next thing, and its really very simple, is that while im not going to abandon my fashion senseyoud better believe id never give up my shopping spreesim sick of obsessing about my body, what guys are going to think about my cleavage and calves and shouldertohip ratio. Low selfesteem exhibited through oppression selfesteem fluctuates day to day and hour to hour. Its hard enough being cool as a teenager when being one issue behind the latest cosmo is enough to disqualify you from the ingroup. Winner for abia book of the year for older children 2006. She is the author of the critically acclaimed novels does my head look big in this. Drama by jeff gottesfeld and elizabeth wong based on the book by randa abdelfattah dramatic publishing company. Randa abdelfattah audio books, best sellers, author bio. Does my head look big in this by randa abdel fattah book. Randa abdelfattah born 6 june 1979 citation needed is an australian muslim writer of palestinian and egyptian parentage.