Amal Unbound

When Amal's mother has yet another baby girl, she is so depressed she can't get out of bed, let alone take care of the family.  It falls to Amal as the oldest to stay home from school and keep up with all the chores that keep the household running.  Each day she sees her dream of becoming a teacher slip further away.  She also feels a simmering frustration that her parents are so upset about the birth of a daughter.  Did they feel this way when Amal was born?

One day on her way back from the market, Amal is struck by a car, a rare sight in her tiny village.  The driver doesn't apologize, and the situation escalates, but Amal doesn't realize he is Jawad, son of the village landlord.  She has often heard of the family's cruelty and power but never seen it for herself.

Now Jawad calls in her father's loan in retribution for the incident.  It's either the money, which they don't have, or send Amal to be his servant.

Her father promises to get her back, but the longer she spends in servitude, the more she realizes all her dreams of getting an education and becoming a teacher may be over.

Aisha Saeed's new middle grade book is painful look at the plight of girls in Pakistan.  An author's note a the end of the book explains that Amal is inspired by Malala Yousefzai's story and the plight of many people still trapped in indentured servitude with no hope of ever paying their debts.  This book reads a bit like a fairy tale at times without the magical elements, but it's perfect for middle school and upper elementary kids to get a glimpse into another life.  Highly recommended.  Plus, that cover is absolutely gorgeous!