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Amal Unbound Paperback – January 7, 2020

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,475 ratings

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A New York Times Bestseller!

Amal has big dreams, until a nightmarish encounter . . .

Twelve-year-old Amal's dream of becoming a teacher one day is dashed in an instant when she accidentally insults a member of her Pakistani village's ruling family. As punishment for her behavior, she is forced to leave her heartbroken family behind and go work at their estate.

Amal is distraught but has faced setbacks before. So she summons her courage and begins navigating the complex rules of life as a servant, with all its attendant jealousies and pecking-order woes. Most troubling, though, is Amal's increasing awareness of the deadly measures the Khan family will go to in order to stay in control. It's clear that their hold over her village will never loosen as long as everyone is too afraid to challenge them--so if Amal is to have any chance of ensuring her loved ones' safety and winning back her freedom, she must find a way to work with the other servants to make it happen.
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From the Publisher

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Omar Rising cover Amal Unbound cover Written in the Stars cover
Omar Rising Amal Unbounc Written in the Stars
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
118
4.6 out of 5 stars
1,475
4.5 out of 5 stars
414
Price $10.29 $6.99 $10.24
More from Aisha Saeed In this compelling companion to New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Amal's friend Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school. A New York Times Bestseller! Amal has big dreams of being a teacher, until a nightmarish encounter with her village's ruling family has her facing her biggest setbacks yet . . . When Naila breaks her parent’s “no dating” rule by falling in love with Saif, her parents rush her to Pakistan to quickly marry her to a husband they’ve found. Her only hope of escape is Saif… if he can find her before it’s too late.

Editorial Reviews

Review

* “Saeed (Written in the Stars) 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 labor 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

* “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’s middle grade debut shares an empowering message about the importance of family, literacy, and cultural ties. The rich storytelling, nuanced characterization of an all-Pakistani cast, complex and layered look at the socioeconomics of the region, and richly described setting make this ultimately hopeful contemporary tale a good alternative to Gloria Whelan’s Homeless Bird and Patricia McCormick’s Sold. A strong choice for all middle grade shelves, especially where readers are seeking stories about young girls in non-Western countries overcoming adversity.”—School Library Journal, starred review

* "This beautifully crafted and moving story will encourage middle grade readers to ponder such issues as indentured servitude, class, and resistance. Saeed’s well-developed narrative will evoke empathy for all those around the world like Amal, who are not guaranteed freedom or education. An inspired read for all, particularly for those who have followed Malala Yousafzai’s story or enjoyed Deborah Ellis’ The Breadwinner or Tara Sullivan’s The Bitter Side of Sweet."—School Library Connection, 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 experiences will be starkly different. Hand to any reader who struggles with definitive gender roles, norms, and expectations held in place by societal structures.”—
Booklist

“This simple yet lyrical novel paints an evocative picture of life in a small village in modern-day Pakistan, especially the limits placed on girls and women. . . . It may serve as a read-alike or a gateway to stories such as Yousafzai’s autobiography,
I Am Malala; The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah;and Saeed’s debut novel, Written in the Stars.”—The Voice of Youth Advocates

“Amal’s narration is straightforward and direct, and her despair at losing her dreams is palpable, as is her unflagging determination to get them back. . . . There’s clear commentary on the marginalized lives of girls and women in Pakistan . . . and the fight for her education is already fraught even before she is taken from her home. An author’s note discusses the issues of indentured servitude, particularly among girls.”—
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“This heart-wrenching yet hopeful contemporary novel about class, gender, and literacy features a narrator who takes great risks in the name of justice and self-determination. . . . Short chapters and unadorned prose make the story accessible and direct, with Amal’s emotions, perspective, and strength anchoring the narrative. An author’s note asserts that Amal represents real women and girls who fight injustice across the globe, often without recognition.”—
Horn Book

About the Author

Aisha Saeed also wrote Written in the Stars, and is a Pakistani-American writer, teacher, and attorney. She has been featured on MTV, the Huffington Post, NBC and the BBC, and her writings have appeared in publications including the journal ALAN and the Orlando Sentinel. As one of the founding members of the much talked about We Need Diverse Books Campaign, she is helping change the conversation about diverse books. Aisha lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and sons.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Nancy Paulsen Books; Reprint edition (January 7, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399544690
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399544699
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 11 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL600L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.65 x 7.69 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,475 ratings

About the author

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Aisha Saeed
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Aisha Saeed (aishasaeed.com) is a Pakistani American writer, teacher, and attorney. Her writings have appeared in publications including The Orlando Sentinel, Muslim Girl magazine, and BlogHer. As one of the founding members of the much talked about We Need Diverse Books Campaign, she is helping to change the conversation about diversity in literature. She is also a contributing author to the highly acclaimed Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women, which features the story of her own (happily) arranged marriage. Aisha lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and sons.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,475 global ratings
Stunning Cover, Compelling Story
5 Stars
Stunning Cover, Compelling Story
When I hear the words "indentured servant" I think of a youth or immigrant in colonial America, working seven years to learn a trade and work their way to freedom. In Amal Unbound, author Aisha Saeed shines a light on the hidden, present day, virtual enslavement of oppressed people, especially girls.Twelve -year-old Amal is the eldest child living in a present day Pakistani village. One day she is attending school, dreaming of becoming a teacher and the next she must stay home to take care of her family while her mother recovers from childbirth.Frustrated by having to care for her two younger sisters, Amal goes to the market alone, enjoying her temporary reprieve from constant care taking.She is nearly run over by the corrupt and ruthless overlord who rules the village with impossible financial demands. Amal could be killed, beaten, or forced to live and work in the overlord's household. Even as the car arrives to take her away, Amal and her family hold out hope that they will be able to raise the money to buy her freedom.Amal soon learns that she has little chance of leaving the situation and despair nearly overtakes her. She must learn to negotiate the complex social system of the house staff and barely escapes the overlord's wrath after being set up by another servant. Worse, the Kahn family kills those who stand in their way.Amal rises above her despair and risks all in a desperate plan to bring justice to her village and to win her freedom.The story of Amal Unbound is as stunning and compelling as the book's cover. According to Saeed, most indentured servitude does not end with freedom and this odious practice is a world-wide problem, but readers will cheer Amal's determination and fortitude.Perfect for a read aloud, book club, or gift for middle grade students and teachers.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2024
Nice quality for a beautiful story
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020
The book cover is a piece of art, and this book is written for a younger audience, like kids between 9 and 13. I think Aisha Saeed's books should be put into every school curriculum.

In Pakistan, Amal holds on to her dream of being a teacher even after becoming an indentured servant to pay off her family's debt to the wealthy and corrupt Khan family.

The book as the previous one Aisha Saeed wrote burned me. I felt angry and I wanted to enter the book and save Amal from the tyrant monster who made her a slave (I felt that Khan dude to be much older but he was in his early twenties). Amal's name in Arabic means Hope الأمل... and I think it's such a suitable name, she hopes for a better future for herself and others and hopes to change the injustice in her village.

On the other hand, I believe that some things are disguised as bad things that might be good things in the long run. In the beginning of the book, Amal was treated like an unpaid maid to her family, they depended on her too much while she is a child as well and her father didn't care about her education. She only imagined herself as the woman she respected the most, her teacher in school. That's what she wanted to be.

When she moved to the Khan estate she saw a different side to the same story, she might have come by force, but many others loved staying and working in that house. She had the opportunity to be exposed to both a different lifestyle and education both with different people and books. The books she read wouldn't have been available to her in her house or school. Amal might have felt she lost something by what happened to her, but maybe she gained more than anyone else in her small town. She saw for herself how rich people lived, she learned different things, like how to be strong on her own, and most importantly that people even the ones you loved more than anything could move on and forget you. That she is stronger and braver than her parents. Her father was obviously planning on stopping her education, so maybe what happened benefited her in the long run, her father felt ashamed and indebted to her, she gained her freedom in her imprisonment.

The book ends in an open way, I think Amal could be anything she wants, not just a teacher, I think she is the one who is going to succeed between ALL of her friends and neighbors, she might even travel and see the world someday. This girl is a fighter!
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the story. It was a bit simplistic in the way in which the conflict was resolved, but for it to be less than a three hour read Such a Sawed did a wonderful nob.
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2018
When I hear the words "indentured servant" I think of a youth or immigrant in colonial America, working seven years to learn a trade and work their way to freedom. In Amal Unbound, author Aisha Saeed shines a light on the hidden, present day, virtual enslavement of oppressed people, especially girls.
Twelve -year-old Amal is the eldest child living in a present day Pakistani village. One day she is attending school, dreaming of becoming a teacher and the next she must stay home to take care of her family while her mother recovers from childbirth.
Frustrated by having to care for her two younger sisters, Amal goes to the market alone, enjoying her temporary reprieve from constant care taking.
She is nearly run over by the corrupt and ruthless overlord who rules the village with impossible financial demands. Amal could be killed, beaten, or forced to live and work in the overlord's household. Even as the car arrives to take her away, Amal and her family hold out hope that they will be able to raise the money to buy her freedom.
Amal soon learns that she has little chance of leaving the situation and despair nearly overtakes her. She must learn to negotiate the complex social system of the house staff and barely escapes the overlord's wrath after being set up by another servant. Worse, the Kahn family kills those who stand in their way.
Amal rises above her despair and risks all in a desperate plan to bring justice to her village and to win her freedom.
The story of Amal Unbound is as stunning and compelling as the book's cover. According to Saeed, most indentured servitude does not end with freedom and this odious practice is a world-wide problem, but readers will cheer Amal's determination and fortitude.
Perfect for a read aloud, book club, or gift for middle grade students and teachers.
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Cover, Compelling Story
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2018
When I hear the words "indentured servant" I think of a youth or immigrant in colonial America, working seven years to learn a trade and work their way to freedom. In Amal Unbound, author Aisha Saeed shines a light on the hidden, present day, virtual enslavement of oppressed people, especially girls.
Twelve -year-old Amal is the eldest child living in a present day Pakistani village. One day she is attending school, dreaming of becoming a teacher and the next she must stay home to take care of her family while her mother recovers from childbirth.
Frustrated by having to care for her two younger sisters, Amal goes to the market alone, enjoying her temporary reprieve from constant care taking.
She is nearly run over by the corrupt and ruthless overlord who rules the village with impossible financial demands. Amal could be killed, beaten, or forced to live and work in the overlord's household. Even as the car arrives to take her away, Amal and her family hold out hope that they will be able to raise the money to buy her freedom.
Amal soon learns that she has little chance of leaving the situation and despair nearly overtakes her. She must learn to negotiate the complex social system of the house staff and barely escapes the overlord's wrath after being set up by another servant. Worse, the Kahn family kills those who stand in their way.
Amal rises above her despair and risks all in a desperate plan to bring justice to her village and to win her freedom.
The story of Amal Unbound is as stunning and compelling as the book's cover. According to Saeed, most indentured servitude does not end with freedom and this odious practice is a world-wide problem, but readers will cheer Amal's determination and fortitude.
Perfect for a read aloud, book club, or gift for middle grade students and teachers.
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Customer image
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7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2019
As a 3rd grade teacher, who focuses on diverse literature and jumps on any chance to bring the global world into my classroom, I had Amal Unbound sitting on my shelf for a while. I didn’t read it as soon as it was released because it had been marketed as 10 years and up, so more along 4th/5th grade interest level. I am so mad at myself for not reading it sooner! Needless to say, I read it in one sitting and was cheering for Amal. Her courage and bravery are impressive and the writing is so authentic, I never once questioned any expressions or descriptions used. Amal navigates an environment that is anything but easy and she shows that characters have many different facets in real life, even when they are cruel at their core.

“I’m not brave. I’m terrified. I just don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice. Making choices even when they scare you because you know it’s the right thing to do—that’s bravery.”

This is one of those books that stay with you for a while. Enough has been said by previous reviewers about the book lending itself to discussions about courage, determination, the power of education, modern day slavery, gender, economics (debts, loans, etc.), etc.

The book is written with a younger audience in mind as well.
10 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2019
Read this all in one sitting. It gripped me right from the beginning and I couldn't break even for lunch without knowing how it would end.

Amal is a smart, lovable kid who wants to be a teacher, but a terrible incident leads to her ending up in indentured servitude instead, much to the heartbreak of her family. This new life is at times traumatic, at times confusing, and always eye-opening, but she is strong, determined, and capable.

A must-read.

Top reviews from other countries

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Jen
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2023
Great book for kids grade 6.
Beatrice Lemoine
5.0 out of 5 stars Vendeur Top !
Reviewed in France on November 24, 2022
Livraison très rapide, produit reçu avant la date prévue ! Très satisfaite. Vendeur à recommander
Euro Bottura
5.0 out of 5 stars VA bene
Reviewed in Italy on September 15, 2022
A mia figlia è piaciuto
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good !!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2019
Good!!
#booklover
5.0 out of 5 stars Speechless for words after reading this book
Reviewed in India on December 9, 2018
It is such a beautiful and moving book about the cruelty towards the children and lower class people. This book has an amazing emotional connection with all the readers and once you start reading it You cannot put the book down even for a second 😀
2 people found this helpful
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