Amina's Voice

Amina’s Voice is what is known as a “coming of age” story. In general, this means a story that has a young main character who becomes more mature and more capable during the story because of the obstacles they face. Which of the obstacles Amina faces are common ones that many middle school students face, regardless of their backgrounds? Which obstacles have something to do with her being a first-generation immigrant who is sometimes the target of bullying and prejudice aimed at Muslims? How do her attempts to overcome the challenges she faces show that she is growing and changing?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt offers students a chance to think about which of the obstacles Amina faces are common to many middle-schoolers, regardless of their faith and immigration status, and which additional obstacles Amina faces because of her background. You might challenge students to also think about the ways in which the ordinary obstacles of growing up can be made more complicated when a person’s parents, religious or ethnic community, and the larger community all have differing expectations. If students struggle to articulate how Amina’s responses to obstacles show that she is becoming more mature, you might offer an example: Suppose you are reading a story in which a young character gets a bad grade on a test and then lies to their parents about it.