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107 pages 3 hours read

Does My Head Look Big In This?

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2005

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Book Brief

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Randa Abdel-Fattah

Does My Head Look Big In This?

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2005
Book Details
Pages

360

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Melbourne, Australia • 2000s

Publication Year

2005

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

770L

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Super Short Summary

In Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah, 16-year-old Amal, a Melbourne-born Australian of Palestinian and Egyptian descent, decides to wear the hijab full-time to express her Muslim faith, facing various reactions from peers and family while navigating cultural and personal identities, relationships, and social awareness in her private school. Topics of Islamophobia and cultural pressure are present.

Humorous

Contemplative

Inspirational

Heartwarming

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.0

12,539 ratings

58%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah provides a refreshing perspective on teenage life through the lens of a hijab-wearing Muslim girl in Australia. Reviewers praise its humorous, authentic voice and cultural insights, though some mention stereotypical side characters. Overall, it is lauded for promoting empathy and diversity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Does My Head Look Big In This??

Readers who enjoyed Malala Yousafzai's I Am Malala or Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give will appreciate Randa Abdel-Fattah's Does My Head Look Big In This?. This novel is perfect for those interested in themes of cultural identity, teenage struggles, and the challenges of wearing a hijab in a Western society.

4.0

12,539 ratings

58%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Character List

Amal

A 16-year-old Australian-Palestinian-Muslim girl living in Melbourne, who decides to wear a hijab full-time and embarks on a journey of self-discovery, navigating reactions from others while balancing her Australian identity with her faith and heritage.

A close friend of Amal from her Islamic College, who faces challenges with her cultural upbringing and ambitions, particularly against her mother's traditional expectations.

Amal's empathetic friend from Islamic College who shares a Muslim background and supports Amal through her journey of self-discovery.

One of Amal’s supportive friends from McCleans, a white Christian girl who understands Amal's experiences through her own feelings of being an outsider due to societal pressure about body image.

A Japanese friend of Amal at McCleans, who connects with Amal through shared experiences of cultural pressures and supports her decisions.

A white Christian boy at Amal's school who initially struggles to understand Amal's faith, but grows to appreciate her perspective as they develop a friendship.

A Jewish friend of Amal who, despite their differing backgrounds, understands her journey due to their mutual histories of cultural and religious experiences.

Amal's Greek neighbor who, despite a seemingly stern exterior, forms a meaningful relationship with Amal, sharing her immigrant experiences and learning from each other.

Leila’s traditional Turkish mother who faces challenges accepting her daughter’s modern aspirations, reflecting cultural tensions within their family.

Amal’s relatives who have adopted an extreme approach to assimilate into Australian culture, contrasting Amal's family's balance between maintaining heritage and fitting into their new environment.

Book Details
Pages

360

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Melbourne, Australia • 2000s

Publication Year

2005

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

770L

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