Iqbal

Iqbal: A Novel is a short text written by Francesco D’Adamo, an Italian author who is best known for his Italian noir adult fiction. He expanded into writing for young adults in the late 1990s, and Iqbal was his third book in the genre. The novel was published in 2001 in Italian, and it was translated to English by Ann Leonori. The novel is an International Literacy Association Teachers’ Choice, one of the American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Books, and a recipient of the Christopher Award for works that promote positivity. Iqbal is a work of realistic historical fiction that portrays a fictional account of Iqbal Masih, who was a real-life bonded child forced to work in a Pakistani carpet factory. It deals with themes including oppression, corruption, and murder, but it centers on the theme of coming together to escape oppression.

This study guide uses the Atheneum Books for Young Readers edition of Iqbal: A Novel translated by Ann Leonori and published in 2003.

Content Warning: This guide includes discussions of child abuse and the murder of a child.

Plot Summary

Iqbal begins with an introduction that explains the role of bonded child labor in Pakistan and in the carpetmaking industry.