I read this book in just a few days, and I would have read it faster if I hadn't had other obligations.

PLEASE NOTE: I was not able to read the ARC of this book before the publication date, the review is based on the final published version I purchased.

This is a really moving story about a young girl who makes a rash decision that has a devastating impact on her and her family. Amal is a smart, responsible, hard-working girl who has dreams of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately, growing up in a little village as the oldest of five girls, she knows her dreams may be hard to achieve. Then she crosses paths with the local landlord and it looks like her dreams may never come true. How she adapts to her situation and continues to hold her head high will give readers something to cheer for, and also offer insight into a life that most American children can't really imagine.

Although the ending was quite symbolic, with Amal going home under the stars, I don't know that I was quite ready to say goodbye to her yet! Such an engaging, relatable character and the author gives a powerful glimpse into a world that seems alien to many Westerners. Hoping for a sequel! :)

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed is an eye-opening and riveting story.  Amal loves learning, knows that freedom lies within the pages of books, and dreams of being a teacher. Those dreams are dashed when a run-in with the village’s most powerful landlord lands her confined to indentured servitude at his family’s estate. Amal hopes to return to her family one day, but the chances of that become slim as she learns of just how much power the Khan family has.

Amal is a Pakistani young girl who just wants to get an education and share her knowledge as a teacher. Her mother has a baby and while suffering from what appears to be postpartum depression, Amal is kept home to care for the family and help run the house. In a trip to the market, two impulsive actions lead to her indentured servitude with the village’s ruling family. She is taken from her family with the expectation she will return when her father is able to pay his debts, but as she settles into her new life, she begins to realize there is no way to pay the debt in full and she will likely never leave the estate.

I received an ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group and Nancy Paulsen Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book because it showed how powerless someone can feel about the injustices and unfairness of life, but it also showed that one person can make a difference; Being brave doesn't mean that someone is not scared, but that they need to do something and they are willing to risk a lot, sometimes risk everything.

Amal is a young Pakistani girl who must work for a corrupt landlord's family in order to pay off a family debt. She misses school and dreams of attending college someday. This diverse middle-grade realistic fiction book tackles a lot of important themes: gender inequality, class inequality. and indentured servitude being high among them. Some of the characters and the overall storyline felt flat to me, but it's still a solid book to recommend to middle-grade readers.

I think this book will appeal to anyone who was inspired by Malala Yousfazai and her life. It is good junior fiction, and is an inspiring book that will create discussion and open views regarding women's right in countries across the world.

I read Amal Unbound in preparation for the following interview with the author, Aisha Saeed. I loved Amal Unbound. Aisha's writing transports you to an unfamiliar place that immediately becomes familiar. This book is one of my favorite middle-grade reads so far this year.

Several Years ago, Aisha Saeed was drinking a cup of tea and perusing the day’s headlines. Among the news, Aisha came across the story Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani schoolgirl who stood up to the Taliban, defending her right to an education. Aisha had already been working on a story about a girl in Pakistan, and Malala’s story helped further inform the story Aisha hoped to tell.

“As a former teacher, Malala’s story reminded me of the strength and resilience many young people show every day in the face of unspeakable difficulties,” Aisha told Cracking the Cover.

“In Amal Unbound, Amal is a strong girl who faces challenging and unjust circumstances but who, despite everything, never loses hope. I never knew this fierce desire to hold on to hope would ultimately be so timely in our current times I hope it gives hope to young children who are worried and struggling.”

In Amal Unbound, Amal talks back to the wrong person and ends up an indentured servant. The book deals with big issues, and Aisha didn’t shy away from them. Instead, she worked hard to find the right balance for her audience.

Amal Unbound“Writing a story about this topic for the middle-grade audience meant that it was important to portray the situation and the harsh realities honestly but also to make sure that it was age appropriate,” Aisha said. “While the situation Amal is in is a very difficult one, in my authors’ note, I talk about how many in Amal’s situation would face much harsher conditions and would likely never have a happy ending. I hope that the story paired with the author’s note helps strike a balance by giving readers a story about a horrendous practice but written in a manner that keeps it accessible for the target audience.”

Amal’s story is set in Pakisan, but Aisha says her story won’t be as foreign to readers as some might think. “If we are capable of connecting with cartoon rabbits and mice, hobbits, and Star Wars androids and space creatures, I believe American readers will be able to relate to fellow human beings who live beyond our geographic borders,” Aisha said.

“I believe all people can connect with many other people across faith, race, and geographic locations. The world is a beautiful place with people who have many different cultures and faiths but at the end of the day we are all human. Despite all the things that may make us feel we are different from others, there is a core thread of humanity that binds us all together. All of us regardless of where we live have hopes, and fears, and dreams. All of us want a better life for ourselves and our families. I hope when readers have a chance to read Amal Unbound they can see that we have more in common than they had previously thought.”

Aisha is also the author of Written in the Stars, a tale of forbidden love written for young adults. While both her books are written for young people, Aisha says she has never set out to write for a specific age group.

“When it comes to storytelling the most important thing for me to get right and figure out first is the voice,” Aisha said. “I have never specifically limited myself to only writing for and about young people but thus far most of the voices that compel me and draw me into their stories are stories for young people. I am grateful for this because writing for young people is an honor, privilege and joy. As a child, I never saw books featuring children who looked like me as the heroes of their own stories, and it is a moving experience now to have the opportunity to give children the opportunity to see themselves in print.”

Beautifully written story of Amal that will last with you long after the last page! I've shared this with some students and they can not wait to read about her story! My diverse population is very appreciative of this story! If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!

This is an amazing debut novel and is worthy of being named the Global Read Aloud choice for upper elementary/middle school. Set in Pakistan, Amal loves learning. Books open up the world for Amal, until she is forced to stay home to take care of her siblings. Even then, Amal's perseverance helps her to find ways to continue learning. An unfortunate event changes Amal's life and opens her eyes about the world around her.

This book will lead to deep, rich conversations about the rights of girls around the world. I am looking forward to incorporating this text in to our children's right's. Amal's love of learning and books shines throughout the book. I loved her perseverance and ability to find ways to continue her education, even though her life plan has been changed. Readers will be engrossed in this must read!

Amal's village is run by a corrupt landland and when she has a run-in with him she finds herself whisked away from her family to live as a servant to pay her family's debt. Her dreams of teaching are dashed and she must face the dark truth behind the power of the cruel landlord. I am thrilled to see this as the Global Read Aloud for 2018 so it can get in more hands and create all kinds of conversation.

Amal only wants to get an education, go to university and learn everything she can, but when she talks back to the son of the local big family, she suddenly finds herself a servant in his household. Despite her father's assurances that he'll raise the money to pay his debts, Amal learns that the debts only keep increasing. It's up to her to free herself, and to make her own path to continued education and freedom.

I must admit that I initially requested this book from NetGalley because I thought it was a graphic novel (based on the cover and the summary). Honestly, I think that it would have been a wonderful graphic novel and something akin to Persepolis in exposing readers to life in Pakistan.

This is an unflinching look at life in a Pakistani village, where girls struggle for education and the chance to learn and advance. Boys are prized—they don't require dowries, they will take care of their parents—yet Amal doesn't understand why her being born a girl is worth something less until her mother gives birth to her fifth girl instead of the anticipated son. When 12-year-old Amal is forced to leave school to help her mother (bedridden with postpartum depression) and take care of her three youngest sisters, she has to grow up fast. Things only get worse when she's forced to be an indentured servant in the egotistical home of the local "ruling" family—basically a family mafia who keep the local population down by forcing them into debts, arrangements and favors.

Amal is a wonderful main character. She's strong willed, determined to succeed, and afraid for her family and friends. She has a hot temper and refuses to be docile, although she must quickly adapt to the house of an egotistical bully. I also liked Amal's juxtaposition to Nasreen—who by all rights is a rich lady yet is just as trapped (perhaps more so) by her marriage to Khan Sahib and her quick elevation in status from a poor country girl to a rich matron.

While a little simplistic, this is a great book to show the vast inequality girls face throughout the world in terms of education, servitude, family-responsibilities and familial relationships, and opportunity. However, the main message shines clearly: literacy and basic education is a sure-fire way to elevate status in order to provide women the ability to inform themselves and expand their horizons.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed tells the story of a brave, young girl growing up in Pakistan. She loved school and absolutely enjoyed reading. However, due to a series of events, Amal ended up in inadvertent servitude. Through her story, different themes come up such as the place of the girl child in society. In this case, the author illustrates how differently the community treated girls. One thing that stood out for me was how the birth of boys was celebrated as compared to girls. This is not something unique to Amal’s community though. It is something that happens in many places around the world. Another theme that comes up is the education of the girl child. The book does draw some inspiration from Malala’s story and I like how the author presented this theme to readers.

This is an important read and is narrated in a way that makes it easy for younger readers to understand, enjoy and also learn a few lessons. I liked the underlying messages especially about courage. I recommend this book for younger audiences (middle-grade) although adult readers like me who enjoy books about diverse cultures will also like this one.

Amal is growing up in Pakistan, dreaming of becoming a teacher. As the oldest daughter, her father requires her to stay at home and take care of the family when her mother gives birth to another girl (postpartum depression is implied). Amal discovers just how undervalued girls are in her Pakistani culture. She still hopes to continue her education, however, an inopportune meeting with Khan, the son of the corrupt landowner, changes her life drastically. Khan insists that Amal pay off her "debt" by moving to his home. Amal discovers the reality of life for many - indentured servitude, illiteracy, no escape. This inspiring book belongs in every middle grade diverse collection.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. This did not affect my review.

Amal is the oldest of five daughters in a family living in a tiny Pakistani village controlled by a feudal landlord, Khan Sahib and his cruel son, Jawad Sahib. After Jawad Sahib hits Amal with his car one day while she is walking alone back from the market, Amal angrily refuses to give him her only pomegranate when he demands it from her. In retaliation, Jawad Sahib demands that Amal's father pay his existing debt back to the Khan family in full--an impossibility. So Jawad Sahib orders Amal to become a servant in his household, where she becomes trapped, always accruing more debt in the form of room and board, and never paying it off.

This is a fast-paced and captivating story of a young girl whose dreams--of getting an education, of becoming a teacher--are snatched suddenly from her, along with her family and life as she knows it. This novel is written at a level that will make this topic accessible to young readers. The message that girls should have the same opportunities as boys is clear without being preachy, and indeed, most people in Amal's life support her right to an education. It is easy to sympathize with and relate to Amal: she sneaks books from her captor's library, struggles to befriend the other servants, takes a younger girl under her wing, and has sisters back home who at times get on her nerves. She is frightened, but she does what she must to save herself and others anyway: the true definition of bravery.

Amal has a strong voice. Her character reacts in a realistic manner to heartrending circumstances. The ending is a bit neatly wrapped up for her, but that doesn't detract from the narrative.

What an incredible book! I absolutely loved the character of Amal and everyone needs to hear her story.

I loved this book! I really could not put it down. It was so empowering. It teaches youngsters to always trust in themselves even when things look so low and you feel like everything is going against you. This is an important book to share with our youth today. I will be sharing this novel with my 5th graders who next year will be my 6th graders. I feel it teaches a great lesson.

While the topic is certainly important and underrepresented in children's literature, I spent a lot of time wondering about the motivations of various characters. Character development of the Khan family (their motivations, making it clear if their behavior was actually atypical for their class, etc) might have resulted in less wondering and more reading. Individuals with a better understanding of the culture might not have been perplexed, but those lacking cultural context might get less from this work as a result of bewilderment.

Amal Unbound explores stark realities for women and girls in rural Pakistan. In less than a month and essentially through no fault of her own, Amal's whole life falls apart leaving her stranded as a servant in their landlord's corrupt manor. Amal's kindness, determination and bravery inspire so much empathy. I can't wait to recommend this book to my students. I think it will open their eyes and spark much needed conversations about the right to education for all.

I was really captivated by this story. We follow a girl named Amal who is forced into indentured servitude to help pay off her family's debts. After Amal's mother gives birth to her third child, Amal is left with no other choice but to take care of her siblings while herm other slips into a monthlong bout of postpartum depression. It was really interesting to see a middle-grade novel cover a topic like that. Amal was a character that really set an example of not taking education for granted and what can happen when we do. She loved to learn and at the heart of the story, that's what she missed most while she was away from her family. I enjoyed Aisha Saeed's descriptive writing and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.