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 Synopsis
The slide opened and I heard a gentle, kind voice: What is your confession, my child?
I was stuffed. The Priest would declare me a heretic; my parents would call me a traitor…
The Priest asked me again: What is your confession, my child?
I'm Muslim. I whispered.
Welcome to my world. I'm Amal Abdel-Hakim, a seventeen year-old Australian-Palestinian-Muslim still trying to come to grips with my various identity hyphens.
It's hard enough being cool as a teenager when being one issue behind the latest Cosmo is enough to disqualify you from the in-group. Try wearing a veil on your head and practising the bum's up position at lunchtime and you know you're in for a tough time at school.
Luckily my friends support me, although they've got a few troubles of their own. Simone, blonde, gorgeous and overweight – she's got serious image issues, and Leila's really intelligent but her parents are more interested in her getting a marriage certificate than her high school certificate!
And I thought I had problems…
"Does My Head Look Big In This" - Click here for novel extracts
Winner - Australian Book Industry Awards 2006 - Australian Book of the Year for Older Children
Notable Book - Selected as a Notable Book by the Chrilren's Book Council 2006
Long listed for the UK Galaxy Book Awards 2006
Short listed for the Grampian Children’s Book Awards UK 2006
The Blurb - Your source for australian Arts and Entertainment
http://www.theblurb.com.au/Issue57/DMHLBIT.htm
Powells Books
http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780439919470-2
Young Adult Book Reviews
http://youngadultbookreviews.com/2008/04/01/does-my-head-look-big-in-this-by-randa-abdel-fattah/
Radio Review: ABC Queensland
http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/stories/s1437645.htm
The Times (UK)
‘One of the most remarkable young adult novels of the year.’
The Sunday Times (UK)
‘A smart, lively and contemporary story that manages to blast through prejudices without feeling ponderous or worthy…Every teenager in Britain should read it.’
The Weekend Australian
‘Put Does My Head Look Big In This? on the syllabus immediately. It’s sharply written, funny and, most of all, timely.’
Asian Express
‘Amal’s funny and passionate story about her journey through adolescence is a universal subject that readers of all ages and religions can relate to.’
Telegraph (UK)
‘Eye-opening…funny and positive. A book about defiance, determination, intelligence and self-respect.’
Blue Peter- Top Books of the Month
‘Funny and often passionate story about Amal’s journey through adolescence.’
Books for Keeps
‘It’s funny, it’s foolish, it’s serious, it takes up real issues, it tells a story and it strikes a chord. What more can you want of any book?’
Tes
‘Sharp, funny and moving.’
School Librarian Journal
‘Very entertaining and often genuinely thought-provoking.’
Bella
‘A fascinating and funny tale that captures perfectly what it’s like to be a teenager.’
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