Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more “American.” Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized.
Amina’s Voice brings to life the joys and challenges of a young Pakistani American and highlights the many ways in which one girl’s voice can help bring a diverse community together to love and support each other.
Reviews
-
For inspiring empathy in young readers, you can’t get better than this book.
—R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder
-
This compassionate, timely novel is highly recommended for all libraries.
-
Amina’s middle school woes and the universal themes running through the book transcend culture, race, and religion. A perfect first book for this new Muslim imprint.
-
A universal story of self-acceptance and the acceptance of others. A welcome addition to any middle grade collection.
-
Amina’s anxieties are entirely relatable, but it’s her sweet-hearted nature that makes her such a winning protagonist.
-
… a gentle coming-of-age story universal in theme and original in context, and appealing to any reader who has just wanted to slow the world down.
Honors
-
American Library Association (ALA) Notable Children’s Books
-
Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year
-
Beehive Award Nominee
-
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee (MD)
-
Bluestem Book Award Master List (IL)
-
CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
-
CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children’s Book Council)
-
Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books
-
Children’s Sequoyah Book Award Master List (OK)
-
Goodreads Choice Award Finalist
-
Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Junior Title
-
Kirkus Reviews Best Book
-
Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee (MN)
-
NCTE Charlotte Huck Outstanding Fiction Recommended Title
-
NPR Best Book
-
Oregon Battle of the Books List
-
Oregon Reader’s Choice Award Nominee
-
South Asia Book Award Highly Commended Title
-
South Carolina Book Award Nominee
-
Texas Bluebonnet Master List (TN)
-
Virginia Readers’ Choice Award
-
Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (TN)
-
Washington Post Best Book
-
William Allen White Children’s Book Award Reading List (KS)
-
Wisconsin State Reading Association’s Reading List
-
Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)