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)