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March 26, 2009
TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Author Randa Abdel-Fattah has written another terriffic tale about being a Muslim teen. In her first book, DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS? her heroine must decide how to show her faith without losing her personal identity. In TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME Jamilah, an Lebanese-Australian Muslim, just wants to fit in, so she becomes Jamie, to hide her true identity.
Jamie has dyed her hair blonde and wears blue contact lenses to hide her Muslim looks at Guildford high where she is in tenth grade. She wants to be part of the in crowd, but this group is lead by Peter Clarkson, an Aussie who believe non-Anglos aren't real Aussies. Jamie sees Peter as her ticket to coolness.
Outside of school Jamie loves her Lebanese heritage. She attends after-school classes at a madrasa, a Muslim school. Here she learns about the Koran, the Muslim culture and history, but most important is the music. She plays a darabuka, a goblet-shaped hand drum, in a band, a band that plans to play professionally.
To confuse her life Jamilah/Jamie must obey her father's rules. She is not allowed out after dark; she can attend daytime movies with female friends only; and under no circumstances are boys allowed.
How can she deal with her two lives? Peter has asked her out. The Band will be playing at her tenth grade formal. Will her worlds collide?
I RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL FOR GIRLS GRADES 7 AND UP.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
Posted by fjacksonem at March 26, 2009 12:51 PM