With funding from screen australia and create nsw, randa is currently adapting does my head look big in this. Amal is an australianpalestinian girl living in the suburb of melbourne. Randa abdelfattah was born in sydney in 1979 and grew up in melbourne. It was published on august 1, 2005, by pan macmillan australia. Randa is currently working on the film adaptation of her first novel, does my head look big in this. Luckily my friends support me, although theyve got a few troubles of their own. Randa abdel fattah is an internationally published awardwinning author. Amal is a 16yearold melbourne teen with all the usual obsessions about boys, chocolate and. Can she handle the taunts of towel head, the prejudice of her classmates, and. Randa abdelfattah is twentyfive, and has her own identity hyphens to contend with australianbornmuslimpalestinianegyptianchocaholic. Written by agib ibrahim and other people who wish to remain anonymous does my head look big in this is a young adult contemporary novel written by randa abdelfattah. Try wearing a veil on your head and practising the bumsup position at lunchtime and you know youre in for a tough time at school.
Randa abdel fattah born 6 june 1979 citation needed is an australian muslim writer of palestinian and egyptian parentage. She is also the author of the forthcoming middlegrade novel, where the streets had. She has decided to make the most important decision of her life. Here you will find all the famous randa abdelfattah quotes. She is the author of the critically acclaimed novels does my head look big in this. Here you will find all the famous randa abdel fattah quotes. Simone, blonde, gorgeous and overweight shes got serious image issues, and leilas really intelligent but her parents are more interested in her getting a marriage certificate. Amal has a lot of hyphens to deal with shes an australian palestinian muslim, and to make matters more difficult, shes considering wearing the hijab full time in her outside life at her elite prep school. This novel, while a little overlong, is definitely worth reading, but i wish i had read this back in 2005 when it was new and when i was actually 16 years old.
Randa abdelfattah audio books, best sellers, author bio. But i used to take it off as soon as i stepped outside the school gates because man oh man do you need guts to get on public transportation with it on. Sixteenyearold amal attends an elite prep school in a melbourne suburb. Paperback by randa abdelfattah, randa abdelfattah paperback by randa abdelfattah, randa abdelfattah australias leading bookseller for 141 years. Hardcover w dust jacket description from the publisher. In 2017 her novel where the streets had a name was adapted to the stage by australias leading childrens theatrical company. Does my head look big in this a look at muslim women in. For years randa has been active in the interfaith community. Like yes, simone, he is mentally unstable for being attr. Her childrens novels are buzz off, the friendship matchmaker and the friendship matchmaker goes undercover.
Does my head look big in this gives an inside look into the modern challenges and pressures faced by muslims in the western world. Brilliantly funny and poignant, randa abdelfattahs debut novel will strike a chord in all teenage readers, no matter what their beliefs. A bit overly girly and giggly for me, a bit too much like an afterschool special, but the seriousness of the topic of religious faith and religious freedom almost balances that. About the author randa abdel fattah is twentyfive, and has her own identity hyphens to contend with australianbornmuslimpalestinianegyptianchocaholic. It won the australian book industry award and australian book of the year award for older children the story revolves around and is told from the view point of a sixteenyearold muslim girl who decides to wear the hijab, a. She has written nine young adult books inspired by her research on racism, including does my head look big in this. Randa abdel fattah is an attorney, a writer, a chocoholic, and an active member in the interfaith community, as well as the campaign for palestinian human rights. Ten things i hate about me, where the streets had a name, buzz off, the friendship matchmaker, the friendship. At the end of the school day the trains would be absolutely packed with schoolkids. Does my head look big in this is a young adult contemporary novel written by randa abdel fattah. Refer to the novel does my head look big in this by randa abdel fattah, highlights a personal journey throughout the main character, amal.
Australian author randa abdelfattah wrote her first ya novel while still a young adult herself. Because its pretty hard to walk around with people staring at your towelhead and not feel kind of pleased with yourself if you manage to get through the stares and comments with your head held high. Sixteen year old amal abdel hakim chooses to wear the hijab half way through her school year at a prep school in melbourne, australia. Sixteenyearold amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab fulltime and everyone has a reaction. Does my head look big in this by randa abdel fattah. Does my head look big in this by randa abdel fattah essay. Randa abdelfattah, quote from does my head look big in this. Too many people look at it as though it the hijab has bizarre powers sewn into its microfibers. What inspired you to write does my head look big in this. Click to read more about does my head look big in this. Try wearing a veil on your head and practising the bums up position at lunchtime and you know youre in for a tough time at school. Amal is a 16yearold melbourne teen with all the usual obsessions about boys, chocolate and cosmo magazine.
Read the excerpt from does my head look big in this. Randa abdelfattah is the awardwinning author of 11 novels and is published in over 15 countries. It paints a clear picture of the varied opinion between families ad generations about what it means to be a good muslim, and shows the differing options on what is culturally appropriate. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of does my head look big in this. We can identify the narrators tone by their choice of words or phrases. That work, with a few tweaks, later became her debut novel does my head look big in this. Now the next thing, and its really very simple, is that while im not going to abandon my fashion senseyoud better believe id never give up my shopping spreesim sick of obsessing about my body, what guys are going to think about my cleavage and calves and shouldertohip ratio. Its hard enough being cool as a teenager when being one issue behind the latest cosmo is enough to disqualify you from the ingroup. She uses humor to keep the book from getting too heavy, but she deftly touches on topics such as prejudice, 911, dating, job career choices, marrying and more. Amal, a teenage girl, recounts the struggles of conforming to the. The narrator is not able to sleep because she is overthinking and anxiously obsessing over what adam will think and how he would react when she goes to school in her hijab.
Browse randa abdelfattahs bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. She is a muslim of palestinian and egyptian heritage, and an active member of various interfaith networks. It became apparent to me that the only time muslim females appeared as heroines in books were as escapees of the taliban, victims of an honour killing, or subjects of the saudi royalty. Like the oneeyed is always beauty in the land of the blind. Randa abdelfattah quotes author of does my head look big in. Can she handle the taunts of towel head and the prejudice of her classmates, and still attract the cutest boy in school. Most of the media i consumed as a child did not represent my race or religion very well, until, at the age of 10, i found a book that changed everything. Set in 2002, published in australia in 2005, and published in the united states in 2007, does my head look big in this. This novel, while a little overlong, is definitely worth reading, but i wish i had read this back in 2005. Editions for does my head look big in this 0439919479 hardcover published in 2007, published in 2011, 043992233x paperback published in 2008, 03. The intense emotions of adolescence drew her to the genre, and nine books and a law degree later, abdelfattah remains enchanted by writing and has another book. Does my head look big in this is a young adult contemporary novel written by randa abdelfattah. Read common sense medias does my head look big in this.
Does my head look big in this not only succeeds in telling the story of a young muslim girl struggling with her hijab, but explores the. Abdelfattah uses the first person voice of amal to share an insiders view of being a palestinian muslimaustralian. Randa abdelfattah author of does my head look big in this. Randa has been the recipient of many awards including the victorian premiers literary award 2005 and 2017, the australian book industry awards, the kathleen mitchell award and the state library of victoria centre for youth literatures gold inky award. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a little different from everyone else. Randa abdel fattah is twentyfive, and has her own identity hyphens to contend with australianbornmuslimpalestinianegyptianchocaholic. With an engaging narrator at the helm, abdelfattahs debut novel should open the eyes of many a reader. Throughout the book, amal struggles with her choice alongside and everyday. Poised to begin the third term of 11th grade, amal admits, its hard enough being an arab muslim at a new school, but shawling up is just plain psychotic. It won the australian book industry award and australian book of the year award for older children. Drama by jeff gottesfeld and elizabeth wong based on the book by randa abdelfattah dramatic publishing company woodstock, illinois australia new zealand south africa. Try wearing a veil on your head and practicing the bums up position at lunchtime.
It was released in australia, by pan macmillan australia, on 1 august 2005. Randa fattah explores the relationship between, identity, perspectives and journey in the theme of individuals should not be judged by appearance, traditional culture, stereotype and gender roles can not limit individuals from becoming who they truly. Abdelfattahs book has to be the most overtly muslim book that exists. She grew up in melbourne and attended a catholic primary school and islamic secondary college where she obtained an international baccaularetate. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Randa abdelfattahs first novel, does my head look big in this. Try wearing a veil on your head and practicing the bums up position at lunchtime and you know youre in for a tough time at school. High school is tough enough without throwing a hijab into the mix. Yes, simone, he is mentally unstable for being attracted to you. She studied artslaw at melbourne university during which time she was the media liaison officer at the islamic council of victoria, a role which. She is also a member of a number of palestinian human rights campaigns, the australian arabic council and various australian muslim women networks. Randa is currently working on the feature film adaptation of does my head look big in this.
Randa abdelfattah is an attorney, a writer, a chocoholic, and an active member in the interfaith community, as well as the campaign for palestinian human rights. Abdelfattahs fine first novel offers a world of insight to post911 readers. Headstrong and witty, 16yearold amal, an australianmuslimpalestinian that m. An australianmuslinpalestinian teen opts to wear the hijab, the muslim head scarf, fulltime, embarking on a courageous exercise in selfunderstanding. When 16yearold amal decides to begin wearing the hijab, she discovers the effect that her decision has on the nonmuslim people she loves. The beginning of discovering identity leads to the process of ones journey. Her parents, her teachers, her friends, people on the street. The story is definitely about a teenager learning who she is and who she wants to be as a person of faith, and it. Drama by jeff gottesfeld and elizabeth wong based on the book by randa abdel fattah dramatic publishing company woodstock, illinois australia new zealand south africa the dramatic publishing company. She has worked as a lawyer, human rights advocate and community volunteer with different human rights and migrant and refugee resource organisations. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. Randa is a regular guest at schools around australia addressing students about her books and the social justice issues they raise and is a regular guest at writers festivals.
Randa is an egyptianpalestinian author who lives in australia and has won kathleen mitchell award. She decides she is finally ready to wear the hijab, muslim head scarf, fulltime as a mark of her faith. Randa was born in australia and her debut novel, does my head look big in this. In randa abdelfattahs brilliant debut novel, amal, an australian. And sometimes one act of kindness is all it takes to give you hope again. She is a muslim of palestinian and egyptian heritage. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a. Randa abdelfattah s first novel does my head look big in this mirrors the concept.