I am nearing the end of my Bluebonnet Award Nominee reading pile! This past weekend, I finished Amina's Voice by Hena Khan.
Amina is a Pakistani-American middle schooler learning to find her voice as she navigates through changing friendships, differences in cultural norms, and overcoming fears to share her talent. Her best friend, Soojin, wants to change her name to suit her new status as an American citizen. Soojin also wants to include Emily in their circle of friends, even though Emily was rude to them all through elementary school. A visit from a Pakistani relative makes Amina question her musical talents, and the destruction of their Islamic mosque makes her wonder about the acceptance of their community.
The heartwarming ending to Amina's Voice reminds us that the best things happen when people of all faiths and backgrounds come together and support one another. This would be a great read-aloud in class, especially if you have students with Islamic and Middle Eastern backgrounds who could embellish upon the cultural details covered in the book. Perhaps a food tasting would be in order upon completion!
It's Monday--have you read a book lately that opened your eyes to a new-to-you culture?
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