Amal Unbound

By: Aisha Saeed

Narrated by: Priya Ayyar

"Saeed's timely and stirring middle-grade debut is a celebration of resistance and justice."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

The compelling story of a girl's fight to regain her life and dreams after being forced into indentured servitude.

Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal's Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she's busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when--as the eldest daughter--she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn't lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens--after an accidental run-in with the son of her village's corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family's servant to pay off her own family's debt.

Life at the opulent Khan estate is full of heartbreak and struggle for Amal--especially when she inadvertently makes an enemy of a girl named Nabila. Most troubling, though, is Amal's growing awareness of the Khans' nefarious dealings. When it becomes clear just how far they will go to protect their interests, Amal realizes she will have to find a way to work with others if they are ever to exact change in a cruel status quo, and if Amal is ever to achieve her dreams.

BEST BOOK EVER!!!!

This book draws readers in so fast. When you ever get bored of it at the end of the chapter there is foreshadowing or cliffhangers. I highly recommend this book.

it's a beautiful story

I loved this book it made me realize that you should never give up no matter how impossible or hard it seems .

A New Cinderella

This story is a unique, worldly retelling of Cinderella. Saeed writes, and Ayyar narrates, the story of Amal, a girl with big dreams forced to work off her family's debts.

Suitable for young readers

Tells a compelling story of a young girl that is practically being enslaved, but without going into descriptions of bloody horrors

I love this book!

This book was very inspiring and showed girls that they can do anything. The story was also very interesting to read and was definitely a page turner.