Book Review: Does My Head Look Big in This?

 Does my head look big in this? - Randa Abdel-Fattah

 

Does My Head Look Big in This is a novel and was written by Randa Abdel-Fattah. It was released in Australia by Pan Macmillan Australia on August 1, 2005. This book also won the Australian Book Industry Award and the Australian Book of The Year Award for older children. This book tells a story of a Muslim-American teenage girl, Amal Mohamed Nasrullah Abdel-Hakim, a 16 years old girl who made the decision to start wearing a hijab (religious veil) as a representation of her Muslim faith. This novel also includes the reactions and repercussions that stem from her decision. Because of what she is going through, her parents and friends are constantly there for her in various ways.

 

This book tells a story about Islamophobic sentiment and ends with a profound conclusion. The book is very explicit in its handling of stereotypes and Islamophobia. “Does My Head Look Big in This” is such a straightforward teenage drama. Amal also struggles to convince her school that a headscarf doesn’t constitute a symbol of terrorism or suppression, but she is compelled to discuss whether it should be allowed. The most common criticism thrown against Amal was that the teenager who wears it are seeking attention.

 

This novel overall illustrates what Amal once said “People get very wrapped up in how their religion is, and how different other religions are, but the truth is that when you dig down deep, they all stem from the same place," she says. "People just need to accept that these other religions are the same as (theirs) are, and once they can do that, the religious prejudice stuff, that will go away." Randa Abdel-Fattah wrote this book with the inspiration of her experience when she decided to wear the veil when she was 13 years old. When Randa first writes about the idea of the book, she said that it turned out as an ‘angry rant of a teenager’, so she decided to use her humor instead.  

 

Overall, Does My Head Look Big In This received many positive reviews when it was published This book actually explores religious discrimination in a hilarious, modern style that everyone, including adults and children, can relate to and participate in. I could say that whatever the decision you’re making in your life you have to face the consequences brutally just like how Amal has to face the conflicting religious and cultural beliefs with confidence. It is how these worlds work whether it is a bad thing or a good thing people will always say something about you and that’s how human is. There’s this one quote from this book that caught my attention and can relate to which it is “Sometimes it’s easy to lose faith in people and sometimes one act of kindness is all it takes to give you hope again” it describes how you have to always be kind to other people because you never know what they’re going through. Personally, I kind of like this book I would give it 7/10. For those who don’t read it yet, give it a try maybe you’ll like it!