Amal Unbound

Starred review from March 12, 2018
Saeed (Written in the Stars) infuses this true-to-life story of unjust power dynamics in a poor Pakistani village with a palpable sense of dread regarding the fate of the inquisitive, industrious, poetry-loving titular character. Twelve-year-old Amal is troubled by her parents’ obvious distress that her newborn sibling is yet another girl, and she is vexed that her responsibilities as eldest daughter require her to run the household while her mother is bedridden. Amal unleashes her frustration on the wrong person when she talks back to Jawad Sahib, the wealthy landowner, who demands she work off her debt for the insult
. Amal’s experience navigating an unfamiliar social hierarchy in the landlord’s lavish estate exposes her to pervasive gender inequities and unfair labor practices, like being charged for room and board but receiving no pay. While her growing indebtedness makes it unlikely she will ever leave, Amal’s ability to read grants her a dangerous opportunity to expose the landlord’s extensive corruption, if she dares. Saeed’s eloquent, suspenseful, eye-opening tale offers a window into the contemporary practice of indentured servitude and makes a compelling case for the power of girls’ education to transform systemic injustice. Ages 10–up. Agent: Taylor Martindale Kean, Full Circle Literary.

July 30, 2018
Ayyar gives an uneven performance of Saeed’s middle grade novel about the underworld of indentured servitude in contemporary Pakistan. When 12-year-old Amal publicly defies the scion of the powerful Khan family, the Khans call in her father’s debt and force Amal to work as their servant. While in their household, she discovers evidence that the Khans have engaged in illegal activities and forges alliances with other servants in the household to expose them. Ayyar’s performance is most captivating when she is narrating Amal’s inner monologue; her treble voice is quite believable as that of a child maturing into a woman. The problem is that many of the characters—whether they are adults or children, male or female—sound this way, too. When Amal’s parents have a heated discussion about Amal’s future, for example, it’s impossible to tell which of them is speaking unless the dialogue makes that clear; later in the book, the Khans’ chauffeur and housekeeper sound indistinguishable from each other and from the local teacher who helps to broaden Amal’s world. The lack of differentiation is a major drawback and makes this production more confusing than it needs to be. Ages 10–up. A Penguin/Paulsen hardcover.