BOOK REVIEW : DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS ?

 

“Does My Head Look Big in This?” is the author Randa Abdel-Fattah first novel. It was released in Australia by Pan MacMillian Australia, on 1 August 2005. It won the Australian Book Industry Award and Australian Book of The Year Award for older children. The story revolves around a 16-year-old girl who decides to wear a hijab, a religious veil, full time. Her decisions lead to different reactions from her friends, family and peers. This book looks so interesting and suitable to be read by almost all age young or old. Because of the story telling and the plots are so interesting and it’s like never ending excitements. This book also tells lots of good advice, life meaning and motivating life. Amal is a great character. She’s snarky and strong-willed, but she has her flaws. She doubts herself sometimes, makes poor decisions, judges’ people unfairly and has to confront her own biases. That’s make the book more interesting.

The book is very explicit in its handling of stereotypes and Islamophobia. It directly calls out the biases and assumptions that even well-meaning people hold. Since the narrative is in first-person, readers get to experience Amal’s visceral responses to prejudice and harassment. We get to empathize with her frustration, fear, and fury. The supporting cast showcases the diversity within Muslims and within Arabs. One of Amal’s Muslim friends, Yasmeen, has a Pakistani father and white British mother who converted to Islam. The other, Leila, has roots in Turkey, where her mother grew up. Amal’s family attends a family friend’s wedding where the bride is Syrian and the groom is Afghani. Beyond their ethnic differences, each of these characters has a different relationship with Islam and interprets and expresses it differently.

Amal’s thoughts, actions, and interactions with others actively debunk the notion that Muslim women are all oppressed and that Islam is inherently oppressive. Her agency and choice are emphasized throughout as she fights multiple people who assume her parents forced the hijab on her. The book very clearly calls out white feminists “who don’t get that this is me exercising my right to choose.” Furthermore, Amal makes the distinction between cultural/social norms and religious doctrine, which are often conflated by people who are ignorant about Islam. She also reflects on the way culture and religion change over time, and how often immigrants cling to traditions and ideals that have become obsolete in their homeland since they left. These situations and thoughts bring nuance to Muslim identity. Overall, I enjoyed the book. However, there were certain patterns I noticed that interfered with my ability to fully embrace the book.