Amina's Voice by Hena Khan (2017, Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; 208 pages) Amina’s Voice is the latest book by Hena Khan, a Pakistani American author who enjoys writing about her culture as well as all sorts of other subjects. In Amina’s Voice, she chooses to let her main character, Amina, guide the reader through the days and nights of an almost 12-year-old American girl. Amina’s voice is a powerful one and the reader certainly hears what she has to say. She shares the same questions as many other girls of her age. She has a best friend named Soojin and she is very happy hanging out just with her, but the problem is that now that they are in middle school, everything feels different. Soojin starts hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and she even starts talking about changing her name to something more “American.” Amina doesn’t quite understand this “new” Soojin, but she loves her friend and she tries to keep up with the new changes. In Amina’s narration, she brings us many details about her family and those details are a pure joy to read. While her life goes on, and she struggles to keep up with the changes that middle school brings into her life, her local mosque is vandalized, and she is devastated. The final chapters of the book are a beautiful example of how a fractured community begins to heal. Amina’s Voice is a beautiful, fun and interesting book. The author believes in the power of a young girl’s voice, and in this book you will certainly hear it. Recommended to young readers curious about cultural diversity, and those who enjoy strong, young female characters. Best for 8 to 12. Find this title in our catalog: Amina's Voice Recommended by: Maite
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