Events › Read the World: A Middle Grade Book Club

Read the World is a book discussion group for youth in 6th to 9th grade. Each month we'll read a book set in a different country then enjoy conversations about the book as well as other cultures and experiences. We'll read from multiple categories, including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, novels in verse, and more.

This month we'll be reading and discussing Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed and set in Pakistan. Please register then stop by the library for a free copy of the book no earlier than one month before the discussion.

"Twelve-year-old Amal's dream of becoming a teacher one day is dashed in an instant when she accidentally insults a member of her Pakistani village's ruling family. As punishment for her behavior, she is forced to leave her heartbroken family behind and go work at their estate. Amal is distraught but has faced setbacks before. So she summons her courage and begins navigating the complex rules of life as a servant, with all its attendant jealousies and pecking-order woes. Most troubling, though, is Amal's increasing awareness of the deadly measures the Khan family will go to in order to stay in control. It's clear that their hold over her village will never loosen as long as everyone is too afraid to challenge them--so if Amal is to have any chance of ensuring her loved ones' safety and winning back her freedom, she must find a way to work with the other servants to make it happen."

Amal Unbound

An ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter can be provided for this program if requested at least seven (7) business days in advance. For assistance, please contact your library or accessibility@aclibrary.org.