Amazing story about a young woman coming of age in Pakistan… but also about every girl’s right to pursue her dream. Find out more at Qamar’s website http://www.amjedqamar.com/Home.php
Discussion about children’s and Young Adult Literature
Amazing story about a young woman coming of age in Pakistan… but also about every girl’s right to pursue her dream. Find out more at Qamar’s website http://www.amjedqamar.com/Home.php
I feel as though “Beneath My Mother’s Feet by Amjed Qamar is such a deep story. The things that occur during this book are such heavy issues that it captures the reader and intrigues them to read on. Nazia has dreams like all teenage girls of how their life is going to develop, but all that changes when her father gets injured. This story is so real that it shows the reader that you always have to be ready for the unexpected. I would definitely recommend this book. The issues in the book are so compelling and Nazia’s feelings/worries are so real. If I had the opportunity to use this in my classroom I defintely would. The book’s international feel gives an outlook on a place that a lot of your students don’t know and gives the perpective from a poverty stricken person which some of your students could connect to. I would have the students read Nazia’s story and make a journal entries as though they were her and going through this and how that would make them feel.
I would have to agree. I stronly reccomend every teenage girl read this novel. It sends a powerful message to girls everywhere, ‘follow your heart and do not let anything stop you’. The novel lets girls know that it is okay to want to go against their parents best wishes, that you can have a mind of your own and it is up to you to decide your life’s path.
Yea,you’re right. Girls shouid follow their hearts.Sing your songs, and dream your dreams, hope your hope and pray your prayer. As the saying goes: ” whatever other people say, just be yourself.” But it’s hard, and sometimes the fact proves that your mum is right. So make decision and take the consequence.
I agree with you Corey, this girl was 14 n was forced to grow up entirely too quickly. Its good for everyone, students and parents. It shows that a mothers struggle with wanting her to live her dreams, and doing what is best for her, and letting her make her own decisions. I couldn’t put this down, it was a easy read, but very interesting, the descriptions were real and i could invision the whole story. I really like what you said with the journal entries. What do you think is the best part of the book?
I don’t know if it’s the “best part” but its the most heart-felt for me. When Nazia finds out they have lost the home, the only home she has ever known. I have never been in that type of situation and don’t know many people who have. That particular part just broke my heart. I know that have students who have to deal with something like this right now and it made me just that more concerned and connected to them.
I feel as though the journal entries are a great idea, and I could see my future students doing that activity with journals with emphasis on adjectives. This book involves so many emotions and children can learn about how word choices can evoke more emotion in a reader. This book is very relatable, and with our country still being in an economic slump, this is a time when children have to grow up and provide for their family.
Yea i know what you mean, it was pretty sad, I’ve seen it happen before and it is a horrible feeling not knowing where you are going to go and what is going to happen. Also I think it was sad that her future marriage is jeopardized because she is a maid, but she is doing what she can to help her family. What I did love about this book was what Nazia ultimately learns about herself, she finds that she is a strong, honorable girl who really does have some choices. She realizes that she has to be true to herself, no matter how difficult that choice proves to be. This book would b amazing for a classroom, especially girls that feel like they can’t deal with things.
“Beneath My Mothers Feet” by Amjed Qamar, is a novel about a 14 year old girl named Nazia, who has her future planned out for her by her mother and father. She is a young child living in Pakistan, and faces difficult times due to accidents and poor decisions some of her family members have made. She is a dutiful daughter who matures fast because she misses out on childhood experiences and is forced to grow up and provide for her family. This story is a powerful and relatable; many people are forced to provide for their families. This book involves religion and Nazia’s obligations to her faith, as well as, economic and environmental influences. This novel is a great tool for young adult readers to use to get insight into a different culture. After the events that took place on 9/11/01, many people became racist towards Muslims, and because of the setting and characters of this book, individuals can became connected and understand that the lives of the people in the Middle East are not much different than the ones that can be found in the United States. This book is not only great for young adult readers, it is also attractive for adult mothers because it deals with issues that each and every mother must face, which is wanting what is best for your child while also giving them the opportunity to make their own choices. Nazia wanted to make her own decisions and thought that she knew what was best, which is topic many children can relate to. Concerns about family and friends, and being embarrassed when fincial difficulties come up are also two themes readers can relate to
I agree this novel gives people who are ignorant to other cultures insight to how much they are like people of other cultures. Although religion, colthes, and way of life are different, people of different cultures experince the same life situations as other cultures. Life happens to everyone not just one specific race or culture of people. And this novel was an excellant example of that.
Ms Qamar writing draws you in and gives you a picture of life in a Pakistani town. The book helps the readers gain a better understanding of their culture, their deep loyalty to family and their everyday ways of life. I instantly fall in love with Nazia, who is just a young girl enjoying school, friends, her family and the every day risks and adventures of growing up. That is until her mother takes her out of school so she can help earn money for the family, after her father is unable to work. Nazia’s experiences teach her many things, tests her own loyalty to her family and teaches her how to deal with personal struggles. This book was an amazing read, especially for young girls.
I loved reading this book, I could not put it down. I like reading about differnt cultures because I love to learn new things. I had an idea of how women are treated in other countries but I did not know a lot. Nazia is a bery strong and loyal daughter/person. For her to give up her dreams and do shameful things and still maintain her dreams is amazing. Many children who are more fortunate do not know how difficult not being able to have your own thoughts because you must do as others say is sad because it makes them ungrateful. I would recommend this book as a must read.
Yes, I agree with you the representation of the culture in this book was great. There are so many times when cultures are not represented in the book and when they are they are usually stereotypical. I would love to have this book in my library in my room for this reason. Also, it has those real life connections with the children showing them if they are going through hard times there is most likely someone else going through the same thing, somewhere.
i totally agree that it is so important that the students know that someone else is going through the same thing as them. Especially ELL students, it would be so cool if they could read this and then respond to it by relating it to their own life.
Cierra, I agree with all of your thoughts. This book is a must read if you enjoy learning about other cultures. I also learned a lot from this book, because I was unaware of the ways of some of the cultures and traditions, especially from Pakistan. You feel thankful that in the United States women are not asked to do such horrible things. We have more freedom and can make our own choices for the most part. I feel bad that Nazia had to go through all of the things she did at a young age. She is a child, she should enjoy her life and yet she couldn’t because she as forced to grow up so quickly.
I couldn’t agree with Cierra more. This book was incredibly good and so insightful. It really puts things into persepective considering the fact that our culture is absolutely nothing like Nazia’s. And because it is not anything like ours, while I was reading, I continued to find myself picturing what it would be like if I were in Nazia’s position and what I would do. Nazia had to deal with many struggles that no one would know what they would do unless they were actually in that position, but from reading this book, it makes you aware of the fact that even though your parents have their own plan for you, you still have to follow your own dreams and heart because if you hold back, then you may never be happy.
I felt the same way; I too picture myself in Nazia’s shoes. I am grateful for the values my family has and for not feeling the pressure to follow a destiny my parents created for me. I am glad that Nazia was able to follow her own dreams and realize she is a strong, young woman who is capable of making her own decisions. I understand the struggle she had believing in her reality, such as when she found out her father was not as loyal, responsible, and as trustworthy as she thought. I wish I knew what was going to happen to her next, because the book was somewhat of a cliffhanger, but regardless I am proud of Nazia and admire her inner strength.
I also put myself in Nazia’s shoes as I was reading this novel, like Courtney. I am too grateful for my family values and not having the pressure of my family loyalty as Nazia did in her story. I do not know what I would do, if my parents had an arranged marriage with my cousin that I barely even knew. I am appreciative of how my parents want to finish my education and get a job. I could not live like the women in Pakistan who do not have the choice of who they want to marry, what they wear, whether they get educated or not. It just doesn’t seem fair to me.
I really enjoy this book. It has well-defined characters and a clear storyline. It involves beliefs, courage, and unexpected friendship which are good for children. The book has detail information about the Pakistan’s culture. I want to know how people live in the world, I want to experience different cultures,and I hope I can travel around the world someday.
Nazia, a strong, honorable girl, deals with the issues that almost all the girls face–at the mercy of parents’ expectation or follow your heart. She makes her own decition and takes the consequence. I admire her courage.
I found that the best way to experience a country’s culture is live there for a time. You’ll get some different ideas about what you have learned from books and TV. The process to adapt it is funny. I think the most enjoyable things is tasting delicious foods all over the world.
This book would be great in the classroom for students to learn about other people around the world. Some students may even be able to relate to the story in some way.
Cherry I agree with you. I want to travel the world and experience things that others get to experience and I don’t.
I totally agree that I want my students to experience the world and see how other students learn and go through school also. But I love how this book, and other international books, will take us there! Maybe it would be neat to split the students into groups so that they can all become experts in their particular country/region.
I agree with you Anna I do believe this is a great book to have in the classroom. Many young adults should read this as they are experiencing life in a new way. It not only shows how women are treated in other countries it gives the reader the feel that they are experiencing that life first hand.
After reading the novel, Beneath My Mother’s Feet, this has given me a greater appreciation for women who live in Pakistan and the struggles they face every day. Also, the book has given me a better understanding of the Pakistani culture and has allowed me to see how important things are in their lives. This book is able to include heavy issues that will captivate the reader’s attention making it a simple read. This book would be good in the classroom because some students may be able to relate to Nazia’s story. Nazia was an ordinary girl who had a family, attended school up until one day her mom pulled her out of school and made her start working as a masi to earn money for her family. Her whole life changed and Amjed Qamar was able to include her new experiences in a way that the reader would not want to put the book down. Some of the issues she faces in the story were her loyalty to her family and her Baji as well as her educational decisions, and personal struggles as a young girl.
I agree with you Melissa. I discussed some of the same points from the book. This was a book that you could not put down because you wanted to know what was going to happen next to Nazia. You realize that women in some cultures go through many hardships in order to survive and take care of their families. Nazia was forced to do what most young girls should not be asked to do. Quit school and become a maid and then marry your cousin who you are not happy to marry but know you have to in order to please your family. No one should be asked to do such horrible things, but thats where we learn about other cultures, and can be thankful our culture doesn’t require us to do many of the same things.
I agree with Cherry that one of the best ways to experience a culture is living there for a period of time or visiting. It would be great if countries were closer together so it would be easier for individuals to travel to other countries to experience the different lives of others. It would be great to take students to different types of restaurants with different country cuisines so they can experience that particular culture.
After reading this story, I really have a different understanding fof the Pakastinian culture. I didn’t realize what many of the women actually have to go through. They are practically their husband’s slaves in a way. They can’t make choices without consulting them first. Those women who are not married are usually forced to be slaves in order to be able to support themselves and their families if their husbands are not in the picture. Amjed Qamar really made this a book that was easy to read and one that the reader honestly doesn’t want to put down because there is always a new problem on the next page it seems like. Nazia has some difficulties in the book, like having to keep her families respect even when she doesn’t want to marry her cousin Salman. She has to quit school in order to help become a maid with her mother to support their family after the father can no longer work, and is not willing to look for new work. Nazia used to be an ordinary girl that with the blink of an eye, had to change everything about her life, and did many things that most young girls would not be asked to do if they were in another country. But this is what women were expected to do in Pakistan.
I actually knew very little about the Pakistan culture before reading this book. I referred to the vocabulary list at the back of the book, which helped me while reading. Even though the content may not necessarily be authentic, it is still a very good doorway into what life is like in Pakistan. I now have a better awareness of what the circumstances can be for any given family living in Pakistan. Thinking about Nazia specifically, I truly was able to reflect upon how it must be to be in her situation. For such a young girl, she had to give up what girls her age are typically doing such as being in school and enjoying time with friends. Nazia was caught between what her culture says she should do and what she feels in her heart is right. Between facing the challenges of trying to support her family as well as deciding if she should be married, Nazia feels overwhelmed. However strong-willed Nazia has hopes of continuing her education and taking a path that is not ordinary for girls her age. She does not want to be constrained to the life that has been set out for her.
In addition to being exposed to other cultures and the challenges they face, having students read this book will not only allow them to be indirectly exposed to these challenges but also may provide a sense of hope and encouragement to those children who are facing similar situations in their lives.
It is amazing how different our cultures are when it comes to freedom of women. The Pakastinian culture and other cultures with the same mindset of women inequality blows my mind. Like you said woman are practically slaves to their husband’s, how could anyone live this life. It’s hard to understand that type of culture when their is no respect for women, when I am a woman myself.
I agree with all the comments that were made above. Someone stated earlier that it would be great if we could take our students to other countries so they can experience life in another country first hand, but we all know that can’t happen. It is not safe plus the school system probably wouldn’t allow a school trip to Afghanistan. But through reading we can show our students what it means to live in a different country and the culture that comes with it. Also what is expected of us, as women.
In reading this book it makes you realize just how difficult life is for children in other countries. Children have to work in order to put food on the table, and provide shelter for their family. It also give insight in to how females are treated in other cultures, as opposed to America. In America, males and females are treated as equals, we have laws to protect the rights of women. Which is not the case in other countries.
It also gives the reader insight in the the limited choices for the uneducated and poor in other countries. At least in America, you can get a job at McDonalds or Walmart without a college degree, and support yourself. In other countries that is not always the case, because there is such a huge gap between the rich and the poverty stricken that the only jobs available for poor and uneducated females are cleaning, or cooking for the wealthy.
I think it’s important to note that life can be difficult for people right here in the United States. Although it may seem like some other countries have more hardship, we often forget how there are families who are struggling to make ends meet and face various challenges right in our home country. These challenges though, are varied and can result and stem from not just one thing. I do agree with Cynthia though about the way women specifically are treated. We are fortunate that women do not have to experience such treatment. Also, the government in some countries is very strict and does not allow for as much freedom as we have.
Regardless of which countries experience any given challenge, it comes down to being aware of them and having the chance to learn and be able to relate, or at least develop an understanding and some sort of empathy.
I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have to support a family at my age and yet alone as a child. These children are amazing for being able to put food on the table and provided shelter for their families. It is so sad to read about these countries that are so poverty stricken but it is also inspiring because of their strength and capabilities.
This book makes you realize just how lucky you are to be a female born in America, where you have laws that govern equality. Women from other cultures are not as lucky. They are forced to marry men that they do not love, and then forced to stay in marriages were they are mistreated, by their spouse. If they do not marry they are forced into a life of slavery, shunned by their own families, and treated poorly by their culture.
There are no choices for them, no reason to dream of getting an education and having a career. This book makes the reader realize all of this. Women are of little value in Afganistan. They are treated as second class citizens even by their own fathers. Those that do get an education usually do not go on to college. Marriages are financial arrangements between families, and the bride is only a small part of that arrangement. This story told that also where the parents were concerned with the dowry being stolen, and this being one of the reasons that the grooms father called off the wedding originally.
This book would be good for kids in this country to read so they could compare their own life with that of Nazia. Many kids even from poor families do not know what it would be like to have to quit school and work to support your younger siblings. Their parents take care of the daily living needs for the family while the child is allowed to attend school, and be educated. This is not the case in other cultures, where education is not as valued.
I loved this book! It was very insightful and convicting. I would love to have this around my future classroom. I loved how insightful that this book was. It was convicting because so many times I go through my day without thinking twice about it. I would have my students read this and even try to bring in a speaker who lived in that life growing up. I wish I could take my students all over the world where going to school is a privilege. I think this book is one way that students will be able to learn what other students around the world are doing and learning.
I enjoyed reading this book…It reminded me of the Breadwinner a little bit because I was learning about two different cultures and what they have been and are currently facing. Both main characters, Nazia in Beneath My Mother’s Feet, and Parvana in the Breadwinner are both children who have to help their families in times of need. However, what they have to do is above and beyond what any child their age should have to do.
This book makes me realize just how lucky I am to be in America with freedom rights. I can’t imagine not living the life I do today, which makes me feel a little selfish and spoiled because of what I learned during my read of Beneath My Mother’s Feet by Amjed Qamar. I never really thought about how important our laws and government equality was to me until now. It is so sad to read about these women who are being forced to marry men that they do not love, or mistreated because their gender. Also little things to me like clothing and the acceptance of education in my society that I take for granted. This novel showed me the hardship women have when trying to receive an education or even to express themselves through clothing. This book would be a great read for students to understand the importance OF WOMENS FREEDOM!
I agree with you, this is a great book that really shows us how lucky we are to live in America. Although we may complain how we are treated, it shows that we have more then other women around the country. After reading this book I feel very blessed and lucky to have what I have.
More novels like “Beneath My Mother’s Feet” should be integrated into the schools because international literature can have such a huge impact on those who are culturally unaware.Living in America, most of us couldn’t even imagine the lifestyle of a Pakistanian like Nazia, giving up everything to become a maid and provide for her family at the age of 14. The topic of arranged marriages is something we are not used to here in America, especially when it is within the family. This book is a culture shock for some, but has important morals instilled within such as strong family bonds, selflessness, and coming of age. Though this book was tragic at times, the character of Nazia is the ultimate role model which is why I suggest this book.
I think that this story has alot of deep lessons that Nazia’s Amma teaches her throughout the book. Such as at the last chapter of the book, when Nazia is about to go of to marry her cousin, Nazia thinks that she won’t be truly happy if she marries her cousin because she wants to finish school and not become a servent to her husband if she does. When Amma realizes that Nazia is going to not marry her cousin Amma says that ‘One will not truly be happy if their heart is not open.