Amjed Qamar

Beneath My Mother's Feet (Reprint) Amjed Qamar

Brief Description: When her father is injured, fourteen-year-old Nazia is pulled away from school, her friends, and her preparations for an arranged marriage, to help her mother clean houses in a wealthy part of Karachi, Pakistan, where she finally rebels against the destiny that is planned for her. Marc Notes: Copyright date: 2008.; Includes an Urdu vocabulary list.; When her father is injured, fourteen-year-old Nazia is pulled away from school, her friends, and her preparations for an arranged marriage, to help her mother clean houses in a wealthy part of Karachi, Pakistan, where she finally rebels against the destiny that is planned for her.; 8; Ages 12 up--P. [4] of cover. Publisher Marketing: "Our lives will always be in the hands of our mothers, whether we like it or not." Nazia doesn't mind when her friends tease and call her a good beti, a dutiful daughter. Growing up in a working-class family in Karachi, Pakistan, Nazia knows that obedience is the least she can give to her mother, who has spent years saving and preparing for her dowry. But every daughter must grow up, and for fourteen-year-old Nazia that day arrives suddenly when her father gets into an accident at work, and her family finds themselves without money for rent or food. Being the beti that she is, Nazia drops out of school to help her mother clean houses, all the while wondering when she managed to lose control of her life that had been full of friends and school. Working as a maid is a shameful obligation that could be detrimental to her future -- after all, no one wants a housekeeper for a daughter-in-law. As Nazia finds herself growing up much too quickly, the lessons of hardship that seem unbearable turn out to be a lot more liberating than she ever imagined. Review Citations:

Kirkus Review - Children 05/15/2008 pg. 554 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

School Library Journal 07/01/2008 pg. 106 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Booklist 08/01/2008 pg. 58 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2008 pg. 595 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 10/01/2008 pg. 41 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2008 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2009 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Multicultural Review 03/01/2009 pg. 85 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2009 pg. 105 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2009 pg. 980 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 1037 (EAN 9781416947288, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Qamar, Amjed Amjed Qamar graduated from The Ohio State University with degrees in English and psychology. She currently resides in Ohio and works for the Dublin City School District. Amjed lived in Pakistan for several years and returns regularly. This is her first book.