Books

Throughout the novel, Amal struggles to access books. The library at Amal’s school features a limited selection of books, so she must request books from Omar because his school’s library contains significantly more books. At the Khan estate, Amal must secretly borrow books from Jawad Sahib’s office. When Amal attempts to purchase books at the market Nabila tells her operates close to Jawad’s estate, she cannot because Jawad burned the market down. Amal teaches Fatima to read using a book borrowed from the literary center because it remains the only children’s book available to her. Books therefore represent Amal’s restricted access to education both as a female and a member of the lower class. Amal’s gender prevents her from receiving the same quality of education as her male friend Omar, and her low socio-economic status renders books a luxury...