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Amjed Qamar

Beneath My Mother's Feet Paperback – April 19, 2011

by Amjed Qamar (Author)

42 ratings

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"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.

Reading age

12 years and up
Print length

208 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 9
Lexile measure

770L
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.6 x 8.25 inches
Publisher

Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date

April 19, 2011
ISBN-10

1442414510
ISBN-13

978-1442414518
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (April 19, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1442414510
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1442414518
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 770L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,774,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #377 in Teen & Young Adult Multigenerational Family Fiction
- #1,688 in Teen & Young Adult Religious Fiction
- #3,401 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Girls' & Women's Issues (Books)

Customer Reviews:
42 ratings

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Amjed Qamar

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Amjed Qamar's young adult novel Beneath My Mother's Feet has earned several distinctions including the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Pick, Junior Library Guild Selection, 2009 Ohioana Book Award, and a Kirkus Starred Review. Beneath My Mother's Feet is also a nominee for the 2010 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award.

Amjed Qamar has lived in Pakistan for several years and visits frequently.

She currently resides in Ohio and speaks regularly at schools, colleges, bookclubs, and various groups about the writing and publishing process, as well as the culture of Pakistan and India. You can visit her and learn more at www.amjedqamar.com.

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		21%
3 star		7%
2 star		7%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Amazon Customer

Amazing Read!!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 13, 2012

Verified Purchase

Wow, Qamar knocks it out of the park with this book! The characters were wonderful! I loved how involved I felt in her story! I read this a month ago, and at random times scenes from the book will pop into my head. I feel like I learned a lot about Pakistan when I read this book. I loved the protagonist and was really uplifted with how strong she was. This book evoked a lot of emotions for me. I could never anticipate what would happen next. I loved this book and found it very inspirational. A real success story and I absolutely loved the mom at the end of the book. It really brought me to tears. I can imagine a truly loving mother anywhere doing this for her daughter. I'm tearing up writing this review because it is a beautiful story and I hope to read more books by Amjed Qamar. Shukriya!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 9, 2009

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I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a wedding. She was passionate about her story and I was excited to read the book. It was so filled with vivid images and cultural detail. As with all good books, I felt like I was in the story watching the events unfold. The story represents cultural traditions like arranged marriage and dowry in a way that helps westerners like me understand the nuances of those traditions. It highlights the true strength of the female characters and how they show their strength in subtle and overt ways. I was sorry to see the story end. It was beautiful and powerful.

One person found this helpful

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Vanessa

A beautifully written novel

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 29, 2014

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Nazia is an obedient daughter who, at first, seems satisfied and excited about the plans her parents have made for her life. As things begin to unravel in Nazia's life and hardships abound, she envisions a life far different than what her parents have in mind for her. This is a beautifully written novel about a young girls dreams, her sometimes difficult relationship with her mother, and the courage she discovers deep inside herself. I will be recommending it again and again to my middle school students!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

Wonderful story that follows a 14 year old girl in her poor village in Pakistan. Knowing next to nothing about their culture before reading, I feel that I learned many interesting facts about the language, customs, food, social classes and social requirements. Very quick read that could easily have a sequel.

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annawillard

enjoyable engaging story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 23, 2014

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This story gripped me from the beginning and carried me along to another world of a young girl from Pakistan who needs to decide what her destiny should be.

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Amazon Customer

and my students love it!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 15, 2018

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This is a title on our middle school Battle of the Books list, and my students love it!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 19, 2008

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Beneath My Mother's Feet .Love a story that can vividly take you on location? This book will completely envelope every sense, to the point that you can smell the hint of mustard oil, feel the scorching sun of Karachi, Pakistan. This story completely pulls you into the life of Nazia and her family. An excellent read!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 3, 2013

Verified Purchase

I thought it was a great book but there were a lot of charaters with similar names but I recommend it

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