School is tough enough without throwing a hijab into the mix…

Amal is a 16-year-old Melbourne teen with all the usual obsessions about boys, exams, chocolate and magazines.

She’s also a Muslim, struggling to honour the Islamic faith in a society that doesn’t understand it.

The story of her decision to “shawl up” and its attendant anxieties (like how much eyeliner to wear) is funny, surprising and touching by turns.

• Exploring issues of faith and identity with the lightest of touches, this is a joyful exploration of what it means to be a Muslim teenager

• “…a bright, articulate heroine true to herself and her faith. Abdel-Fattah’s fine first novel offers a world of insight…” Kirkus Reviews

• Look out for Randa Abdel-Fattah’s other books: Ten Things I Hate About Meand Where the Streets had a name