About this book
Year Eleven at an exclusive school in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, would be tough enough, but it is further complicated for Amal when she decides to wear the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, full-time as a badge of her faith.
Why it was banned
Listed by PEN America and Florida reporting as removed in Escambia County Public Schools, Florida, during the 2023–2024 school year.
Censorship history
United States school ban context: Does My Head Look Big in This? appears on PEN America's Escambia County list and in Miami New Times' reporting on books removed in that district, with the Florida entry showing removal beginning August 10, 2023. The case matters because the book is a mainstream coming-of-age story centered on a Muslim girl. Its removal within a large district sweep shows how censorship can reduce access to ordinary stories of religious identity and cultural belonging.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | ReligiousRacial |
