Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. About 3% of Australians are Muslims. What kinds of experiences might be common for people who are part of a small but visible minority? What is Islamophobia, and how might it make Australian Muslims’ experiences especially difficult?

Teaching Suggestion: Amal, the novel’s main character, is an Australian Muslim, and the novel’s plot revolves around her Muslim identity. Students are likely to be generally aware of prejudice against Muslims and will probably be able to give intelligent answers to the prompt questions without using outside resources. You might offer them the resources listed below after they have given preliminary answers as a way to deepen and refine their understanding. If your students are discussing this question aloud, you may wish to coach them in advance about respectful and inclusive ways to discuss the topic.

• This 3-minute video defines Islamophobia and explores its sources.
• This article from The Guardian shares conclusions from a study of Australian Muslims’ experiences of discrimination.

2. What is hijab? What are some of the reasons people might choose to dress this way?