Sabiha's Dilemma
Sabiha and her mother Bahra are more than mother and daughter, they’re best friends. It’s been them against the world, with Sabiha being her mother’s carer and confidante during her periodic bipolar breakdowns.
When their extended family comes to Australia, Bahra becomes a Born-Again-Muslim to impress them, and expects Sabiha to step in line as the perfect daughter. Can Sabiha play the part of the good daughter so that her mentally ill mother is accepted back into the Bosnian community? With the heartbreaking twists of John Green’s novels, and exquisite characters like those of Melina Marchetta’s, you'll love this hilarious, poignant, gutsy and real book. MELINA MARCHETTA ‘Sabiha's Dilemma is a ‘raw and honest story about duty and the desire to run free. A strong voice in Australian fiction.’ Published by Pishukin Press Previously published as The Good Daughter by Text Publishing. The Good Daughter won the 2009 Melbourne Prize for Literature’s Civic Choice Award. It was also a finalist in the 2009 Melbourne Prize for Literature Best Writing Award and was shortlisted in the 2007 Victorian Premier’s Awards for Best Unpublished Manuscript by an Emerging Writer. Bonus content available for newsletter subscribers only on a members only page. |
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Teaching notes
Teaching notes to support secondary school learning with a resource kit that contains:
- Praise
- Synopsis of stories
- Author statement
- Author information
- Pre-reading activities
- Reading activities
- Theme analysis activities
- Writing, research, debate and drama activities
Reviews
‘... would be excellent for class study as it concerns matters of modern Australian multiculturalism, the question of belonging and issues of identity. ’ FICTION FOCUS
‘... a candid, insightful story and a realistic portrayal of a teenager in crisis.’ MAGPIES
‘A funny and challenging debut novel that has been described as the Bosnian answer to Looking for Ali Brandi. Is a gritty and enjoyable novel, at times unflinching and dramatic.’ CANBERRA TIMES
‘... debut novel from new Melbourne author Amra Pajalic and it’s one you won’t want to miss! It’s a funny and honest story about Sahiba, a teen girl growing up in Melbourne’s western suburbs who’s trying to deal with family traditions and her own desire to do what she wants. (5 stars).’ GIRLFRIEND MAGAZINE
‘Amra Pajalic writes with such honesty every young adult will empathise with her… While dealing with some ordinary “stuff” Pajalic’s observations are sincere and often hilarious.’ BENDIGO ADVERTISER
‘This multi-cultural story is frustrating, funny and sad with an ending that promises there is still much more to tell about Sabiha’s life. I hope so. Loved it. Want more!‘ THE READING STACK
‘Insightful… A spirited debut novel.’ HERALD SUN
‘Written with a light and comic touch… Pajalic brings a fresh voice to Australian Young Adult fiction through a funny, endearing, tough and ultimately resilient, first-person narrator.’ VIEWPOINT
‘Rewarding, poignant and occasionally chuckle-out-loud funny.’ BOOKS BUZZ
‘A raw and honest story about duty and the desire to run free. A strong new voice in Australian fiction.’
MELINA MARCHETTA
‘I love The Good Daughter. It had me in stitches. Hilarious, poignant, gutsy and real.’ RANDA ABDEL-FATTAH
‘Funny, sharp and insightful.’ SIMMONE HOWELL
'Amra Pajalic’s portrayal of what it means to be a teen growing up in Australia and caught between two cultures is spot on! There were times where I was sure she must have read my journals from my own youth. Told with honesty, tenderness, simplicity, wit and subtle wisdom, it’s one of the stand out young adult novels I have read in many years and my own teen loved it too.' TESS WOODS
‘... a candid, insightful story and a realistic portrayal of a teenager in crisis.’ MAGPIES
‘A funny and challenging debut novel that has been described as the Bosnian answer to Looking for Ali Brandi. Is a gritty and enjoyable novel, at times unflinching and dramatic.’ CANBERRA TIMES
‘... debut novel from new Melbourne author Amra Pajalic and it’s one you won’t want to miss! It’s a funny and honest story about Sahiba, a teen girl growing up in Melbourne’s western suburbs who’s trying to deal with family traditions and her own desire to do what she wants. (5 stars).’ GIRLFRIEND MAGAZINE
‘Amra Pajalic writes with such honesty every young adult will empathise with her… While dealing with some ordinary “stuff” Pajalic’s observations are sincere and often hilarious.’ BENDIGO ADVERTISER
‘This multi-cultural story is frustrating, funny and sad with an ending that promises there is still much more to tell about Sabiha’s life. I hope so. Loved it. Want more!‘ THE READING STACK
‘Insightful… A spirited debut novel.’ HERALD SUN
‘Written with a light and comic touch… Pajalic brings a fresh voice to Australian Young Adult fiction through a funny, endearing, tough and ultimately resilient, first-person narrator.’ VIEWPOINT
‘Rewarding, poignant and occasionally chuckle-out-loud funny.’ BOOKS BUZZ
‘A raw and honest story about duty and the desire to run free. A strong new voice in Australian fiction.’
MELINA MARCHETTA
‘I love The Good Daughter. It had me in stitches. Hilarious, poignant, gutsy and real.’ RANDA ABDEL-FATTAH
‘Funny, sharp and insightful.’ SIMMONE HOWELL
'Amra Pajalic’s portrayal of what it means to be a teen growing up in Australia and caught between two cultures is spot on! There were times where I was sure she must have read my journals from my own youth. Told with honesty, tenderness, simplicity, wit and subtle wisdom, it’s one of the stand out young adult novels I have read in many years and my own teen loved it too.' TESS WOODS