ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aisha Saeed, the Pakistani-American author of the New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, is also a teacher and attorney. As one of the founding members of the We Need Diverse Books Campaign, she is helping to change the conversation about diversity in literature. Aisha lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and sons.

BEFORE READING

1. Does everyone have access to the same education? Discuss the factors that determine the education people receive, including where they’re from, how much money they have, their gender, their family, or their intelligence. Why do you think that access to education is considered to be a human right?
2. Write about what a normal school day looks like for you—think about where you go to school, which parts of the day are your favourite and least favourite, how you get there and the kinds of lessons you have. Then, as you read, compare your day to one of Omar’s days. How are they the same, and how are they different?
3. Read the blurb of the book as a class. What is a ‘rigged system’, and why do you think it is so impossible to change? Come up with examples of systems that are, or could be, rigged, and discuss who they benefit and who they don’t. Make some predictions about where you think that Omar will t into this system.

WHILE READING

1. How do Omar’s friends feel about him getting a scholarship? What does this tell you about the kind of friendship they have?
2. What kind of school is Ghalib Academy? How does Omar’s school compare with yours?

Download the printable teaching notes here.

Buy a copy of Omar Rising here.