Amina's Song by Hena Khan

Author:Hena Khan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2021-03-09T00:00:00+00:00

19

I raise my hand to go first, but Mr. Griffiths calls on Keira to present her research update to the class.

“I picked Harriet Tubman for my project,” she begins.

Imam Malik advised me to go first when I’m speaking in public, so I have less time to get worked up about it. But since I wasn’t picked, I study my notes on Malala again and try to stay calm. I’m extra nervous, since this assignment is worth fifty points. Mr. Griffiths told us that he wants to make sure we’re making good progress with our research and that we discover any gaps before our big presentations, only four weeks from now.

“Harriet Tubman was an amazing person who led enslaved people to safety through what became known as the Underground Railroad. When she herself was safe, she returned several times to help others escape to the North,” Keira continues.

I watch how Keira makes sure to look up as she reads from her paper and takes deep breaths between sentences like an expert speaker, and I make a mental note to try that. When she finishes, Mr. Griffiths asks about her sources and makes a few suggestions of other places she can check out. Keira seems pleased with herself when he says she’s off to a great start and practically skips back to her seat.

I raise my hand again, but Mr. Griffiths calls on Justin next, who saunters up to the front of the room and crinkles the edges of his paper as he starts speaking. His voice is big and projects like he’s in a theater, not a classroom.

“I picked Alexander Graham Bell, since he invented the phone. I’m a huge fan of my phone, and I wanted to learn all about the person who made this piece of technology possible. Plus, I get to do some of my research on my phone, which means my parents can’t get mad at me for being on… ‘a device.’ ”

Everyone laughs at Justin’s jokes, but it quickly becomes obvious that while he’s entertaining, he hasn’t done a whole lot of actual research yet.

“More specifics about his life and work, Justin,” Mr. Griffiths explains. “Remember, you will eventually need to be prepared well enough to not only speak as if you are Alexander Graham Bell, but to be able to answer questions about him too.”

As Justin heads back to his seat, slapping hands with one of his friends on the way, Mr. Griffiths takes a moment to talk about appropriate online research and warns us that relying on Wikipedia will earn us a failing grade.

I raise my hand halfway the third time around, and this time Mr. Griffiths calls on me.

Here we go.

I take a deep breath, ignoring the trembling in my legs, and walk to the front of the class. Fighting the desire to run away, I search for a friendly face to focus on, clear my throat, and start to speak.

“Malala Yousafzai fights for education. She’s from Pakistan, which is where my family is originally from.

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