The Unlovable Alina Butt

by Ambreen Butt-Hussain

Overview

Fitting in at a new school is hard enough, but when you’re an awkward, big-nosed, nerdy Pakistani girl with a funny last name, it can seem impossible.

Eleven-year-old Alina Butt has changed schools four times already since her family moved to England from Pakistan. Even after all that practice, she doesn’t seem to be getting any better at being the new kid. Mocked for her last name and her "weird" lunches, Alina has had enough! Taking a leap of faith to try and stand out for the "right" reasons, Alina auditions for the school play. Her hopes of landing the lead role in Cinderella are dashed when her new friend gets the part of Cinderella instead...and her bully is cast as Prince Charming!

Alina must rely on her stubborn will and wacky sense of humor to survive the endlessly embarrassing and ridiculous situations she finds herself in and discover her own unique way to shine!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459834934
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	05/16/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
Lexile:	650L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Ambreen Butt-Hussain was born in Pakistan but lived in England and Scotland before finally settling in Canada. She has a bachelor of science from the University of Toronto and a master of education from Queen’s University. She currently teaches elementary school and lives in Milton, Ontario.

What People are Saying About This

Shirin Shamsi

“A heartwarming story of a misfit with no confidence who rises above it all, earns the admiration and respect of her peers—through her courage and kindness—and even wins over the bully. Filled with empathy, heart and humor, this book made me laugh and cry at moments. A compelling read that had me hooked to the end. Alina Butt is a very lovable and memorable character. She stays with you long after you finish the last page and close the book.”

Eric Walters

“Finding a new author is like finding a new friend. I’m sure you're going to find Alina—and Ambreen—to be quite lovable!”

Mahtab Narsimhan

“This debut novel by Butt-Hussain is hilarious and poignant. New immigrants will identify with Alina’s problems of fitting in, as well as the funny situations she and her brother, Fadi, have to deal with as they settle into life in England. Alina’s journey, from being a scared girl lacking confidence to owning her heritage and being kind to everyone no matter what, is inspiring and heartwarming. The Unlovable Alina Butt is a great addition to any library, at school or at home, and is sure to encourage lots of insightful discussions about fitting in, diversity, friendship and being kind to all. Alina Butt is anything but(t) unlovable!”

Editorial Reviews

Introduces important issues to young readers…Readers will come away with an understanding that we are really not that different from one another after all. Recommended.

School Library Connection

The author manages to touch on bullying, self-confidence, harassment and consent... Readers will be able to empathize with Alina’s struggles to fit in, and the triumphant ending for all the characters leaves the hope that things will always get better. Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

An endearing, spunky protagonist whose personality is realistically developed.

Booklist

A highly entertaining story…This charming novel will appeal to every kid who has ever struggled to find their place in the universe.”

Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Canadian Children’s Book News

10/13/2023

Gr 4–6—Alina Butt finds her last name embarrassing. It makes her the target of bullying by classmates. On top of that, she's just started at her fourth new school in three years after moving from Pakistan to Great Britain. While her family seems to have settled in just fine, Alina struggles to find friends. She enjoys her kindergarten-age brother but envies her sister Nadia's ease with people; at least until she discovers that Nadia has troubles of her own, including a boy who keeps harassing her. Eventually, Alina makes friends using her trademark humor and kindness. After trying out for the school play, Alina finds herself playing a mouse in a fractured fairy-tale version of Cinderella, with her good friend Emma playing the lead. To her dismay, the boy who has been bullying her, Adam, plays Prince Charming. Jealousy leads Alina to make some unkind choices before she finds her voice standing up for her little brother. She learns there's more to Adam than she thought, and she's braver than she believed. This charming, eye-opening book highlights not only the struggles of an immigrant girl, but the power that comes from seeing things through someone else's eyes. VERDICT A general purchase where coming-of-age stories that work well for striving readers are needed.—Heidi Grange

School Library Journal

2023-02-25
An awkward Pakistani Muslim sixth grader learns to love every part of herself.

For her first few weeks at Greenhill Middle School, all Alina Butt wants to do is to move home to Pakistan. Her family has moved cities several times since they immigrated to England in 1998, three years ago, and Alina still longs for her beloved family and misses being in a place where she fits in—and where her surname isn’t material her classmate Adam Atkins can use to torment her. Things start looking up when she befriends Emma, Kayla, and Vaani, who instantly understand her quirky humor and who bond over a shared love of the Spice Girls. With their help, Alina tries out for the lead in the school play, a feminist adaptation of Cinderella. But when Emma and Adam are cast as the leads and Alina is cast as a mouse, her jealousy threatens to undo all the progress she’s made. It’s only after a series of unlikely encounters with bullies—Alina’s sister’s bully and her own—that Alina realizes that she’s growing into someone she just might like. In this charming, tightly plotted debut, Alina’s witty, vulnerable narratorial voice guides readers through her intensely authentic personal evolution. The plot is further served by a cast of supporting characters, each of whom is full of surprises. Adam and Emma read White, Vaani is of Indian heritage, and Kayla is described as having curly black hair.

An insightful coming-of-age novel. (Fiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews