Amal Unbound

The protagonist of the novel, 12-year-old Amal is the oldest girl in her family and dreams of being a teacher one day. She and her family live in rural Pakistan, and while Amal loves her… read analysis of Amal

The antagonist of the novel, Jawad Sahib is Nasreen Baji and Khan Sahib’s 24-year-old son, who’s been left in charge of the estate and of managing relationships with the family’s tenants. He not only… read analysis of Jawad Sahib

Nasreen Baji is Khan Sahib’s wife and Jawad Sahib’s mother. Amal becomes her personal maidservant at the Khan estate, replacing Nabila in the role. To Amal’s surprise, she discovers that Nasreen Baji is… read analysis of Nasreen Baji

Khan Sahib is the much-feared patriarch of the Khan family. He and his family own lots of land, including most of the land in Amal’s village and the surrounding villages; most residents rent from… read analysis of Khan Sahib

Bilal is Jawad Sahib’s lanky teen manservant. Jawad Sahib regularly hits him for any perceived infractions, and Bilal is nervous and has little confidence in himself. However, he quietly stands up to Jawad Sahib… read analysis of Bilal

Nabila is an indentured servant at the Khan estate who’s about the same age as Amal. She’s initially cruel and hateful to Amal, playing tricks on Amal to get her in trouble—and Amal eventually… read analysis of Nabila

Mumtaz is the head servant at the Khan estate. She’s a kind, competent, and straightforward middle-aged woman who’s been working at the estate for years. As such, she views it as her home—she even chose… read analysis of Mumtaz

Amma and her husband, Amal’s father, are the parents of five daughters, Amal, Seema, Rabia, Safa, and Lubna, who’s born prematurely at the beginning of the novel. Amal is… read analysis of Amma (Amal’s Mother)

Amal’s father is, unlike many in their village, a landowner: his father scrimped and saved to buy about 25 acres of land, on which Abu grows sugarcane and oranges. He’s immensely proud of owning… read analysis of Abu (Amal’s Father)

Seema is Amal’s younger sister; she’s not much younger than Amal. She joins Amal at school and stays home to help when Amma gives birth to Lubna—though Amal insists that Seema return to… read analysis of Seema

Lubna is Amma and Abu’s fifth baby, and their fifth daughter. (Lubna is the name Amal uses to refer to the baby, though Amma doesn’t name babies until they reach their first birthdays and… read analysis of Lubna

Safa is Amal’s little sister; she’s three and the youngest sibling until Amma gives birth to Lubna early in the novel. She’s constantly fighting with Rabia, who’s four and is often assumed to… read analysis of Safa

Rabia is one of Amal’s younger sisters; she’s four years old. She constantly argues with her little sister Safa, who’s three and the closest in age to Rabia. People often mistake the girls… read analysis of Rabia

Omar is Parvin’s son and Amal’s best friend. He and Parvin live in a shed behind Amal’s family’s house. Like Amal, Omar loves school—though not quite to the extent that Amal does. He… read analysis of Omar

Parvin is Amal’s family’s servant and Omar’s mother. She’s lived in a shed behind Amal’s house since before Amal and Omar were born, and Amal considers her part of the family. Amal doesn’t… read analysis of Parvin

Hafsa is Amal’s best female friend. She’s an aspiring doctor and a known gossip—she spreads any information she can, whether or not it’s true. Amal and Hafsa plan to both attend college (Hafsa wants… read analysis of Hafsa

Shaukat, Fozia’s husband and Hafsa’s father, runs a successful produce business at the market. Though Amal sees Shaukat as successful, various incidences suggest his family isn’t as well-off as Amal thinks they are… read analysis of Shaukat

Fozia is Hafsa’s mother and Shaukat’s wife. She’s known throughout the village for her homemade sweets. When Amal is preparing to return to the Khan estate after coming home for Fozia’s older daughter… read analysis of Fozia

Miss Sadia is Amal’s teacher and role model. She supports Amal’s dreams of receiving an education and becoming a teacher herself someday, including by letting Amal hang out after school to clean the classroom… read analysis of Miss Sadia

Asif is the teacher at the Khans’ literacy center. He was educated in the United States and so speaks with an American accent. Because he’s passionate about education, Asif fought his family to become a… read analysis of Asif

Hamid is the cook at the Khan estate. Amal initially believes that Hamid is Fatima’s biological father, as Fatima refers to him as such and he cares for her like a daughter. But Nabila… read analysis of Hamid