The Green Bicycle

By Haifaa Al Mansour

A girl defies norms to chase her dream of owning a forbidden bicycle.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,101 ratings

368 pages

$8.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

In Riyadh, spirited eleven-year-old Wadjda dreams of owning a bicycle, defying societal norms. She schemes to earn money by selling bracelets and banned music, risking expulsion from school. As she navigates the challenges of conformity and gender roles, Wadjda's determination to race her friend Abdullah pushes her to the limits. Will she achieve her dream, or will the weight of tradition hold her back? Set against a backdrop of changing social attitudes, this tale of resilience and heart explores the power of dreams and the courage to pursue them.

From the publisher

In the vein of Year of the Dog and The Higher Power of Lucky, this Middle Eastern coming-of-age story is told with warmth, spirit, and a mischievous sense of humor Spunky eleven-year-old Wadjda lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with her parents. She desperately wants a bicycle so that she can race her friend Abdullah, even though it is considered improper for girls to ride bikes. Wadjda earns money for her dream bike by selling homemade bracelets and mixtapes of banned music to her classmates. But after she’s caught, she’s forced to turn over a new leaf (sort of), or risk expulsion from school. Still, Wadjda keeps scheming, and with the bicycle so closely in her sights, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Set against the shifting social attitudes of the Middle East, The Green Bicycle explores gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family, all with wit and irresistible heart.

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