Time To Read

Wider World

Neither Zeba nor Manny are ready for marriage but their families have other ideas…

These two stories from different authors each focus on forced marriage, (Un)arranged marriage is told from a boy’s perspective and Secrets of the Henna Girl from a girl’s. In many cultures around the world people partake in arranged marriages and many go on to be very happy. The difference between an arranged marriage and forced marriage is that in an arranged marriage both partners will have agreed to the marriage, in a forced marriage one or both partners will be married against their will, often on threat of violence or disownment if they don’t comply.

(Un)Arranged Marriage by Bali Rai Set partly in the UK and partly in the Punjab region of India, this is the story of Manny, a British teenager born to Punjabi parents. Disappointed in Manny’s poor behaviour, his parent’s take him to India on the pretext of visiting family. On arrival, to his horror, his parents leave and he is faced with the prospect of a forced marriage arranged by his own mum and dad! Mr Gormley says: “A moving story of alienation and identity, (Un)arranged Marriage shows the often overlooked side of forced marriage – from the boy’s perspective.”

Secrets of the Henna Girl by Sufiya Ahmed

Zeba Khan is like any other sixteen-year-old girl: enjoying herself, waiting for exam results and dreaming of the day she'll meet her one true love. Except her parents have other plans. In Pakistan for the summer, Zeba's world is shattered. Her future is threatened by an unthinkable – and forced – duty to protect her father's honour. Ms Eldred says: “A look at forced (rather than arranged) marriages set in a story with great characters and a plot which reads like a thriller. A hard-hitting and important story.”