A Muslim immigrant teen struggles to hold her family together in the
wake of 9/11 in this poignant novel from acclaimed author Marina
Budhos.
You forget. You forget you don't really exist here, that this isn't
your home.
Since emigrating from Bangladesh, fourteen-year-old Nadira and her
family have been living in New York City on expired visas, hoping to
realize their dream of becoming legal US citizens. But after 9/11,
everything changes. Suddenly being Muslim means you are dangerous, a
suspected terrorist.
When Nadira's father is arrested and detained at the US-Canada border,
Nadira and her older sister, Aisha, are told to carry on as if
everything is the same. The teachers at Flushing High don't ask any
questions, but Aisha falls apart. Nothing matters to her anymore--not
even college.
It's up to Nadira to be the strong one and bring her family back
together again.