Ask+Me+No+Questions



Ryan C Alex Kapo Gina M Eamon C Erik C Alec P - Facilitator Claudia Debe O.*
 * Group 1 Members:**


 * Discussion Time:** 2B Thursday January 13, 7:55-9:25

Ryan Cody- Nadira is a 14 year old girl living in New York City (Post 9/11) as an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant. This is a very interesting subject matter for me, as I am very curious about the ripple effects from 9/11 on foreign races/religions.

Gina Micucci- So far, it seems like Nadira is very insecure because of her sister. Nadira feels inferior to all of her sister's accomplishments, and it makes her angry that she is unable to help her family. Nadira's sister has a lot going for her, and when Nadira thinks of all these things she becomes upset.

Alex Kapothanasis - Nadira and her family want to move from Bangladesh to Canada. Abba tries to get asylum to gain residency in Canada, but doesn't get it since too many people applied for it. They had to go in the U.S. to gain legal immigration, but Abba's visa card expired, and he got arrested for coming to the U.S. as an illegal alien. I can relate to this, because I have a grandfather who came from another country, trying to seek asylum because he was an illegal alien. He became legal since he actually got asylum.

Clarifying Questions: -How does Nadira get her Abba out of the containment center? -How has moving to America affected the lives of the Houssein family? -Does living with Nadira and Aisha's aunt and uncle affect the sisters in any way? -What is the hardest part for Nadira about her father being contained? -What is the hardest part for Aisha about her father being contained?

Characters: **Nadira:** In High School; from Bangladesh; Muslim; lives with her aunt. More insecure in the beginning, scared for her family but unsure of what to do when their situation first begins.

**Aisha:** Nadira's older sister; in High School; going to college; bossy. Very strong student, nominated for valedictorian.

**Mother:** Caring, tries to stay strong for her family. Living at a church shelter.

**Father "Abba":** Encourages his daughters to be the best that they can. Wants his family to have a comfortable life and strives to make this happen. At a detention center in Vermont.

**Taslima:** Cousin to Nadira and Aisha. Very rebellious.

-What is the hardest part for the mother about her father being contained? -Why does Mother change in the novel? -How does Nadira's relationship with her sister change throughout the story, and how does this affect their entire family? -Nadira's sister is a very well-rounded, academically strong, and caring person. How does this make Nadira feel about herself? -Does Taslima influence the sisters in a positive or negative way? -How has being in the containment center affected Abba?

Narration: -Nadira is the narrator, mostly describing what is going on, but also offers input and thoughts at certain times. -How would the book be any different written through the eyes of Aisha, Abba, Taslima?

Setting: -How has living in NYC given the girls more of a chance of being deported? -How does culture play a part in the novel? -Do you think it is easier for the sisters to live in NYC or in Bangladesh?
 * -**This book is set in post 9/11 New York City in a discriminatory society. However, at times, Nadira's family travels from NY to Canada, and back.

Themes/Motifs: -Hardships that the family have to face, regardless of their intelligence and independence. Motif: Does Nadira's mother's purple coat symbolize anything important? -How does fear affect the lives of Aisha and Nadira? -Do the insecurities of Nadira have an affect on the way she behaves throughout the novel?

Style of Writing: -Does the end note change your mind about our government in any way? -Is it easy to relate to Nadira's family because of the simplistic style of writing? -How does the cover on the right relate more to the novel than the cover on the left?

Significant Passages: "'So we have to stick together. Not fight.' She holds out her hand as a peace offering...No way am I sticking together with Aisha" (28).

"'You think everyone gets a green card playing by the rules?'" (34). - Tareq

"The most important thing Abba said, was not to stick out. Don't let them see you. But I think it hurt him, to hide so much" (58).

"'There's plenty of room, Nadira. You just have to learn have to grab it'" (89).

"At first I can't get the words out- it's like pushing against a wall of water. I want to tell them more than just that I have proof that Abba was just putting money away for our tuition. I want to tell them that Abba's favorite show is The Simpsons and that he loves Tagore. I want to say that sometimes you can't know who a person is. Sometimes they don't know who they are either. They can appear to be one thing- like me, fat and slow and lazy- but you can look at them another way too- and see something else" (132).

Outside Resources: [|Teen Book Review]

[|Marina Budhos Site]

[|Amazon Book Review]

[|Book Trailer]

[|Another Book Trailer]

[|'And the Pursuit of Happiness' Blog Post]

Map of Bangladesh

One of the many floods that happens to often.